Aliko Dangote is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who is the Founder and CEO of the Dangote Group, first founded in 1977 as a  company that traded in commodities and building supplies, it has today grown into one of Africa’s largest diversified conglomerates, of which Dangote Cement alone has a market capitalization of $16.1 billion. He was most recently appointed to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab. An initiative geared towards job creation in developing countries. 

One of his most ambitious projects is the construction of a 650,000 barrels per day refinery at the cost of $20bn. The refinery which is the largest single train refinery in the world is also the largest in Africa and 7th largest in the world, and became operational in 2023, in an effort to solve Africa’s energy security issues, while also serving the global market. 

Aliko is also the founder of Aliko Dangote Foundation, incorporated in 1994, is the largest private Foundation in sub-Saharan Africa with an endowment of US$1.25 billion, and is focused on addressing childhood malnutrition, access to healthcare especially amongst the vulnerable people, and education inequality. The Foundation has contributed extensively towards the eradication of polio, malaria and was a leading actor in the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria and the continent. Aliko seats on the Board of several international organizations.