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Aliko Dangote is Africa’s richest man and one of the most powerful figures in global business. As the founder and CEO of the Dangote Group, he has built a sprawling industrial empire that spans cement, sugar, salt, and, more recently, oil refining. Renowned for his vision to industrialize Africa and create self-sufficiency across key sectors, Dangote is a symbol of entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment on the continent. His strategic business moves and philanthropic efforts have made him a household name across Africa and beyond.
Key Achievements
- Built Dangote Cement into Africa’s largest cement producer
- Founded the Dangote Refinery, one of the world’s largest oil refineries (in Lagos, Nigeria)
- Became Africa’s richest person with a net worth exceeding $10 billion
- Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2014
- Created over 30,000 direct jobs and thousands more indirectly
Biography
- Born on April 10, 1957, in Kano, Nigeria, Aliko Dangote comes from a wealthy Hausa Muslim family. He studied business at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.
- Dangote started his business career in 1977 with a loan from his uncle. He initially traded commodities like rice and sugar before expanding into manufacturing.
- He established the Dangote Group, which grew into a diversified conglomerate. The group’s flagship company, Dangote Cement, now operates in over 10 countries in Africa.
- Dangote is known for his relentless work ethic, strategic vision, and long-term investment approach focused on African self-sufficiency.
- Through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, he has invested heavily in health, education, and economic empowerment across Nigeria and Africa.
