Aiyedatiwa to Buy Dangote Shares for 500 Ondo Youths

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has announced plans to purchase shares in the Dangote Group for 500 young entrepreneurs in the state to promote investment, wealth creation and financial inclusion among youths.

Aiyedatiwa made the announcement at the 2026 Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency Entrepreneurs Summit in Akure.

According to the governor, the share purchase is designed to expose young entrepreneurs to opportunities in the capital market.

He said the initiative was part of his administration’s broader effort to move beyond conventional grants and encourage young people to develop long-term investment habits.

Aiyedatiwa said the state was building an entrepreneurial ecosystem that connects ideas to skills, skills to businesses, businesses to finance and businesses to markets.

He also unveiled the Lucky Light Initiative, a phased solar energy programme designed to provide reliable and affordable electricity to 1,000 small businesses across Ondo State’s 18 local government areas.

The governor said the intervention would help reduce energy costs for small businesses and improve their ability to operate sustainably.

He further announced N80 million in grants for 20 entrepreneurs selected through the ONDEA My IDEA programme, with each beneficiary receiving N4 million, alongside related support.

Aiyedatiwa said the initiatives were part of his administration’s plan to transform Ondo from a predominantly civil service economy into an entrepreneurship and innovation-driven state.

He identified agriculture and agro-processing, tourism, the blue economy, technology, renewable energy, manufacturing, creative industries and export-oriented businesses as areas with significant growth potential.

The governor urged beneficiaries to build sustainable businesses, create employment opportunities, pay taxes and mentor other young people.

He said the government’s responsibility was to create an environment where entrepreneurs could identify opportunities, access support and build businesses capable of contributing to economic growth.

The summit also featured contributions from Federal Government officials, business leaders and entrepreneurs, who highlighted the importance of innovation, investment and enterprise development.

The initiatives announced at the summit form part of Ondo State’s broader strategy to promote youth entrepreneurship and expand opportunities for young people across the state.