Aliko Dangote
President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him to the economic management team in 2011. With a net worth of around $30 billion as of January 2026, he is the richest Black person and the 91st richest person in the world, according to Forbes and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Industrialist & Business Magnate
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | April 10, 1957 (Age 68, as of 2025) |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Education | Al-Azhar University (Business Studies & Administration) |
| Current Net Worth | Estimated approx $13 – $15 Billion (Richest person in Africa) |
| Title Portfolio | Founder & CEO (Dangote Group); Chairman (Dangote Cement); Industrialist; Investor |
| Key Status | #BillionaireStatus, #Industrialist, #AfricanBusinessLeader, #Philanthropy |
Aliko Dangote (born 10 April 1957) is a Nigerian business magnate and philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of the Dangote Group, the largest industrial conglomerate in West Africa. For more than a decade, he has been recognized as the wealthiest person in Africa and the richest Black person in the world.
Early Life and Education
Birth and Pedigree
Dangote was born in Kano, Nigeria, into a wealthy Muslim family. He is the great-grandson of Alhassan Dantata, who was considered the wealthiest West African at the time of his death in 1955.
Early Entrepreneurship
As a primary school student, he demonstrated business instincts by purchasing cartons of sweets and reselling them to classmates at a profit.
Higher Education
Dangote studied business studies and administration at Al-Azhar University in Egypt before returning to Nigeria to begin his business career.
Business Career Foundation of the Dangote Group
The Beginning
In 1977, at the age of 20, Dangote secured a loan from his uncle to establish a small trading firm dealing in commodities.
Transition to Manufacturing
What began as a trading enterprise focused on cement, sugar, salt, and flour gradually evolved into a large-scale manufacturing empire. Dangote shifted from importing goods to producing them locally, positioning his company as a key driver of Nigerian industrialization.
Industrial Expansion
Cement Dominance
Dangote Cement became the flagship of his business empire, operating in multiple African countries and maintaining its status as the largest cement producer in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Dangote Refinery
In the 2020s, Dangote completed the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos—one of the largest oil refineries in the world—aimed at reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
Philanthropy and Public Life
Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF)
Established in 1994, the Aliko Dangote Foundation is the largest private foundation in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on health, nutrition, and education initiatives.
Global Health
In partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dangote contributed to efforts that led to the eradication of polio in Nigeria.
National Honors
In 2011, he was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Nigeria’s second-highest national honor, by then-President Goodluck Jonathan.
Personal Life
Residency
Dangote resides in Lagos, Nigeria.
Family
He has been married and divorced twice. He has three daughters—Mariya, Halima, and Fatimah—and an adopted son, Abdulrahman.
References
- “Aliko Dangote.” Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/profile/aliko-dangote/
- “Alhassan Dantata.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com
- Akwagyiram, Alexis. “Dangote: Africa’s Richest Man.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/business
- “Aliko Dangote Biography.” Biography.com. https://www.biography.com/business-leaders/aliko-dangote
- “The Rise of Dangote Group.” Reuters. https://www.reuters.com
- “Industrializing Nigeria: The Dangote Story.” Financial Times. https://www.ft.com
- Dangote Cement Corporate Profile. https://www.dangotecement.com
- “Inside the Dangote Refinery.” Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com
- Aliko Dangote Foundation Official Website. https://www.dangote.com/foundation
- “Nigeria Declared Polio-Free.” World Health Organization. https://www.who.int
- “National Honours List 2011.” Government of Nigeria. https://statehouse.gov.ng
- “Africa’s Richest Man Lives in Lagos.” CNBC Africa. https://www.cnbcafrica.com
- “Dangote Family Profile.” Forbes Africa. https://www.forbesafrica.com
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