Aliko Dangote
Aliko Dangote (Listen) GCON (born April 10, 1957) is a Nigerian businessman and industrialist. He is best known as the founder, chairman, and CEO of the Dangote Group, the largest industrial conglomerate in West Africa. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimated his net worth at $20.5 billion in April 2023, making him the richest person in Africa, the world's richest black person, and the world's 83rd richest person overall.[1][2][3]
Aliko Dangote | |
|---|---|
Dangote in August 2014 | |
| Born | 10 April 1957 |
| Education | Government College, Birnin Kudu |
| Alma mater | Al-Azhar University |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouses | Zainab Dangote (m. 1977, divorced)Mariya Muhammad Rufai (divorced) |
| Children | 4, including Halima |
| Relatives |
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Early life
Dangote was born into a wealthy Hausa Muslim family on April 10, 1957, in Kano, which was then part of British Nigeria.[4][5][6] His mother, Mariya Sanusi Dantata, was the daughter of businessman Sanusi Dantata.[7] His father, Mohammed Dangote, was a business associate of Dantata.[8] Through his mother, he is the great-grandson of Alhassan Dantata, the richest person in West Africa at the time of his death in 1955. Dangote's brother, Sani (died 2021), was also a businessman.[9][10] Dangote was educated at the Sheikh Ali Kumasi Madrasa, followed by Capital High School in Kano.[11] In 1978, he graduated from the Government College, Birnin Kudu.[12] He received a bachelor's degree in business studies and administration from Al-Azhar University in Cairo.[13][11]
Business career
The Dangote Group was established as a small trading firm in 1977, the same year Dangote relocated to Lagos to expand the company.[5] Dangote received a ₦500,000 loan from his uncle to begin trading in commodities, including bagged cement as well as agricultural goods like rice and sugar.[14] In the 1990s, he approached the Central Bank of Nigeria with the idea that it would be less expensive for the bank to allow his transport company to manage their fleet of staff buses, a proposal that was also approved.
Today, the Dangote Group is one of the largest conglomerates in Africa, with international operations in Benin, Ghana, Zambia, and Togo. The Dangote Group has moved from being a trading company to being the largest industrial group in Nigeria, encompassing divisions like Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Cement, and Dangote Flour.[15] Dangote Group dominates the sugar market in Nigeria, and its refinery business is the main supplier (70 percent of the market) to the country's soft drink companies, breweries, and confectioners. The company employs more than 11,000 people in West Africa.
In July 2012, Dangote approached the Nigerian Ports Authority to lease an abandoned piece of land at the Apapa Port, which was approved.[16] He later built facilities for his sugar company there. It is the largest refinery in Africa and the third largest in the world, producing 800,000 metric tons of sugar annually. The Dangote Group owns salt factories and flour mills and is a major importer of rice, fish, pasta, cement, and fertilizer. The company exports cotton, cashew nuts, cocoa, sesame seeds, and ginger to several countries. Additionally, it has major investments in real estate, banking, transport, textiles, oil, and gas.
