Aliko Dangote

Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest person, founded and chairs Dangote Cement, the continent's largest cement producer.

He owns 85% of publicly-traded Dangote Cement through a holding company.

Dangote Cement has the capacity to produce 48.6 million metric tons annually and has operations in 10 countries across Africa.

After many years in development, Dangote's fertilizer plant in Nigeria began operations in March 2022.

Dangote Refinery, which began construction in 2016, began its refining operations in early 2024.

Dangote's grandfather was a successful trader of rice and oats in Kano, Nigeria's second largest city.

Dangote told Forbes that when he was young, he bought sweets, gave them to others to sell, and he kept the profits.