Aliko Dangote at 64: Making a difference as entrepreneur, philanthropist per excellence
By Uthman Salami
Many need not be told of his statue, Aliko Dangote, not just known as a business magnate who controls innumerable businesses worth billions of Dollars across the Africa continent, but also his entrepreneurial acumen and business sagacity which has etched Africans as the source of innovations, and the peoples’ innateness and perseverance in the face of negative odds and unbearable economic policies.
His demeanor as a business magnate, innovator and business model has upheld Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) as one of the biggest conglomerate company in Africa.
Oftentimes, many accorded him with a well-founded title; the richest man in Africa, and the richest black in the world. But what is almost salient in all these sterling titles, is his exploits as one of the foremost engineer and inventor of entrepreneurship not just in Nigeria but Africa as a whole. Despite constant change in government policies, his temerity in maneuvering unfavorable policies, and adapting to their ugliness leaves many of his competitors in confusion.
Albeit, he came from one of the wealthiest and most respected family in West Africa, he never allowed this to smoke screen his resolve to establish his own empire. Since onset, his desire to run his own business has been the only drive he nurtures. His interest in business dates back to his primary school days when he indulged in selling candies to his peers at school. Then many would wonder what kind of a child who already had everything would sell candies to his mates! Only a child like Aliko Dangote would dare such feat.
At 21, his interest in business reached its crescendo as he wanted to import and sell agric produce for Nigerians. He was in dire need of capital to start this newfound business exploits. So he sought for his uncle’s help who helped him, at the time, with $3000. As he is blessed with golden touch, the new business became a success. Several sources had it that the loan was returned to his uncle after the successful of the business. This early business voyage of Dangote has become a reference point for an entrepreneurial course at some of the reputable universities in the country.
Since then, he could only move from wealth to wealth, creating massive workforce for Nigerians and Africa continent. According to Forbes magazine, only Dangote cement, a subsidiary company of Dangote Industry Limited (DIL) produces 45.6 million metric tons of cement every year, operates in 10 African countries and with over 11,000 employees. His other business exploits includes Agricultural products, pasta, flour mills, rice, sugar as well as Fertilizers for farm produce. He also exports products such as cocoa, cotton, sesame seeds, ginger, and cashew nuts.
And most recently, he has further dipped his hands into solving one of the decade-long refinery problems that have been bedevilling succesive Nigerian democratic administrations for years. His refinery is to produce a whopping 650,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
The country’s problem of demand of 33 million litres of PMS domestic daily is easily, magically and comfortably solved by this guru. This acumen and herculean feat, Dangote has done! The man of the moment truly deserves huge and resounding accolades.
Sometime in 2014 when Ebola pandemic breached the Africa continent, he donated N150 million to the public to combat the spread of the pandemic as a gesture to ameliorate and confront the dreaded pandemic.
His foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Incorporated in 1994, focuses on health, education, and economic empowerment issues. The foundation, in collaboration with Bill Gates and Melinda, has helped many in the continent from 2013 till date to eradicate poliomylites and strengthen routine immunization in Nigeria.
Out of his generosity and sensitivity to public safety and well-being, he donated another N200 million to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
Just this last Wednesday, his Foundation empowered 16,000 women in all the 16 local governments area of Kwara State with each woman of the 16 thousand rural carting away with N10,000 each, to help them in their businesses and trades. In just a day, his foundation spent a total of N160 million on humanitarian aides.
His generosity has not left Nigerian education sector untouched. Through his foundation N500 million was gifted for the development of a business school in Bayero University (BUK). As Nigerian as he is, he went further south to donate a N100 million for the proposed Otuoke University in Bayelsa State.
Yet, this enigmatic man never for once grew tired of helping to developing Nigerian moribund institutions as he generously made another intervention by donating fully equipped rooms with capacity for housing 2160 students, built at a cost of N1.2 billion to Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria. This is not without donations of numerous patrol cars to the Nigerian police force to beef up security in the country.
As this innate entrepreneur and philanthropic per excellence magnate clocks 64, one can only hope that many of his competitors and adversaries in business firmament borrow this rare nature from him, and take Nigerian to greater heights.
