Aliko Dangote in a recent interview has revealed how he became richer. The richest man in Africa in a chat with Financial Times revealed among other things how former president Olusegun Obasanjo helped in making him the king of cement production in Africa.
According to Dangote, Obasanjo called him very early in the morning asking him if they could meet that day, not long after the election in 1999 of Obasanjo – Dangote said Obasanjo wanted to know why Nigeria couldn’t produce cement, instead of importing it by the boatload.
The Business mogul narrated how he told Obasanjo it was more profitable to trade than to produce except the imports were restricted that would make it worthwhile.
He said Obasanjo agreed and that is how became what he is now, Africa’s undisputed King of Cement, and he produces in 14 countries.
Dangote is known to have contributed financially to Obasanjo’s 1999 campaign and to his subsequent re-election in 2003.