Dangote Foundation has won the 2016 Philanthropy of the Year award at the All Africa Business Leaders Award (AABLA) held at the weekend in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Awards is the initiative of CNBC Africa and ABN to recognize and reward outstanding African companies for their performance in 2015.

According to a statement from the organizers of the award, a total of Africa’s 9 best business leaders were celebrated at the 2016 All Africa Business Leaders Awards in Partnership with CNBC Africa (AABLA), at the exclusive All Africa Finale, held in Johannesburg and attended by prominent businesses leaders from across the continent, ambassadors and the Premier of Gauteng, David Makhura.

At the West African Regional Stage of the award held in Lagos on October 20, Dangote Foundation emerged as the Philanthropy of the Year, setting the stage for its emergence as the African Philanthropy of the year.

Receiving the award, Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Foundation, Ms. Zouera Youssoufou thanked the organizers of the award, CNBC and ABN for the honour done to the Foundation and Dangote Group for bestowing such a prestigious award.

Represented by the Chief Executive Officer of Sephaku Cement, South Africa, Pieter Fourie, she said the belief of the Chairman, Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote that ‘to whom much is given, much is required’ led him to set up his Foundation back in 1993.

She explained that the foundation in the last two years has grown and was restructured to have greater impact, adding that the $1.25 billion endowment by Aliko Dangote, has made it become the largest private philanthropy in Africa.

Zouera stated that Dangote Foundation is focused on improving the livelihoods of the most vulnerable Nigerians and Africans, focusing on health, education and economic empowerment of women. According to her, the Foundation has been the single largest contributor to the fight against Ebola in Nigeria and with the African Union, and is working tirelessly to provide relief to the Humanitarian crisis unfolding in Northern Nigeria as result of the insurgency.