Dangote

Dangote is a surname most closely associated with Aliko Dangote, a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who founded the Dangote Group, one of Africa’s largest diversified industrial conglomerates. The group operates in cement, sugar, salt, flour, fertilizer, and packaging, with a presence across multiple African countries and markets.

The Dangote Group was established in 1981 as a trading company in Lagos by Aliko Dangote. It expanded into manufacturing and distribution, building flagship operations such as Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Flour Mills, and Dangote Fertilizer. Dangote Cement is the group’s best-known arm and has grown to become a leading cement producer in Africa with plants in Nigeria and other countries on the continent.

Aliko Dangote was born on 10 April 1957 in Kano, Nigeria. He studied business and economics at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. Through the Dangote Group, he built a multinational enterprise that ranks among Africa’s largest and most valuable business holdings. He has been repeatedly identified by Forbes as among Africa’s wealthiest individuals, including periods when he topped the list of Africa’s richest.

Philanthropy is a major facet of the Dangote profile. The Dangote Foundation focuses on health, nutrition, education, and economic empowerment in Africa, supporting polio vaccination campaigns, medical facilities, disaster relief, and other social programs. The foundation seeks to complement public sector efforts and address development needs across the region.