In February 2022, Dangote announced the completion of the Peugeot assembling facility in Nigeria following his partnership with Stellantis Group, the parent company of Peugeot, and the Kano and Kaduna state governments. The new automobile company, Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN) factory, which is based in Kaduna, commenced operations with the roll-out of the Peugeot 301, Peugeot 5008, 3008, 508, and Land Trek."[17]
Wealth
Dangote became Nigeria's first billionaire in 2007.[18] Dangote reportedly added $9.2 billion to his personal wealth in 2013, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, making him the thirtieth-richest person in the world at the time, and the richest person in Africa.[19] In 2015, the HSBC leaks revealed that Dangote was a HSBC client and that he had assets in a tax haven in the British Virgin Islands.[20][21]
As of June 2022, Dangote is the wealthiest person in Africa, with an estimated net worth of US$20 billion.[22][2]
Political activity
Dangote had a prominent role in the financing of President Olusegun Obasanjo's re-election bid in 2003, to which he gave over N200 million (US$2 million). He contributed N50 million (US$500 thousand) to the National Mosque under the aegis of "Friends of Obasanjo and Atiku". Dangote also contributed N200 million to the Presidential Library. These highly controversial gifts to members of the ruling PDP party have generated significant concerns despite highly publicized anti-corruption drives during Obasanjo's second term.[23]
In 2011, Dangote was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to serve as a member of his economic management team.[24] In 2017, rumors circulated that Dangote was considering a run for President of Nigeria in the 2019 election. Dangote declined to run and asserted that he does not intend to run for elected office.[25][26] Instead, Dangote went on to serve on a special advisory committee for Muhammadu Buhari's reelection campaign.[27]
Other activities
Philanthropy
Dangote has worked alongside the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on public health issues.[28] In August 2014, he donated ₦150 million ($750,000) to assist the Nigerian government's efforts to stop the spread of Ebola.[29][30] In May 2016, he pledged $10 million to support Nigerians affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.[31] In March 2020, he donated ₦200 million ($500,000) towards the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.[32]
Football
In 2019, Dangote and Femi Otedola promised to give the Nigerian national football team $75,000 for every goal scored in the Africans Cup of Nations (AFCON).[33] He is also an avid fan of English football team Arsenal FC, and has shown interest in buying the club. In 2020, he donated money to Nigeria's sport ministry to renovate Abuja, the country's national sports stadium.[34]
Personal life
Dangote lives in Lagos.[35] Although he owns two private jets, he is otherwise known for living a relatively simple lifestyle for a billionaire, during which he reportedly works 12 hours every day from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. and runs 10 miles on a treadmill almost every day.[18]
Dangote married Zainab Dangote in 1977, but they divorced at an unknown date. He was later married to Mariya Muhammad Rufai until their divorce, though the dates of the wedding and divorce are unknown. He has three daughters named Halima, Mariya, and Fatimah, and an adopted son named Abdulrahman.[36] Halima followed him into the business world and is currently his company's executive director of commercial operations.[37]
Awards and memberships
Awards and recognition
- Dangote was awarded Nigeria's second-highest honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) by the former president, Goodluck Jonathan.[38]
- Dangote was named as the Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2014.[39]
- For six consecutive years, 2013,[40] 2014,[41] 2015,[42] 2016,[43] 2017,[44] and 2018[45] Forbes listed him as the "Most Powerful Man in Africa".
- In 2014, he was listed CNBC's "Top 25 Businessmen in the World" who changed and shaped the century.[46][47]
- In April 2014, Time magazine listed him among its 100 most influential people in the world.[48][49][50]
- In October 2015, Dangote was listed among "50 Most Influential Individuals in the World" by Bloomberg Markets.[51][52]
- He won "The Guardian Man of the Year 2015".[53]
- He won the "2016 African Business Leader Award", organized by the Africa-America Institute (AAI).[54][55]
- Dangote was cited as one of the top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2015,[56] 2017,[57] 2018[58] and 2019.[59]
Memberships
Dangote sits on the board of the Corporate Council on Africa, and is a member of the steering committee of the United Nations Secretary-General's Global Education First Initiative,[60][61] the Clinton Global Initiative and the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum. He was named co-chair of the US-Africa Business Center, in September 2016, by the US Chamber of Commerce.[62][63][64][65] In April 2017, he joined the board of directors of the Clinton Health Access Initiative.[66] He is also on the board of One Campaign.[67][68][69] Dangote was appointed the founding Chairman of the Nigeria End Malaria Council by President Buhari in August 2022.[70] He is also a member of the Global End Malaria Council, along with other leaders including Bill Gates, Ray Chambers, and former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.[71]
See also
References
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Dangote visits revamped Moshood Abiola Stadium -". thenationonlineng.net. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
- ^ Ilan Bijaoui (2017). Multinational Interest & Development in Africa: Establishing a People's Economy. Springer. p. 55. ISBN 978-3-319-48914-8.
- ^ a b Gabriel Edigheji. The Entrepreneur Magazine. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-105-90932-0.[self-published source]
- ^ Nweke, Ifeanyi. "What you should know about Dangote". Retrieved 14 July 2015.
