FOR
sure, Alhaji Aliko Dangote is an extraordinary Nigerian. He is the
richest African in recorded modern history. Just about three years ago,
he was estimated by Forbes (first time a Nigerian was making it to the
charmed circle of 400 richest men in the world) as worth a little over
US$3 billion. Dangote disputed the figure, stressing that he was worth
over five billion.
In
March last year,
Forbes upgraded Dangote’s rating to nearly US$14 billion. His business surged 557 per cent within the past one year, thus breasting the tape as the world’s biggest gainer.
Forbes upgraded Dangote’s rating to nearly US$14 billion. His business surged 557 per cent within the past one year, thus breasting the tape as the world’s biggest gainer.
Dangote
is mainly into sugar, flour and cement. In fact, in those fields of
manufacturing and importation, he is a virtual or absolute monopolist.
His group controls about one quarter of the value of the Nigerian Stock
Exchange, NSE. Dangote is easily the private sector’s largest employer
of labour. I don’t know how well he pays his staff, but I hardly hear
his labour force going on strike or threatening to do so. Dangote’s
wealth is made in Nigeria through mainly manufacturing efforts. He is
not like the others who looted government treasuries and hid their
monies in foreign banks where they serve the interests of foreign powers
at the expense of Nigerians.
While
many other indigenous (and even foreign multinationals) have gone under
or bolted from the country as a result of the harsh operating climate,
Dangote continues to grow from strength to strength. I am sure, every
morning, Aliko Dangote wakes up humming TY Bello’s inspiring Nigeria
patriotic song: The Land Is Green. This is a man who made his wealth in
an environment devoid of public power supply, with roads and
infrastructure all but collapsed, little support from the agricultural
and mining sectors to feed his factories with raw materials; a man who
grew fat in a land that famished his co-travellers.
I remember back in 2007 hearing pastor Mathew Ashimolowo in this winning ways series saying "The richest man in my country deals on something that my country cannot do without". i only understood what he meant months back when i tried seeing Nigeria without Dangote and his Conglomerate. What'll happen to the cement industry, sugar, floor and all other things he has his hands in.
I remember back in 2007 hearing pastor Mathew Ashimolowo in this winning ways series saying "The richest man in my country deals on something that my country cannot do without". i only understood what he meant months back when i tried seeing Nigeria without Dangote and his Conglomerate. What'll happen to the cement industry, sugar, floor and all other things he has his hands in.
It
was for these and so many other attributes that the President Goodluck
Jonathan Federal Government has nominated him for the award of Grand
Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, the highest national honour
ever bestowed on a “civilian” (non-occupant of governmental office).
There're not so many Nigerian billionaires that made their money outside the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry and Dangote obviously tops this list. I think Nigerian youths have a lot to learn from him. Especially that being successful doesn't mean working in the oil and gas industry. There're many potentials yet to be tapped
There're not so many Nigerian billionaires that made their money outside the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry and Dangote obviously tops this list. I think Nigerian youths have a lot to learn from him. Especially that being successful doesn't mean working in the oil and gas industry. There're many potentials yet to be tapped