ALIKO DANGOTE, TYCOON WITH MIDAS TOUCH
Alhaji Aliko Dangote! That name means so many things to many people. But what no one can’t deny is the fact that the name is essentially synonymous with success.
The Kano State-born mogul has successfully engraved his name in the hearts of the generality of his compatriots. Even across the globe, he is not a colourless personality.
Like every creature, this amiable billionaire too has his own humble beginning. But his is one that will inspire any ambitious soul any day. As a young man, he had a clear vision of what he wanted to do later in life and he pursued it with unwavering doggedness. While growing up, the only thing that caught his fancy was business and he refused to be swayed by any other interest.
Though he started out as a trader at 21, he is today the Africa’s leading businessman. His chain of companies is spread across 16 countries around the world and he has over 15,000 people in his employ. He is the richest African man on the planet, with a personal fortunes worth over $25 billion.
 As an entrepreneur, he always sees opportunities, while others are bogged down by morbid fear of failure. It is clear that he is a man born under a lucky star; it is also clear that he is endowed with the proverbial Midas touch. No wonder, he has always made a success of all that he has ventured into. From trading in commodity to sugar refining and from cement manufacturing to petroleum product refining, it is all a success story.
In the thinking of his traducers, he is no more but a beneficiary of government waivers and concessions. But those who know him too well will attest to the fact that he is a hard-working and shrewd businessman.
Dangote was born into a wealthy family in Kano. But rather than being pampered, he was given a chance to pursue his love for business. His uncle, Sanusi Abdulkadir Dantata, eventually gave him a loan of N500, 000 that has today turned into a mega fortune.
Apart from his business acumen, he is also a philanthropist of note. He has collaborated with the Bill Gates Foundation to invest in the provision of health, especially the eradication of polio in Africa and other parts of the world, where the disease is still prevalent.
