How Dangote became the richest black man in the world and Africa’s secret weapon – This is what you didn’t know

In the late 90s, he returned to Nigeria, where he backed the People’s Democratic Party.  After the PDP won the election, he used his clout to secure an agreement to build the biggest cement factory in the world — with the stipulation that the government would limit how much cement could pass through Nigeria’s ports.  They agreed, and suddenly, Mr. Dangote had taken his internationally successful cement business, and turned it into the only game in town. He spent $1 billion building the mine and an airstrip to go with it.  The company opened in 2008 and was an almost instant success.  He currently has 25,000 employees in Nigeria, as well as operations in 14 other countries across Africa.

Cement was only one aspect of the plan, however.  Dangote has been growing The Dangote Group bit by bit for the last decade.  The seemingly unflappable businessman has made a concerted effort to secure control of any resource or food that could be produced internally, instead of imported.  He now runs successful food processing, manufacturing, and freight arms, controlling the Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Cement, Dangote Flour, and a salt mine.