Addis Ababa recently rolled out the red carpet—quite literally—for Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates. In anticipation of his visit, the city government went as far as washing streets with soap and water. Gates was honored with Ethiopia’s highest medal of recognition and pledged to commit an astounding $200 billion over the next twenty years in global development efforts, including health and agriculture.
Just months earlier, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and a son of the continent, quietly visited Ethiopia. He pledged a $400 million expansion of his cement operations in the country—a project expected to create over 25,000 jobs, a critical contribution in a nation with a rapidly growing youth population and high unemployment. Despite this tangible and job-creating investment, there was no national recognition, no special ceremony, and certainly no street washing.
This is the same Dangote who, even after the tragic assassination of his company’s CEO and secretary in Ethiopia, chose to stay and reinvest, demonstrating a deep commitment to Ethiopia’s economy and industrial growth.
While philanthropic pledges like Gates’ are welcome, it’s worth asking: Why is the investor who creates jobs for Africans overlooked, while foreign philanthropists are celebrated with such grand gestures?
It’s time to reflect on the kind of partnerships and recognition that truly support Africa’s future.
