Aliko Dangote during the African Fellowship Programe with Young Global Leaders announcement at the World Economic Forum on Africa 2011 held in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo Credit: Flickr/World Economic Forum
Aliko Dangote is the Nigerian billionaire head of the Dangote Group. He ranks 67th in the world’s richest people, according to Forbes magazine. Recently, news of his death was a hot topic, not only in Africa, but in the world. Now, people cannot stop wondering, “Did Aliko Dangote die?”
The queries started when a German news site, dw-tv3.com, posted the news of the Nigerian billionaire’s death on Sunday morning. The site reported a swift illness reportedly caused his death and his family confirmed the news. These rumors eventually reached Africa and created quite the buzz.
Read More: Aliko Dangote Dead: Did Africa’s Richest Man Die In Germany?
Did Aliko Dangote Die: The Truth
But did Aliko Dangote die? Of course not! The rumors were proven false when Dangote, himself, tweeted on September 25, 2016 at 14:00 GMT. He said that he is hale, hearty and alive, and everyone should disregard the malicious rumour about him. Meanwhile, Dangote’s lawyers are planning on taking legal action against the German website, dw-tv3.com.
Aliko Dangote was born on April 10, 1957 and comes from a prominent family of businessmen. He is the great-grandson of Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, who was the richest African in 1955. The Dangote Group, which he owns, was a small trading firm back in 1977. It is now a multi-trillion Naira conglomerate.
The company has expanded into food processing, cement manufacturing and freight services. It also controls the sugar market in Nigeria and supplies major breweries, confectioners and soda companies.
Forbes named Dangote as African of the Year in 2014. He was also awarded Nigeria’s second highest honor, the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger, by the President Goodluck Jonathan.
Also in 2014, he donated 150 million Naira to help stop the spread of Ebola. In 2013, he added about $9.2 billion to his personal wealth, making him the 30th richest person in the world.
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