BREAKING NEWS: Billionaire Aliko Dangote stunned the world by inviting track and field legend Faith Kipyegon to join the African Children’s Charity Run, an event backed by a 10-million-dollar fund dedicated to building schools and hospitals for children in need. The invitation immediately caused a storm on social media, with millions urging Faith Kipyegon to take part. But what no one expected was the response from the Kenyan legend; a reply that left the entire world in tears.

It began on a quiet Tuesday morning in Lagos. Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, posted a single tweet from his verified account. The message was short but explosive: he personally invited double Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon to headline the inaugural African Children’s Charity Run scheduled for February 2025 in Abuja. The attached video showed Dangote standing in front of a giant cheque bearing the words “US$10,000,000 – For African Children.”

Within minutes the tweet exploded. Nigerian influencers, Kenyan running fans, and global athletics pages reposted it relentlessly. Hashtags #FaithInAbuja and #Dangote10Million trended worldwide. Major news outlets from BBC Africa to CNN ran the story as breaking news. Everyone assumed the invitation was official and the money already secured.

The proposed charity run promised something never seen before on the continent. A 10-kilometre elite race through the streets of Abuja, followed by a mass participation event. All proceeds, Dangote claimed, would fund twenty new primary schools and five pediatric hospitals across Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Celebrities quickly pledged support. Burna Boy offered to perform for free. Eliud Kipchoge called it “the most beautiful idea in African sport.”

Pressure mounted on Faith Kipyegon. Fans flooded her Instagram with crying emojis and Kenyan flags. “Mama, the children need you,” one comment read. Another said, “This is bigger than any medal.” Kenyan newspapers published front-page pleas. Even the Office of the President reportedly reached out to encourage the 1500 m and 5000 m world record holder to accept.

Then, late Wednesday evening, Faith Kipyegon finally responded. She posted a thirty-second video from her training camp in Kaptagat. Dressed in a simple red hoodie, she looked straight into the camera. Her voice was soft but steady. Millions clicked play expecting a joyful yes.

Instead, tears rolled down her cheeks from the very first sentence.

“I wish with all my heart that this beautiful project was real,” she began. “I have always dreamed of running for African children. But I must tell you the truth.” She paused, wiped her eyes, and continued. “This morning my management contacted the Dangote Group. They have no knowledge of any charity run in February. They have not announced ten million dollars. My name was used without permission.”

The video ended with Faith covering her face and whispering, “I am so sorry to every child who believed.”

Social media froze, then erupted in chaos. The original Dangote tweet vanished within minutes. Screenshots, however, were everywhere. Twitter detectives quickly discovered the account that posted the invitation had a slightly different handle: @Aliko_Dangote with a capital “i” instead of an “L.” The real handle is @AlikoDangote. The fake account had been created only nine days earlier.

By Thursday morning, the Dangote Group released an official statement calling it “a cruel and sophisticated hoax.” They confirmed no charity run was planned and no ten-million-dollar fund existed. The viral cheque image was traced to a 2019 photo edited with new text.

Faith Kipyegon’s emotional video has now been viewed more than 40 million times. Many watchers openly wept with her. Kenyan primary school children who had started drawing “Welcome Faith” posters were shown crying on local television when teachers explained the truth.

The fake account disappeared completely, but the damage remained. Scammers had already begun private messaging fans, promising VIP tickets to the nonexistent race in exchange for “processing fees.” At least $47,000 was reportedly stolen before payment platforms shut the links down.

In the aftermath, the real Aliko Dangote phoned Faith Kipyegon personally to apologise, even though he bore no blame. Sources close to the billionaire say he is now seriously considering launching an actual charity run in 2025, partly to turn the pain of the hoax into something positive.

Faith, still shaken, told reporters in Eldoret, “Someone played with the hopes of millions of children. That hurts more than any loss on the track.” She promised that when a genuine pan-African charity race happens, she will be the first to lace up.

For now, the running world wipes away collective tears. A cruel lie briefly gave Africa a dream many desperately wanted to believe: that its biggest champion and its richest son would join hands for its smallest citizens. The dream was fake, but the longing it revealed is painfully real.