Ahead of Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s 60th birthday tomorrow, President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the business world, Dangote’s friends and family to congratulate the African richest man for reaching the diamond milestone.
In a statement released on Sunday by Feme Adesina, the President’s media adviser commended Dangote’s humility, simplicity and cosmopolitan outlook while also noting his patriotism and kind-heartedness “in always making sacrifices to safeguard the health of the nation, most remarkably the polio and Ebola interventions”.
“The President believes the global business mogul remains a shining example of the virtues of choosing entrepreneurship from an early age, treading the path of diligence, perseverance and continuous learning to build some of the world’s largest manufacturing and distribution companies, with household names in Nigeria and beyond”.
The President also acknowledged Dangote’s role in bolstering the Nigerian economy through policies that ‘defy ethnic and religious persuasions in extending support to the poor and vulnerable, providing employment opportunities without discrimination, while inspiring and mentoring young Nigerians to greatness.”
Aliko was born 10 April 1957 in Kano into a very prominent business family. His grandfather Alhaji Alhassan Dantata was the richest African at the time of his death in 1955.