The Global Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF) has appointed the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, as its Grand Patron in what organizers describe as a historic move for the global entrepreneurship movement.
Dangote was formally unveiled as Grand Patron during an exclusive visit by the GEF Board to the industrialist in Lagos, where he was also decorated with a special honour for his contributions to entrepreneurship, industrialization and economic transformation in Africa.
According to a statement from the Festival, the appointment was brokered by Dr. Elizabeth Jack-Rich, Vice Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Festival, who facilitated the engagement between the GEF leadership and the business mogul.
Organizers say Dr. Jack-Rich’s role reflects GEF’s strategy of connecting Africa’s established business leaders with emerging startups, innovators and disruptors, while positioning African enterprise at the centre of the global business conversation.
Leading the delegation, GEF President, Dr. Summy Smart Francis, described Dangote’s acceptance as a monumental endorsement for the festival.
“Alhaji Aliko Dangote is not just a businessman; he is an institution. His journey of building from the ground up, his resilience, and his massive investments across key sectors of the African economy embody the very spirit of entrepreneurship we celebrate,” Dr. Francis said.
With Dangote as Grand Patron, the Festival says it will intensify engagement with world-class business leaders, global investors and development institutions to unlock opportunities for entrepreneurs across Africa and beyond.
Attention now shifts to the 2026 edition of the Global Entrepreneurship Festival, scheduled to hold in Egypt from November 6 to 8. The summit is being billed as one of the largest international gatherings of entrepreneurs, investors, innovators and policymakers, and is expected to serve as a melting pot for capital, ideas and partnerships.