- ^ admin (10 April 2017). "Aliko Dangote: The African Icon at 60!". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ "What you should know about Dangote - The Nation Newspaper". 23 November 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "Sani Dangote dies: Aliko Dangote brother Sani, Vice President of Dangote Group don die". BBC News Pidgin (in Nigerian Pidgin). 15 November 2021. from the original on 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Sani Dangote burial fotos". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ a b . naijanews.com. 17 March 2017. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
- ^ IV, Editorial (4 January 2018). "Birnin Kudu College hails Dangote on projects". Blueprint. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ^ "The World's Billionaires: Aliko Dangote". Forbes.com. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ Umoh, Ruth (5 December 2018). "Billionaire Aliko Dangote is the world's richest black person—here's how he made his wealth". CNBC. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ . Reuters. 2 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- ^ "Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR)", Institute of Developing Economies-Japan External Trade Organization. Accessed 26 November 2015.
- ^ "Africa's Richest Man, Dangote Ventures Into Automobiles". Investors King. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Aliko Dangote, Nigeria's first billionaire cements his fortune - CNN.com". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "Aliko Dangote Racks in $9.2 bn in 2013". BellaNaija. 3 January 2014.
- ^ "Exposed: The Africans named in the HSBC Swiss Leaks". The Mail & Guardian. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "INVESTIGATION: David Mark's wife, Dangote, Adenuga, others named in #SwissLeaks as operators of secret foreign accounts | Premium Times Nigeria". 19 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
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- ^ "Group wants Obasanjo prosecuted over Presidential Library donations, others". Premium Times. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
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- ^ Akinola, Wale (18 August 2017). "I am not ready to give up business for politics - Dangote rules out 2019 presidential bid". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "2019: Presidency clarifies Dangote's role in Buhari's campaign as Nigerians, PDP react | Premium Times Nigeria". 29 December 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ Falade, Faderera (26 September 2019). "What I Admire Most About Dangote – Bill Gates". Nigeria News. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ . Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 August 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ "Africa's richest man gives N150m to fight Ebola – Corporate News". businessdailyafrica.com. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
- ^ "Boko Haram crisis: Nigerian tycoon Dangote donates $10m in aid". BBC News. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Dangote donate N200m to fight Coronavirus in Nigeria". CNBC Africa. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ "AFCON: Dangote, Otedola To Splash $75,000 Per Goal On Super Eagles". Channels Television. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
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- ^ "United Nations Girls' Education Initiative – Global Section – Global Business Leaders Launch Girls' Education Task Force". UNGEI. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ "U.S. Chamber Names Aliko Dangote Co-Chair of U.S.-Africa Business Center". U.S. Chamber of Commerce. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ "US Chamber names Dangote Co-Chair of US-Africa Business Centre". Vanguard News. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ "Africa's richest man to co-chair US-Africa business center by U.S. Chamber of Commerce". guardian.ng. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
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- ^ "Aliko Dangote GCON – Omnia Strategy LLP". omniastrategy.com. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ "Aliko Dangote". ONE. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ "African Business leader and Philanthropist, Aliko Dangote, joins Board of The ONE Campaign". ONE. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ "Dangote and Bono launch poverty tackling partnership". ONE. 29 August 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
- ^ Release, Press (16 August 2022). "Buhari inaugurates Dangote-led Nigeria End Malaria Council". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ "End Malaria Council". endmalariacouncil.org. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
Further reading
- Barau, A. S. (2007), The Great Attractions of Kano. Research and Documentation Directorate, Government House, Kano
- Fayemiwo, M. A., & M. M. Neal (2013), Aliko Mohammad Dangote The Biography of the Richest Black Person in the World, Strategic Book Publishing ISBN 9781618978851
- Ekekwe, N. (2020), The Dangote System: Techniques for Building Conglomerates, Tekedia Institute
External links
- James Whittington, "Nigerian wealth fails to trickle down", BBC News, 19 April 2007