In 1977, Dangote founded the Dangote Group, a small company that traded commodities; importing sugar, salt, and food products. In 1981, he founded Dangote Nigeria Limited and Blue Star Services; both import rice, and bulk materials like steel and aluminum products. Following the large sales by the company, and high demand for cement, Dangote founded Dangote Cement, which faced competition from Lafarge, a French cement manufacturing company known for importing cement to African countries during that period. As of 2023[update], Dangote Cementhas generatedabout $3.7 billion in revenue, and Dangote Sugar Refinery has been ranked as one of the largest sugar producers in Nigeria and Africa.[4]
Aliko Mohammad Dangote was born on 10 April 1957, in Kano, Kano State, British Nigeria.[5] His name "Aliko" was given to him by his maternal grandfather, Sanusi Dantata; it means "the victorious one who defends humanity".[5]
His mother,Mariya(néeDantata), from a wealthy family, was a businesswoman and philanthropist. His father Mohammed Dangote was also a businessman; he owned a transport company.
Dangote's family were influential businesspeople. His maternal great-grandfather, Alhassan Abdullahi Dantata, was the richest person in West Africa until his death in 1955. During his business career, Alhassan imported Kola nuts from Ghana, and exported groundnuts abroad.[5][a] After Dangote's father died in 1965, he donated his inheritance to charity. He regards his maternal grandfather, Sanusi, and his maternal uncle, Usman Amaka Dantata, as influential paternal figures in his upbringing.[5]
Dangote was educated at Sheikh Ali Kumasi Madrasa for his primary school and later finished at Capital High School in Kano.[8] In 1978, he graduated from the Government College, Birnin Kudu, where he had his secondary education.[9]
He left Nigeria for Egypt after his secondary education, and studied at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business studies and administration, before returning to Lagos to pursue business ventures.[5][8]
Dangote has four children; three daughters and an adopted son, Abdulrahman.[10][11][12] According to Nigerian website Legit.ng, unlike Dangote, his wives hate publicity, which may be the reason there is little information about them in the media. In 1977, at the age of twenty, he married his first wife, Zainab, who was chosen by his parents in accordance with local customs. The couple had two daughters, Maria and Halima. They later divorced, although the exact date is not known.[13]
At an unspecified date, he entered into a second marriage with Mariya Muhammad Rufai, the daughter of the former Bauchi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Human Services. This union produced one daughter, Fatima. The marriage ended in divorce in 2017.[12]
Dangote launched his first business venture with a loan of $3,000 from his uncle. He initially traded in food products and has credited his early entrepreneurial instincts to selling boiled sugar sweets to classmates at the age of eight, retaining the profits for himself.[5]
In the mid-to-late 1970s, during the period known as the Nigerian Cement Armada—when the government authorized the importation of approximately 16 million metric tons of cement for infrastructure and development projects—Dangote obtained an import license and expanded his business to include cement. However, logistical challenges led to numerous cement-laden ships being stranded at the Lagos harbor, while some reportedly sank. Importers were compensated with demurrage fees for the delays.[14]
During this time, Dangote acquired a fleet of trucks and established a cargo transportation business, which he also used to distribute his cement products.[15]
In 1977, Dangote's company produced pasta, salt, sugar, and flour. In 1981, he expanded his company into a conglomerate, which traded textiles, sugar, flour, salt, oil and gas, and real estate. He stayed in Atlanta, Georgia before returning to Nigeria to start his cement business in 1998. His sugar refinery in Lagos became the second largest in the world.[15] Dangote Group has been considered to be one of the largest conglomerates in Africa.[16] In 2000, after his friend Olusegun Obasanjo won the 1999 Nigerian presidential election, the Nigerian government privatized Benue Cement Company (BBC), a now defunct state-owned company in Gboko, Benue State, allowing Dangote to expand his cement business in Benue. Dangote's Obajanu cement plant in Kogi State became the largest cement plant in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2010, the group acquired part of South Africa's Sephaku Cement.[15]
In July 2012, Dangote's request to the Nigerian Ports Authority to lease abandoned land at Apapa Port Complex was approved.[17] In February 2022, he announced the completion of the Peugeot assembling facility in Nigeria following his partnership with Stellantis, the company manufacturering Peugeot. Dangote became the owner of Dangote Refinery, the largest oil refinery in Africa.[18] It was commissioned in 2023.[19][20]
Political activities
Dangote's business interests and philanthropic efforts extend to African countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Togo.
