Vice President Kashim Shettima described Aliko Dangote as the “greatest black man in the past 300 years” during the Taraba International Investment Summit in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.
This praise comes after Dangote’s inclusion on TIME Magazine’s inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list, recognising the world’s most influential individuals in charitable giving.
Shettima celebrated Dangote’s achievement, saying, “I want to celebrate the greatest black man in the last 300 years, who single-handedly established the largest single train refinery in the world with the capacity to refine 650,000 barrels of oil per day, 67 per cent of Nigeria’s refining capacity.”
The refinery spans 2,635 hectares, employs 135,000 Nigerians, and trains 900 engineers abroad.
The Vice President commended Dangote’s patriotism, stating, “He started this project in 2007, 2008.
If he had invested the $19 billion that it took him to set up the Dangote Refinery in Microsoft, in Amazon, in Google, he is going to be worth $120 billion now.
”But he decided to invest in his own country. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, we are mightily proud of you.”
Dangote’s recognition on the TIME100 Philanthropy list placed him among 23 global figures titled Titans, alongside notable philanthropists like Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, and Melinda Gates.
TIME highlighted Dangote’s business success and philanthropic impact, noting his $23.9 billion net worth built through cement, agriculture, and oil refining operations in Nigeria.
According to TIME, Dangote’s foundation, endowed with $1.25 billion in 2014, spends an average of $35 million annually on programs across Africa, focusing on philanthropic focus areas among others.
The Dangote Group described the TIME recognition as a significant endorsement of its founder’s commitment to philanthropy and social development.
