Nigerian business magnate and philanthropist Aliko Dangote has been recognized as the Personality of the Year by Vanguard, a leading Nigerian newspaper.Â
Dangote, who is the richest man in Africa, was honored for his exceptional leadership and immense contributions to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.
Throughout the year, he has demonstrated unwavering commitment to creating job opportunities and empowering the less privileged in the society.
With his innovative ideas and relentless pursuit of excellence, Dangote has proven to be a true vanguard in the world of business and beyond.
Dangote is the visionary behind Dangote Cement, the largest cement producer on the continent.
He holds a controlling 85-percent stake in the publicly-traded company through a holding company.Â
With an annual production capacity of 48.6 million metric tonnes and a presence in 10 African countries, Dangote Cement is a force to be reckoned with.
After years of planning and development, Dangote’s fertilizer plant in Nigeria also finally opened its doors in March 2022.Â
On another front, the Dangote Oil Refinery, a massive oil refining project, has been under construction since 2016 and is poised to become one of the largest refineries in the world upon completion.
According to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Dangote Oil Refinery will account for more than half of Africa’s medium-term refining additions, which are estimated at 1.2 million barrels per day.
The refinery, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is the largest of all the refinery additions expected across Africa in the medium term, according to OPEC.
The $19-billion project is a strategic move by Dangote and the Nigerian government to strengthen the country’s downstream industry and become a net exporter of refined petroleum products and petrochemicals by 2026.
