Aliko Dangote, born on April 10, 1957, in Kano, Nigeria, is a prominent businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is widely regarded as one of Africa’s wealthiest individuals and is the founder and owner of the Dangote Group, a company with interests in various industries, including cement, sugar, salt, flour, and more.
Personal Life
Aliko Dangote is known for maintaining a relatively private personal life. He is married with children. Despite his immense wealth, he is recognized for his disciplined and frugal lifestyle.
Early Life and Education
Aliko Dangote was born into a wealthy Muslim family in Kano. His grandfather, Sanusi Dantata, was one of the wealthiest Africans at the time. Aliko showed early signs of entrepreneurship, as he began his business endeavors while still in primary school, selling sweets to his classmates. He continued to display his business acumen during his formative years.
After completing his primary and secondary education in Kano, Dangote pursued higher education at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. However, he dropped out of the university and returned to Nigeria to fully engage in business.
How dangote started business
Aliko Dangote’s journey to becoming one of the most successful businessmen in Africa began in the late 1970s when he established the Dangote Group. Initially, the company focused on trading in commodities such as cement, sugar, and rice. Over the years, Dangote strategically expanded his business empire into manufacturing, transforming the group into a conglomerate with a significant presence across various sectors.
The Dangote Group is particularly renowned for its dominance in the cement industry. Dangote Cement, a subsidiary of the Dangote Group, has grown to become the largest cement manufacturer in Africa. The company has operations in several African countries, contributing significantly to infrastructure development on the continent.
Apart from cement, the Dangote Group has interests in diverse sectors, including sugar, salt, flour, and oil. Aliko Dangote’s business philosophy emphasizes import substitution and promoting economic development in Nigeria and Africa.
Dangote Wife & Children
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.
Contact details
Instagram: @aliko_dangotegcon
Net worth
Dangote is Africa’ richest individual with net worth of $15 billion. He owns 85% of publicly-traded Dangote Cement through a holding company.