Richest Man in Africa Coming for February 7 Independence Celebrations
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell is bringing the richest man in Africa, Nigerian multi-billionaire Aliko Dangote to Grenada as the island’s special guest of honour for the February 7 Independence celebrations.
High-level sources told THE NEW TODAY that elaborate plans are being made for the visit of the high profile African businessman, who once held the position of richest man on earth before he was eclipsed by American Elon Musk.
A government official who did not want to be named said that one of the major highlights of the visit will be an evening at the East Wing of Grand Beach resort on February 6 to interact with leading government and private sector executives.
He said the government is planning to turn the Dangote visit into a “big event” and will do everything possible to pull out “a full house” of who-is-who in Grenada to interact with the Nigerian business tycoon.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell brought the then President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo for the historic Silver Jubilee of Grenada’s Independence in February 2024.
He is the second Grenadian leader to attract an African head of State to the island – the first was late Marxist Prime Minister Maurice Bishop who brought the late Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and Samora Machel of Mozambique who died in a plane crash on October 19, 1986.
According to the official, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and other leading government officials will engage the Nigerian in wide-ranging discussions on a number of issues.
He pointed out that the Prime Minister will personally interview the African billionaire in front of the audience.
“They will have a one-and-one sit down on the stage – the Prime Minister will be doing the chatting with him,” he said.
“Let’s hope our special guest of honour will bring with him a few million dollars for the country,” he added.
The Dickon Mitchell/Aliko Dangote relationship started when the Grenadian leader visited Nigeria in 2024 and toured many of his business ventures.
The Nigerian businessman has an estimated net worth of $10.8 billion as of January 19, 2025 with his business empire known as the Dangote Group being considered as one of the largest private-sector employers in Nigeria.
Shortly after graduating from college at 21, Dangote borrowed $3,000 from his uncle to import and sell agricultural commodities in Nigeria, his native country.
His business venture quickly became a success, and as a result, he managed to repay the entire loan within three months of starting operations.
Dangote was able to turn a local commodities trading business into a multibillion-dollar corporation.
Today, he is one of Africa’s leading industrialists and philanthropists.
Dangote’s fortune is primarily built from Dangote Cement, although he started his business empire by selling commodities such as sugar, salt, and flour.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation began partnering with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2013 to eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunisations, and in August 2020, the African continent celebrated its official certification as free of wild polio.
After years of construction delays, Dangote’s Lagos oil refinery began producing diesel and aviation fuel in January 2024.
Born in 1957, Dangote grew up in an entrepreneurial household in Kano State, Nigeria. He was raised Muslim and lived an upper-class life.
Dangote’s grandfather, Sanusi Dantata, was once named one of the wealthiest people living in Kano. He made his fortune selling commodities like oats and rice.
Dantata became Dangote’s guardian in 1965 after the death of his father.
Having spent much of his childhood with his grandfather, Dangote quickly became interested in the world of business, once saying, “I can remember when I was in primary school, I would go and buy cartons of sweets [sugar boxes] and I would start selling them just to make money. I was so interested in business, even at that time.”
Dangote attended Egypt’s Al-Azhar University, considered one of Islam’s most prestigious universities. It was there the budding entrepreneur furthered his education in business, graduating at age 21.
Dangote’s business interests encompass many industries, including oil and gas, consumer goods, and manufacturing.
However, Dangote Cement makes up the majority of the conglomerate’s revenue. Dangote owns 85%.
According to Forbes, the subsidiary has the capacity to produce 48.6 million metric tons of cement every year and operates in 10 African countries.
Dangote also owns the world’s third-largest sugar refinery. Dangote Cement Group reported annual revenue of 2.21 trillion Nigerian nairas for 2023, or approximately $1.39 billion USD.
Dangote has always reinvested the majority of his profits back into his businesses.
During an interview with Al Jazeera News, he explained, ‘‘We [Dangote Group] are not doing like other Africans who keep most of their money in the bank. We do not keep money in the bank. We fully invest whatever we have and we keep on investing.’’