Nigeria
Dangote was a key supporter of his friend President Olusegun Obasanjo's re-election campaign in 2003. He contributed over N200 million to the campaign.[21] In 2011, he was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan as a member of his Economic Management Team.[22]
The Dangote Refinery was initially anticipated to serve as a solution to Nigeria's high fuel prices. However, its emergence has instead introduced monopolistic challenges. Tensions have arisen between Dangote, NNPC Limited, and oil marketers due to conflicting commercial and strategic interests.[28]
Dangote's conglomerate maintains a dominant position in Nigeria's cement and sugar industries, where competitors often struggle to contend with his extensive resources and perceived government-backed advantages. The establishment of his oil refinery in Lagos has sparked concerns over potential monopolization of the fuel supply, with critics warning of increased prices and diminished market competition. These concerns have been amplified by reports of alleged government concessions, including tax exemptions, granted to the refinery.[28]
Benin
Dangote's business interests extend to Benin Republic, where he has invested in his cement business. His company, Dangote Cement, has established a cement plant in Benin.
Ghana
In Ghana, Dangote established a cement plant in Ghana and has supported import of cement and other commodities.
Criticisms
In a 2014 Op-ed on Vanguard News, former Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Service Sa'adatu Modibbo Kawu questioned Dangote's source of income.[29] He wrote that Dangote benefits from Nigeria's market especially after the country's transition to civil rule. He cites the National Bureau of Statistics of Nigeria writing that many Nigerians have gotten poorer. While criticising Forbes for celebrating Dangote, he called it "an uber-capitalist magazine".[30]
Dangote was alleged to have supported Obasanjo's presidential election in 1999, hence, Obasanjo provided him with "exclusive" import rights of cement, sugar, and rice. In a dated 2007 diplomatic cable that appeared on WikiLeaks in 2011, the US consul general in Lagos Brian Browne suggested that Dangote was given preferential treatment in exchange for funding Obasanjo's reelection campaign in 2003. Dangote dismissed the claim.[30]
Personal life
Dangote was a member of President Jonathan's economic management team and job creation committee in 2011. Also in November of the same year, he was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, the second highest honour in Nigeria. He was the first nongovernmental figure to receive the distinction.[30]
In 2012 and 2013, he sued Cletus Ibeto citing that Ibeto Cement receives illegal tax breaks.[31] He is a philanthropist and along with his foundation, Dangote Foundation, has reportedly contributed to the social and education sector of Nigeria; in 2011, he reportedly gave $60 to each displaced person as a result of the violence in 2011 Nigerian presidential election.[31]
Dangote has four children and five grandchildren. He took his family to Walt Disney World in 2012.[32]
Having been first listed on the Forbes Billionaires List in 2008, with a networth of $3.3 billion. His wealth dropped by 2009 to $2.5 billion, and subsequently, $2.1 billion in 2010. His wealth increased to $13.8 billion in 2011 after he founded the Dangote Cement.[35] Dangote hold a share of 86 percent of Dangote Cement as well as in other traded holding like NASCON Allied Industries, Dangote Sugar, and the United Bank for Africa. According to Nairametrics, his wealth decreased by over $1 billion in 2024 as a result of naira's low market value and moderation in the value of his equity holdings.[36] By September 2024, Dangote regained his position as the richest man in Africa after being surpassed by Johann Rupert in January of the same year.[37]
Legacy
Dangote became the first billionaire in Nigeria in 2007.[38] In 2012 The Guardian wrote that he is the richest man inAfricaand the richest black man in the world."[39] According to Nigerian newspaper Vanguard, the Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that Dangote's wealth increased by $9.2 billion in 2013. The 2015 Swiss Leaks revealed that he was a client of the British university Bank, HSBC, thereby having assets in the British Virgin Islands.[38][40]
Dangote was named co-chair of the US-Africa Business Center in September 2016 by the United States Chamber of Commerce.[47] he was appointed as the Chairman of the Nigeria End Malaria Council by Buhari in August 2022.[48]
Awards and honours
Dangote was appointed by Goodluck Jonathan as member of his economic management team in 2011.[49] In 2017, he denied the alleged run for Nigerian president in the 2019 election,[50] and served on the special advisory committee for the reelection campaign of Muhammadu Buhari.[51]
Dangote has worked alongside the Gates Foundation on public health issues.[52] In August 2014, he donated 150 million naira to assist the Nigerian government's efforts of treating and preventing Ebola.[53] In May 2016 he pledged $10 million to support Nigerians affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.[54] In March 2020, he donated 200 million naira to fight against the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.[55]
Dangote is a fan of English football team Arsenal F.C. and showed interest in buying the club in 2019.[56] In 2020, he made a donation to Nigeria's ministry of sports in order to help renovate the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.[57]
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