“Dangote Chose Nigeria Over Big Tech Billions — FG Hails Billionaire’s $19B Refinery Investment”
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Nigerian government has commended Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, for his unwavering commitment to national development, praising his decision to invest in the $19 billion Dangote Refinery rather than pursuing high-yield opportunities in global tech giants.
Speaking at the Taraba International Investment Summit 2025 in Jalingo, Vice President Kashim Shettima — representing President Bola Tinubu — lauded Dangote’s patriotism, describing him as a visionary who put country above personal gain.
“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,” Shettima said.
The Vice President noted that had Dangote invested the same amount in global companies like Microsoft, Amazon, or Google, his net worth could have soared to $120 billion. Instead, Dangote chose to build a transformative infrastructure project that now processes 650,000 barrels of oil daily — a major step toward energy self-sufficiency for Nigeria.
“Alhaji Aliko Dangote, we are mightily proud of you,” Shettima declared, stressing the need for grassroots-driven economic transformation using locally sourced resources.
Dangote’s current net worth stands at $28 billion, a testament to his bold commitment to industrialization and economic empowerment on the African continent.