By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

The Foundation for Peace Professionals has named Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, as its “Man of the Decade,” describing him as a leading figure whose contributions have strengthened peace, prosperity, and self-reliance across Africa over the past ten years.

The announcement was made by the Foundation’s Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, during activities marking the organisation’s 10th anniversary.

Hamzat said the decision was based on the philosophy guiding the organisation’s Nigeria Peace Index project, which assesses peace not only through security metrics but also through structural factors such as economic resilience, job creation, energy security, food security, and overall social stability.

He explained that sustainable peace is closely tied to productive capacity and economic development.

“Factories are peace infrastructure. Refineries are peace infrastructure. Farms are peace infrastructure. Jobs are peace infrastructure. Productive economies are peace infrastructure,” he said.

Hamzat noted that Dangote’s investments across manufacturing, cement, agriculture, logistics, and energy have significantly expanded Africa’s productive capacity and reduced dependence on imports and external supply chains.

He also described the Dangote Refinery as one of the most consequential nation-building projects in Africa in recent decades, saying its impact extends beyond business into energy security and economic sovereignty.

“What distinguishes Dangote is not wealth. Africa has produced wealthy men before. What distinguishes him is the scale of his commitment to productive capacity. He invested where others traded. He built where others imported,” Hamzat said.

He added that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of systems that enable nations to feed themselves, power themselves, create jobs, and build resilient economies.

“Peace is built when nations can feed themselves, power themselves, employ their citizens, build industries and inspire confidence in the future,” he said.

Hamzat said the recognition reflects the Foundation’s broader understanding of peacebuilding, arguing that economic development and industrialisation play a key role in preventing conflict and promoting stability.

“For ten years, we have worked to prevent conflict and promote stability. But we also recognize that those who build the foundations of prosperity are helping to build the foundations of peace,” he said.

He concluded that individuals who strengthen productive capacity and economic sovereignty deserve recognition as contributors to peace and national development.