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African Entrepreneurs Network
A way to learn. A way to earn. Making Money the Enlightened Way.
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ahmed
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Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 42
Location: Lagos
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 Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:42 am Post subject: Alhaji Aliko Dangote |
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| Quote: | | Success is not measured by money, power, or social rank. Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. |
-Mike Ditka
A man who is neither the Managing Director nor the Chairman of his group but is simply, by official designation, the President of Dangote Group of companies.
In an environment where wealth is easily accumulated through questionable and fraudulent means, Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s business that started from mere trading in commodities and building materials in the 1970s with a loan from an uncle, has presently grown into export, import, manufacturing and real estate. The focus of his investment is in basic human needs of food, clothing and shelter. He has incredibly penetrated our livelihood with his products that are indispensable in every home – from the construction of our abodes to our dinning tables and even our clothing. Dangote provides, cements, sugar, salt, flour, rice, spaghetti, macaroni and textile at competitive prices.
As a non-partisan and detribalized businessperson, he is generous to different political parties, religious groups and cultural institutions. Apart from providing employment to elite graduates from different ethnic backgrounds, he minimizes the level of crime by engaging youths who are school leavers in the area of transportation, packaging, security amongst others.
As a young celebrity, Dangote is not in the habit of extravagant display of opulence, like some elderly moneybags who still behave boyishly and organize Owambe parties with roadblocks to the discomfort of the ordinary citizens. He resists the temptation of participating in highly lucrative, fast money yielding ventures like oil business, GSM, hotel business and even airlines, probably to discourage destructive competition with indigenous entrepreneurs.
As a self-employed person, with minimum basic education, he proves that business success can be through determination, honesty and perseverance; and not necessarily by acquiring Harvard-Oxford certificates or First-Class academic qualification. His managerial skill must surely be the envy of economic professors. Instead of stashing his funds in foreign accounts, a common feature of fraudulent front and public office looters, Dangote invests wisely in the productive sector of the Nigerian economy.
Since entrepreneurship and business ingenuity are not subjected to federal character principle for quota system, Dangote has never worked in the public service where some staff engage in malpractices to fulfill their basic needs while the highly principled and honest civil servants retire wretched. If he were a retired military general or a public officer, some might have queried the source of his wealth since it is easy to calculate one’s salary from first day in office to the retirement age. He is also not in full-time party-politics where political opponents would have rubbished the name of his family through smear campaign. If he was an elected public officer, there could have been allegations against him of treasury looting, nepotism and selfish acquisition of public properties, since most politicians seek for donation or borrow money to contest. If he had lived mostly abroad, there may have been insinuation that he made his millions from 419, drug trafficking or modern day’s slavery of pimps, mortuary washers and gutter cleaners in Diaspora.
Dangote explores virgin and untapped areas to churn out billions in revenue. Not even some states that receive free monthly allocation from the federation account without any practical contribution to the national pool, can match his earning from their internally generated revenue. Their funded public-enterprises retrench the workforce and still declare losses. In fact, the situation in some political offices is so pathetic that some states’ executives not only misapply their monthly allocation from the Federation Account but also corner their local councils’ funds in the name of joint account to render as subservient the elected administrators at the grassroots.
The most commendable move he made recently was his threat to force down the price of cement to the benefit of the construction industry and property owners. He should be encouraged to venture into Garri production business where he can force down the prices of the essential commodities for the teeming masses.
To deny that Dangote does not have monopoly over some of the commodities in the Nigerian market is to deny the obvious. It is better to have a fair share of the market through deployment of infrastructural facilities and equipment than acquiring public institutions at giveaway prices. A situation where the nouveau rich find it easy to bid and acquire public enterprises while the poor, as ordinary citizen without an option for even meager acquisition may not be fair enough in a republic.
Though private enterprises are established to declare financial profit, while the public enterprises render essential and social services to the citizenry, there should therefore be healthy competitions in achieving public-private sector partnership instead of outright acquisition or monetization of a sector. The proponents of privation should consider the deployment of best managers from private sector to supervise the public companies at a fee. Not every Nigerian wants to become a businessperson as some of our children have tall ambition of becoming fearless paramilitary officers, honest public servants and incorruptible politicians.
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Whatever The Mind Can Concieve, It Can Achieve. The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste. Dare To Dream, Dare To Be Above Board. See You At The Top!
Last edited by ahmed on Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:04 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ahmed
Site Admin
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 42
Location: Lagos
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:54 am Post subject: Aliko Dangote by Chief David Attah |
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David Attah
Lagos
By all account, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is an instant toast of writers and tribute-payers because there is much to say in admiration of this extra-ordinary personality. Even the most dyed-in-the-wool cynics will find something complimentary to say about the man, Aliko Dangote as the elements seem to be well-mixed in this one individual.
Unarguably, one risks the temptation of being carried away when faced with the task of paying tribute to such a celebrated personality, perfect gentleman and a personification of excellence. This notwithstanding, I hope lwill be able to unravel the inner man of the celebrant.
I was privileged to be appointed on the Board of Benue Cement Company Plc. Three years ago as a representative of the Benue State Government and Dangote is the core-investor and Chairman of the Board. This brought me into contact with him, thus affording me the rare opportunity to study this remarkable genius from a close range.
Nigeria needs the likes of Aliko Dangote in various fields of endeavour politics, government, business and the society in general for us to be able to evolve a higher standard of public character essential for the moral growth of the society. On sure way of encouraging this is celebrate and reward virtue at the slightest opportunity. This will surely encourage and imbue in our people a sense of creative - emulation and in the leadership. a sense of leadership by example. How many of our leaders today lead by example the way Aliko Dangote does?
