Aliko Dangote Biography, Age, Wife, Children, Net Worth

Aliko Dangote is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder of Dangote Group and the owner of Dangote Refinery, which is the largest oil refinery in Africa and the biggest single-unit refinery in the world. Since 2011, he has been the richest Black person in the world.

Aliko Dangote Biography

Dangote was born on April 10, 1957, in Kano, Nigeria. His parents, Hajiya Mariya Dangote and Mohammed Dangote, lived in Kano, which was then part of British Nigeria. His father was a businessman, and his mother was the granddaughter of Alhassan Dantata, who was the richest person in West Africa when he passed away in 1955.

He had a younger brother, Sani Dangote (born around 1959/1960), who was also a businessman. Sani passed away in 2021 in the United States due to colon cancer.

Aliko Dangote Educational Background

He completed his primary and secondary education in Kano, Kano State. In 1978, he graduated from Government College, Birnin Kudu. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in business studies and administration from Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

Aliko Dangote Career

After graduating with a business degree from Al-Azhar University, an Islamic institution in Cairo, in 1977, Dangote returned to Nigeria. His uncle lent him ₦500,000 to start a business trading commodities like cement, rice, sugar, and other essentials. By 1981, his business had grown significantly, leading him to expand into new industries and establish the Dangote Group.

His business empire covered various sectors, including food products like pasta, sugar, salt, and wheat, as well as cement, transportation, and other ventures. Some of his major companies include Dangote Industries Ltd., Dangote-Bail Nigeria Ltd., Dangote Cement PLC, Benue Cement Company PLC, Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC, Dangote Flour Mills PLC, and Nascon Allied Industries PLC. The Dangote Group also operates in multiple African countries beyond Nigeria.

In July 2012, the Nigerian Ports Authority granted his request to lease an abandoned land at Apapa Port. In February 2022, he announced the completion of a Peugeot assembly plant in Nigeria, following a partnership with Stellantis, the parent company of Peugeot.

One of his most ambitious projects was building a massive oil refinery in Lagos State. He initiated the project in 2013 to address Nigeria’s ongoing fuel crisis. Despite being a major oil-producing country, Nigeria still relied on imports for most of its refined petroleum products. Alongside the refinery, Dangote also constructed a fertilizer plant and a power station.

After multiple delays, the refinery, the largest in Africa was inaugurated in May 2023, though it was not yet fully operational. With a production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, it was expected to reshape Nigeria’s energy sector by reducing fuel imports and producing excess for export. The project also created thousands of temporary and permanent jobs during and after construction.

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Aliko Dangote Awards and Honors

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man has received numerous awards and honors in recognition of his contributions to industry and philanthropy. Here is a list of some of his notable accolades:

• Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON): In 2011, Dangote was awarded Nigeria’s second-highest honor by President Goodluck Jonathan, acknowledging his significant contributions to the nation’s economic development.
• Forbes Africa Person of the Year: In 2014, Forbes recognized Dangote as the Africa Person of the Year for his outstanding business achievements.
• Time 100 Most Influential People: In April 2014, Time magazine included Dangote in its list of the 100 most influential people globally.
• Bloomberg Markets’ 50 Most Influential People: In October 2015, Bloomberg Markets listed Dangote among the 50 most influential individuals worldwide.
• The Guardian Man of the Year: In 2015, Dangote was honored as The Guardian’s Man of the Year, recognizing his impact on business and philanthropy.
• African Business Leader Award: In 2016, the Africa-America Institute presented Dangote with the African Business Leader Award, acknowledging his leadership in business across the continent.
• Honorary Citizenship of Arkansas: In 2013, Dangote, along with six other prominent Nigerians, was conferred honorary citizenship of the State of Arkansas, USA, by Governor Mike Beebe, who also proclaimed May 30 as Nigeria Day in the state.
• CNBC’s “Top 25 Businessmen in the World”: In 2014, CNBC included Dangote in its list of the top 25 businessmen globally who have had a significant impact on their respective industries.
• Membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences: In 2019, Dangote was elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, recognizing his contributions to business and society.

