Dangote to Build ₦1.1bn Hostel for UNILORIN Students, Mosque Gains 21-Year Deal
Dangote to Build ₦1.1bn Hostel for UNILORIN Students, Mosque Gains 21-Year Deal
Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has taken full responsibility for funding a ₦1.1 billion student hostel project at the University of Ilorin, a landmark initiative tied to the Ilorin Central Jumma’at Mosque.
The 250-bed facility, once completed, will ease the accommodation shortage on campus while generating rental income to support the Mosque’s upkeep — a rare blend of philanthropy, education, and faith-based investment.
At a press conference in Ilorin, the Secretary of the Mosque’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Shehu AbdulGafar, confirmed that Dangote had officially committed to financing the entire project. He added that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the University of Ilorin, granting the Mosque management rights for 21 years before ownership reverts to the institution.
Beyond the construction funds, Dangote has also pledged a ₦5 million monthly donation until the hostel is completed, a commitment he has already begun fulfilling. AbdulGafar described this as a demonstration of the billionaire’s devotion to both education and religion, noting that it strengthens the Mosque’s long-term sustainability.
When completed, the hostel will provide modern, safe accommodation for students while serving as a steady income stream for the Mosque. Community leaders have praised the gesture as a model for collaboration between faith-based institutions and the private sector in driving sustainable development.