Unlike Aliko Dangote, most of us have had numerous opportunities to blight or bless our generation and those to follow but too often, have proved not only to be selfish but have been incredibly short-sighted in our goals and the choices we make in life.
It is from this perspective that the enormous contributions of Aliko Dangote to national development within the 50 years of his existence should be viewed. The industrial guru shows in all his words and deeds that we can all dedicate our life to public good whatever our station in life. By his personal examples Aliko Dangote seems to be saying to everybody who cares to listen that life has a purpose. In other words, that the poverty of purpose is worse than the poverty of the purse.
Readers will definitely want me to unravel the real essence of Aliko Dangote and what really makes him tick. What is the driving force behind this dramatis persona which has found expression in all his actions and relationship with people? To start with, very few Nigerians will attain the height Dangote has achieved and still remain themselves. The more wealth Dangote acquires, the harder he strives. What is even more remarkable about him is his willingness to share the fruit of his success with people.
Aliko Dangote is a miracle man. He exudes so much warmth and affection that you don't ever wish to leave his company and throughout whatever conversation you are having with him, he is providing hope and urging you on. You then begin to wonderful why this charming human being is not in party politics. Believe me, he would have made all the difference.
A close look at the pattern and structure of his investments in various sectors of the national economy tells the story of a very courageous youngman who has an abiding faith in the future of Nigeria. It takes courage and faith to locate most of his businesses outside his primordial home, Kano.
Today for instance, the newest addition to his industrial empire, the multi-billion Naira, Obajana Cement Company in Kogi State was commissioned to coincide with the bench-mark occasion of his 50th birthday. Obajana is reputed to be the biggest Cement Company in Africa. Other subsidiaries of Dangote Investments Limited include the Benue Cement Company Plc., the Bachita Sugar Company and the Flour Mill in Kwara State e.t.c.
Aliko Dangote is far from being an opportunist. The difference is that when opportunities come his way, he seizes them with both hands when others less perceptive would have failed to discern even if those opportunities struck them in the face.
In fact, his sense pf perception and foresight is legendary. When he takes a decision, he does so with amazing zest and pursues them with creative improvisation. All the deals in his relentless business drive have been obtained by sheer foresight and shrewdness combing a creative mind with high passion for perfection. To him, perfection is a goal never quite reached but always sought after.
This extra-ordinary man does every thing in style. He has an equally extraordinary constellation of extremely talented friends and professionals with whom he maintains a very affectionate relationship.
He is an enduring example of a man who transcends the dictates of his time and conservative social background to become one of Nigeria's business miracles.
My brief association with him has enriched my life with challenging thoughts and insights. His short but impressive span of life at 50, exemplifies what the famous John Johnson, once said that:
| Quote: | | Men and women are limited not by the place of their birth, not by the colour of their skin, but by the size of their hope. |
John Johnson,
just quoted was the great grandson of slaves, who became one of the wealthiest people in America.
The first thing that strikes you about him when you meet him is his disarming humility, down-to-earth habits, positive disposition and ease of access. He is humane and welcoming. Those Nigerians who behave as if material success is synonymous with arrogance and incompatible with humility should borrow a leaf from Aliko Dangote. On the contrary, Dangote thinks humility is strength and a rare virtue.
It was the famous British Prime minister, Winston Churchill, who once said that one mark of a great man is the power of making lasting impressions upon people he meets; and another is to have handled matters that the course of events is continually affected by what he did'. Aliko Dangote is one of those great men of history in his own right.
His 50 years of existence has been marked by indomitable boldness, unflinching courage and incredible vigour. Besides, he possesses the intuitive gift of spotting men and women of unusual ability. It seems to me that this is the secret of his enormous success.
Behind his awe-inspiring business success lies a remarkably warm heart and a generous spirit. Despite his high visibility he is a very private person who still finds time for his friends and family in the face of his over-crowded schedules.
Regardless of the generation gap between us, I have learnt a couple of principles from him which are implicit in life. For instance, he is so positive in his mental attitude that he thinks every problem however knotty has a solution. In the course of my interaction with him, I discovered that as much as possible, he associates more with people who would be a positive influence on him.
Aliko by dint of hard work, foresight, courage and determination, is fast changing the economic face of Nigeria .with buoyant manufacturing activities with generous use of our abundant local materials.
His economic philosophy teaches that the best way to alleviate, eliminate or reduce poverty is to empower the people to produce more goods and services. In the Nigerian market today, most of the popular food and beverages like, sugar, rice, spaghetti, macaroni etc, all bear Dangote's name. Initially he was importing these items but he is beginning to manufacture some ofthem locally.
Nigeria is blessed to have Aliko Dangote. He is a special gift from God. He is certainly a role model to all Nigerian youths. We need his calibre of person to make Nigeria great and to take us to the promised land in the year 2020 by which time he will be only 62 years old.
I join millions of his teeming admirers in Nigeria and abroad in wishing him a happy golden jubilee and many more years of service to Nigeria and mankind in general. I salute his impeccable faith. in the future of Nigeria. I hail a bridge-builder whose friendship and fellowship cuts across all manmade barriers.
Chief Attah is a Member, Board of BCC Plc.
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Whatever The Mind Can Concieve, It Can Achieve. The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste. Dare To Dream, Dare To Be Above Board. See You At The Top! |
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