33 Facts About Aliko Dangote

Aliko Mohammad Dangote was born on 10 April 1957 and is a Nigerian businessman known for his key roles in Dangote Group and Refinery.

In 1977, Aliko Dangote first founded the Aliko Dangote Group, a small company that traded commodities; importing sugar, salt, and food products.

Aliko Dangote is known for his influence on the Economy of Nigeria, hence, he was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger in 2011 by Goodluck Jonathan and listed in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2014.

Aliko Mohammad Dangote was born on 10 April 1957, in Kano, Kano State, British Nigeria.

Aliko Dangote's father Mohammed Dangote was a businessman, who owned a transport company.

Aliko Dangote cites his grandfather Sanusi, and maternal uncle, Usman Amaka Dantata, as his paternal figures.

Aliko Dangote was educated at Sheikh Ali Kumasi Madrasa for his primary school and later finished at Capital High School in Kano.

Aliko Dangote left Nigeria for Egypt after his secondary education, and studied business studies at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, for his tertiary education and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business studies and administration, before returning to Lagos to pursue business ventures.

Aliko Dangote has fathered four children; three daughters and an adopted son, Abdulrahman.

Aliko Dangote started his first business with a $3000 loan from his uncle.

Aliko Dangote traded food products, and has cited getting business mind from selling boiled sugar sweets at the age of eight to his classmates, and would keep the profits.

Aliko Dangote obtained Nigerian government import license and added cement to his business in the mid-to-late 1970s during Nigerian Cement Armada; a period where the government ordered the importation of 16 million metric tons of cement for infrastructure and development projects many cement-loaded ships remained at Lagos harbor, while others sank.

In 1977, Aliko Dangote's company produced pasta, salt, sugar, and flour only.

Aliko Dangote 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.

Aliko Dangote Group has been considered as one of the largest conglomerates in Africa.

Aliko Dangote became the owner of Aliko Dangote Refinery, the largest oil refinery in Africa.

Aliko Dangote was a key supporter of his friend President Olusegun Obasanjo's re-election campaign in 2003.

Aliko Dangote was named as an adviser for President Muhammadu Buhari's reelection campaign of the 2019 Nigerian presidential election.

Nigerian newspaper, Business Day, argues that fuel from Aliko Dangote's refinery has reportedly been expensive than imported ones, hence questioned the consumer benefits.

In Ghana, Aliko Dangote established a cement plant in Ghana and has supported import of cement and other commodities.

Aliko Dangote wrote that Dangote benefits from Nigeria's market especially after the country's transition to civil rule.

Aliko Dangote cites the National Bureau of Statistics of Nigeria writing that many Nigerians have gotten poorer.

Aliko 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.

Aliko Dangote was a member of President Jonathan's economic management team and job creation committee in 2011.

Aliko Dangote was the first nongovernmental figure to receive the distinction.

Aliko Dangote 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 give $60 to each displaced person as a result of the violence 2011 Nigerian presidential election.

Aliko Dangote took his family to Walt Disney World in 2012.

Aliko Dangote was the first non government official to receive the distinction.

In 2015 Aliko Dangote was listed among "50 Most Influential Individuals in the World" by Bloomberg, the Guardian Man of the Year award, and was cited as one of the top 100 most influential Africans by London-based magazine, New African.

Aliko Dangote was named co-chair of the US-Africa Business Center in September 2016 by the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Aliko Dangote was appointed by Goodluck Jonathan as member of his economic management team in 2011.

Aliko Dangote has worked alongside the Gates Foundation on public health issues.

Aliko Dangote is a fan of English football team Arsenal FC and showed interest in buying the club in 2019.