Babangida raises N16bn from book presentation

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), on Thursday, raised over N16bn from his book presentation and launch of his presidential library.

Reports revealed that the book, which is an autobiography titled ‘A Journey in Service,’ was presented to the public at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Thursday.

The public presentation of the autobiography also witnessed the launch of Babangida’s presidential library.

At the event, Babangida received over N16bn in donations mainly from Nigeria’s business elite and those he helped while in power.

Nigeria’s richest man and the founder of Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote, led with an N8bn pledge, broken down into N2bn per year for four years.

He further pledged that if the project extended beyond this timeframe, he would continue to donate N2bn annually until its completion.

Also, the chief launcher and the founder of BUA Group of Companies, Abdulsamad Rabiu, donated N5bn.

The co-chief launcher and the founder of the TY Danjuma Foundation, Theophilus Danjuma, donated N3bn.

Businessman, Arthur Eze, gave N500m; Senator Sani Musa gave N250m Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, donated N50m; Deputy Senate President N20m: Senator Aliyu Wadada N10m.

Other notable figures such as Nigerian businesswoman and philanthropist, Folorunsho Alakija, and a few others also made donations but did not disclose the amount publicly.

The event was attended by President Bola Tinubu, who led former presidents and military Heads of State such as Goodluck Jonathan, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, former military chiefs, and captains of industry.

Also in attendance were former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo and Yemi Osinbajo, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and the Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The keynote speaker was the former President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, and his counterpart, the former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Koroma, also graced the occasion.

Governors, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, industrialists, technocrats and traditional rulers were also in attendance.