Vice President Kashim Shettima has hailed Aliko Dangote’s decision to invest in Nigeria’s development instead of chasing higher profits abroad, calling him “the greatest Black man in 300 years.”
BUSINESS INSIDER
The Nigerian government has hailed billionaire Aliko Dangote for prioritising national development over global tech wealth, describing his $19 billion refinery as a patriotic feat.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu at the Taraba International Investment Summit 2025, said Dangote could have amassed $120 billion by investing in tech giants.
“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,” he said.
“But he decided to invest in his own country. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, we are mightily proud of you.”
The Dangote Refinery, the largest single-train refinery globally, began producing diesel and jet fuel in January 2024 and petrol by September. It is expected to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports and disrupt Europe’s $17 billion petrol trade to Africa.
Shettima added that economic transformation must begin at the grassroots with local resources.
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