As the coronavirus continues to spread across cities all over Africa, the severity of the pandemic and its devastating effect on the limited resources available in most African countries have prompted some of the continent’s billionaires to step up and help their various governments in the fight against the virus.
Below are some of Africa’s Billionaires who have Contributed to the Fight Against Coronavirus.
10 African Billionaires and Their Contributions to the Fight Against Coronavirus
1. Aliko Dangote
Dangote the Richest man in Africa and the Richest black man in the world with a net worth of $8.5 billion doesn’t believe in doing things small.
Shortly after the first case of coronavirus was reported in Nigeria, he donated a hefty sum of N2bn ($5.1 million) to the government to battle the disease. He also partnered with Access Bank to provide treatment, testing, training and isolation centres across the country.
2. Nicky Oppenheimer
Nicky Oppenheimer heir to his family’s fortune and the 3rd richest man in Africa, donated a whopping $54 million to assist small, medium-sized and micro enterprises in South Africa through interest-free loans that will be allocated to paying a portion of employees’ salaries in these uncertain days.
3. Abdulsamad Rabiu
The founder of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and the 8th richest person in Africa has always been an active and big player in the Nigerian business scene. His interests cuts across several areas including iron and steel, cement, sugar refining and real estate.
Prompted by the “unprecedented situation” that has unfolded in Nigeria since the index case was recorded, Abdulsamad Rabiu donated N1bn to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Sawiris Family
The Sawiris family is an Egyptian family that owns the Orascom conglomerate, spanning telecommunications, construction, tourism, industries and technology. In 2019, Forbes estimated the family’s net worth at $36 billion.
Few weeks after Egypt recorded its first case, the Sawiris family donated $6.3 million to back the country’s efforts in combating the spread of COVID-19.
The donation was split between committing $2.5 million for casual workers and neediest families as well as $3.8 million pounds for the health ministry and the state’s precautionary effort against the novel coronavirus.
5. Mike Adenuga
Mike Adenuga is the founder of Globacom and Conoil, and the 3rd wealthiest man in Africa l.
Through his non-governmental organisation, Mike Adenuga Foundation, the businessman donated a whooping N1bn to the government towards the eradication of the virus.
6. Narendra Raval
Kenyan business tycoon and the chairman of Devki Group, Narendra Raval, donated $1 million worth of oxygen to all government hospitals in Kenya.
Mr Raval also pledged to dedicate all his assets to save and the people of Kenya from the COVID-19 devil.” if he was required to do so.
7. Folorunsho Alakija
Billionaire businesswoman and philanthropist, Folorunsho Alakija, is the second richest woman in Africa and the 20th richest person in Africa.
Apparently disturbed by the damaging effect the coronavirus pandemic could have on her home country, Alakija, who is the MD of Famfa Oil Limited, gave Nigeria’s Federal Government N1bn as her form of support against the rampaging pandemic.
8. Patrice Motsepe Family
Patrice Motsepe is a South African mining billionaire businessman and the founder/executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, which has interests in gold, ferrous metals, base metals, and platinum.
The Patrice Motsepe family in partnership with companies and organisations that they are associated with, pledged R1 billion ($54 million) to assist with the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its related challenges that are confronting South Africansand the African Continent as infections climbs.
He is the 10th richest person in Africa.
9. Mary Oppenheimer & Daughters
Mary Oppenheimer, the daughter of mining magnate Harry Oppenheimer (and the sister to the 3rd richest man in Africa ‘Nicky Oppenheimer’), donated a whopping $54 million donation to South Africa’s Solidarity Fund to mitigate the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic on the country’s most vulnerable communities.
The donation was made on behalf of she and her daughters, Victoria Freudenheim, Rebecca Oppenheimer, Jessica Jell and Rachel Diamond.
10. Johann Rupert
Johann Rupert, the chairman of Swiss luxury goods firm Compagnie Financiere Richemont, – the company best known for the brands Cartier and Montblanc – donated R1 billion ($54 million) to assist small, medium-sized and micro enterprises in South Africa in these uncertain days.
11. Tony Elumelu
This successful businessman and Chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc made a personal donation of N1 billion to support the fight against COVID-19.
This is besides the N5 billion which was donated by UBA Group. While commenting on these donations, Elumelu said:
“We commend the efforts of governments and we are keen to partner and contribute our resources to the collective effort, that will ensure the response to the pandemic is swift and effective.”
