Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote ranked 11th among world’s greatest leaders
BY SUE B. SIMON
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Fortune Magazine, the renowned American business magazine headquartered in New York, has ranked Nigerian billionaire Alhaji Aliko Dangote among the World’s Greatest Leaders for 2019. The Nigerian, who is recognized by the magazine for the first time, ranks eleventh among 50 other leaders on the list.
The rating is based on how the leaders, in various spheres of activity—business, government, education, the media, sports or NGOs—“take action before others do, leading from out front, where the risk is often dire and their own future least certain,” according to Fortune Magazine.
In announcing the list, Fortune‘s editors wrote:
“Our sixth annual leaders list is the home of the brave. These thinkers, speakers, and doers make bold choices and take big risks—and move others to do the same.”
The editors also wrote:
“Great leaders never know for sure if their plans will work, but they plunge ahead anyway. That’s why we recognize sheer audacity, well intended, even if the results aren’t known and even if the plans aren’t universally applauded.”
The top 10 greatest men and women listed include familiar names: Bill and Melinda Gates (the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), Jacinda Ardem (Prime Minister, New Zealand), Robert Mueller (Special Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice), Pony Ma (Founder and CEO, Tencent), Satya Nadella (CEO, Microsoft), Greta Thunberg (Student and climate activist, Sweden), Margrethe Vestager (Commissioner for Competition, European Union), Anna Nimiriano (Editor-in-Chief, Juba Monitor), Jose Andres (Chef/Founder, World Central Kitchen), and Dough Mcmillon and Lisa Woods (CEO; Senior Director, Strategy & Design for U.S. Benefits, Walmart).
Dangote’s appearance on the list drew comments from business and political leaders across the world, including these remarks by the second wealthiest man in the world, a man known for his philanthropic activities in Africa, Bill Gates, who hailed the Nigerian billionaire.
“Aliko Dangote, through his leadership at the Aliko Dangote Foundation, is a key partner in the Polio eradication effort, strengthening routine immunisation and fighting malnutrition in Nigeria and across Africa. Aliko bridges the gap between private business and public health in a unique way and our shared belief that Nigeria will thrive when every Nigerian is able to thrive drives our partnership.”
Through the Dangote Foundation, which boasts an endowment of a reported $1.25 billion, the Nigerian billionaire—he is said to be Africa’s best philanthropist—has supported various causes in education, health, humanitarian relief, arts and others to the tune of more than $100 million in the course of the last five years. These include a $3.3-million complex for a business school at one of the local universities; $200 housing units for Boko Haram victims; fully-equipped cars for the Nigerian police; and a donation of whopping $2.7 million to the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.
According to Bloomberg, Aliko Dangote has a networth of $16.4 billion, which makes him the richest man in Africa. The Nigerian business mogul’s four main companies now account for about a third of the value of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The following is the impressive list of all the components of the Dangote business empire:
Cement Manufacturing: Dangote Cement is the largest company within the Dangote Group. It is by far the largest company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Sugar Refining: Dangote Sugar Refinery has a 1.44 MMTPA capacity, making it the second largest Sugar Refinery in the World.
Salt Refining & Seasonings: NASCON Allied Industries PLC produces of edible and industrial salts, marketed under the brand name ‘Dangote Salt’.
Flour & Semolina: Dangote Flour mills 7300 MT / day across mills in Lagos, Kano, Ilorin, Calabar and Ikorodu. It is the largest flour milling company in Africa and among the largest in the world.
Pasta Processing: The Dangote Pasta plant manufactures world-class Spaghetti and Macaroni. These products meet stringent national and international standards winning several Industry awards for product excellence. This is the largest Pasta Plant in Africa.
Packaging Materials: Dangote Agro Sacks Limited was commissioned for production of bags for packaging goods produced by companies within the Group. Presently producing 36 million bags/month with the state-of-the-art machinery.
Property Management: MHF Properties Limited founded in 2011, is a service-oriented company specializing in the management and development of luxury properties.
Technology: Dancom Technologies Limited provides IT services to the Group including data center, and server operations, network operations, infrastructure support, IT Service Desk and end user support.
Port Operations: Terminal Operations, Stevedoring, Bulk Cargo Operations, Containerization.
Food and Beverages: Dansa Foods Limited, an associated group company, produces bottled water and juices.
Transportation: Dantrans Limited provides accurate transport monitoring through advanced GPS systems and offers innovative and optimal transport solutions.