Aliko Dangote Personal Life

Dangote is a fan of the English football club Arsenal F.C. and expressed interest in buying the team in 2019, a decision he now regrets not taking as he has disclosed. He is passionate about football and, in 2020, donated funds to Nigeria’s Ministry of Sports to support the renovation of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. In 2019, there were also rumors that he might run for the presidential election.

Aliko Dangote Age

Dangote was born on April 10, 1957, he is 68 years old as of 2025.

Aliko Dangote Media Controversies

In 2016, Dangote was implicated in the Panama Papers leak, which exposed individuals connected to offshore shell companies. Reports linked him to four such companies, while at least 13 others were associated with his family and business partners.

By July 2024, tensions escalated between Dangote Refinery and Nigerian oil regulators over operational policies and industry standards. That same month, refinery officials accused international oil companies (IOCs) of restricting access to crude oil, either refusing to sell or demanding a price $6 above the global market rate. They also criticized the continued approval of fuel import licenses, arguing that this could disrupt the refinery’s operations.

In response, Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), alleged that the refinery’s diesel was of lower quality than imported alternatives. He also hinted that the 650,000-barrel-per-day facility might be running without full regulatory approval. Furthermore, the refinery was accused of trying to dominate the market just weeks before its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol was set to launch.

Aliko Dangote, head of the Dangote Group, openly objected to the government’s decision to issue fuel import permits, insisting that his refinery had the capacity to meet Nigeria’s fuel needs. The situation took another turn when the House of Representatives intervened, raising doubts about the regulator’s accusations. One of the most controversial claims was that Dangote’s diesel was substandard, despite no concrete proof backing this assertion.

In response, Dangote challenged NMDPRA to reveal where its tests had been conducted and called for fresh, independent testing of the diesel to verify its quality. Although regulators initially failed to act, further analysis prompted by lawmakers ultimately discredited Ahmed’s claim, suggesting an attempt to undermine the refinery for undisclosed motives.

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Aliko Dangote Philanthropic Works

Aliko Dangote, through his Aliko Dangote Foundation, is one of Africa’s leading philanthropists. His foundation focuses on improving health, education, and economic empowerment, with a special emphasis on child nutrition and disaster relief. He has also collaborated with the Gates Foundation on public health initiatives.

In August 2014, he donated 150 million naira to support the Nigerian government’s efforts to treat and prevent Ebola. In May 2016, he pledged $10 million to help Nigerians affected by the Boko Haram insurgency. In March 2020, he contributed 200 million naira to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria, among other charitable efforts.

Aliko Dangote Marriages

Aliko Dangote has been married and divorced twice. His first wife, Zainab, married him in 1997, but the date of their divorce is unknown. His second wife, Mariya Muhammad Rufai, also parted ways with him. After his second divorce, he chose not to remarry.

Aliko Dangote Children

Dangote has four children. During his two marriages, he had three daughters, Halima, Mariya, and Fatimah. He has openly stated that he plans to hand over his business to them, describing them as well-trained and a source of great pride. He often refers to them as his beautiful daughters and his legacy.

In addition to his daughters, Dangote has an adopted son, Abdulrahman Fasasi, who is his only son. All of his children play key roles in his business, holding top positions and working alongside him to expand his empire.

Aliko Dangote Cars and Houses

One would expect nothing less than expensive exotic cars for a man as rich as Aliko Dangote, and he isn’t letting us down.

• Bombardier Global Express XRS (Private Jet) – $45 million
• Luxury Yacht – $43 million
• Maybach 57S – $367,000
• Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG – $215,000
• Bugatti Veyron – $2.3 million+
• Bentley Mulsanne – $310,800
• A $30 million Abuja mansion.

Aliko Dangote Net Worth

According to Forbes, as of 2025, Dangote has a net worth of $23.8 billion. His wealth comes from many years in business, along with his vast investments and companies. He also owns 85% of the Dangote Group.

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Aliko Dangote Social Media Handles

Aliko Dangote is active on social media, where he shares updates about his work, family, and philanthropic efforts.

• Instagram: @aliko_dangotegcon
• Twitter X: @Aliko Dangote