A Clash of Titans

In the world of power and influence, Bola Ahmed Tinubu rules the political arena while Aliko Dangote reigns supreme in the realm of business. What happens when these two giants clash?

Written by Nmesoma Ekeugo

Nov 3, 2024

Collage by Dami Mojid / THE REPUBLIC. Ref: FLICKR.

‘I always tried to move up the food chain. I started with cement and then moved to textiles and banking. When I was trading sugar, I added salt and flour so that we could make pasta and then I thought why not make the bag for it too? So we started making packaging.’

Starting his first business in 1977 with a $3,000 loan from his uncle, Aliko Dangote, the president of Dangote Group, is today the richest man in Africa and one of the richest men in the world, with an estimated net worth of around $13.4 billion. From a simple trading firm in the 1970s, Dangote has grown his business into a global conglomerate spanning multiple industries from cement to food and agriculture (sugar, flour, pasta, fertilizer) and more recently, oil and gas. As of 2023, Dangote Cement generated about $3.7 billion in revenue. Dangote Sugar Refinery remains one of the largest sugar producers in Nigeria and Africa producing over 17,000 tonnes a day and aiming for 1.5 million metric tonnes annually. While Dangote’s economic success can be attributed to his stellar business acumen, strategic investments and innovative mind, it is an open secret that his rise also comes as a result of his involvement in politics and with politicians.

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About the Author

Nmesoma Ekeugo

is a writer based in Lagos.

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A Clash of Titans