Faith Nyasuguta
Philanthropy in Africa is gaining global attention, with some of the continent’s wealthiest individuals being recognized by TIME magazine for their powerful social impact. Aliko Dangote, Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa, and Patrice Motsepe are among the African billionaires listed in TIME’s prestigious 100 Most Influential Philanthropists, thanks to their efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, education inequality, and access to healthcare.
These leaders are not just writing cheques, they’re crafting Africa-led solutions deeply informed by the contexts in which they operate. Their giving is often rooted in personal experience, cultural knowledge, and a long-term vision for sustainable development.
While many African countries still face underfunded systems and economic disparities, billionaire-backed foundations are helping to close the gaps. Beyond giving back, these philanthropists are setting a powerful example for the emerging African middle class and business leaders to follow suit.
Aliko Dangote
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man with an estimated net worth of $23.9 billion, is widely known for his empire in cement, agriculture, and oil refining. But his legacy is also being defined by his vast philanthropic footprint through the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), which he endowed with $1.25 billion in 2014.
The foundation spends roughly $35 million annually across sectors such as nutrition, health, and education. In 2024, Dangote launched a massive N16 billion ($10.5 million) food intervention program targeting one million vulnerable Nigerians in all 774 local government areas. The goal, to contribute to ending hunger in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
His philanthropy also extends to emergency relief. After floods struck Borno State in 2024, he contributed N1 billion ($650,000) to the National Emergency Management Agency and another N500 million ($330,000) to support recovery at the state level. These responses underscore his foundation’s readiness to act in times of crisis.
Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa
Zimbabwean tech mogul Strive Masiyiwa and his wife Tsitsi are among Africa’s most committed philanthropic couples. Their Higherlife Foundation, launched in 1996, began by supporting orphaned children in Zimbabwe and has since expanded its reach across the continent.
As of 2023, the foundation had provided over 250,000 scholarships. In that year alone, it awarded 11,100 scholarships, changing the lives of students who might otherwise be left behind. The Masiyiwas are also behind Delta Philanthropies, launched in 2017, which broadens their impact in areas like rural entrepreneurship, disaster relief, and healthcare.
In response to Zimbabwe’s 2018 cholera outbreak, they pledged $10 million in immediate support, followed by $60 million in long-term clean water and sanitation projects. They also committed $100 million through the Masiyiwa Rural Challenge Fund, a five-year plan to provide low-interest loans and business support to rural entrepreneurs, especially women.
Their philanthropic philosophy is deeply tied to their Christian values and a belief in African-led development. Strive has also played a leadership role in sustainable agriculture as the former chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
Patrice Motsepe
South African mining billionaire Patrice Motsepe is another African philanthropist earning global praise. Through the Motsepe Foundation, he has focused his giving on education, health, and social justice.
In 2023, Motsepe made a notable R20 million ($1 million) donation to the University of the Witwatersrand’s Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. This investment is aimed at driving innovation to solve critical challenges like energy shortages, water scarcity, and digital inequality in South Africa.
His foundation’s long-standing support for research and leadership development reflects a strategic focus on solving root problems rather than just symptoms.
Yousriya Loza-Sawiris
Egypt’s Yousriya Loza-Sawiris, is a pioneering philanthropist and the chairwoman of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD). Her philanthropic journey began in 1979 when she started supporting Cairo’s marginalized Zabbaleen community.
In 2001, she formalized her family’s charitable efforts by establishing SFSD, focusing on reducing multidimensional poverty and empowering change agents across Egypt. Under her leadership, the foundation has invested in education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and cultural initiatives, benefiting over a million Egyptians. Loza-Sawiris’s commitment to sustainable development and social equity earned her a place on TIME’s 2025 list of the world’s most influential philanthropists.
These philanthropists are not only redefining wealth in Africa but also how it can be used to effect long-lasting change. By responding to local needs with locally informed strategies, they’re proving that African-led philanthropy can be both impactful and inspiring. Their inclusion on TIME’s list is not just an accolade, it’s a call to action for others to follow.
RELATED:
