Business
Bloomberg rates Aliko Dangote richest man in Africa with $15.6bn

…Emerges the only Nigerian among six Africans in the top 500 Index
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote remains the richest man in Africa, despite the volatility of Nigerian currency against the dollar. Bloomberg in its daily top billionaire lists, released on Tuesday, revealed that Dangote with a wealth of $15.6 billion topped other Africans in the Index.
Dangote, who remains the richest man in Africa for the 12th year running, was the only Nigerian on the list of the top 500 billionaires, as released by Bloomberg.
Other Africans listed in the latest top 500 world billionaires list for the year 2023 include Johann Rupert and family of South Africa, now worth $13.3 billion, while Nicky Oppenheimer of South Africa, Nassef Sawiris of Egypt, Natie Kirsh of South Africa, and Naguib Sawiris are also worth $9.0 billion, $7.47 billion, $7.37billion and $5.93 billion respectively. These are the only five other Africans that made the list.
The Bloomberg Billionaires Index is a daily ranking of the world’s richest people. In calculating net worth, Bloomberg News strives to provide the most transparent calculations available, and each individual billionaire profile contains a detailed analysis of how that person’s fortune is tallied.
The index is a dynamic measure of personal wealth based on changes in markets, the economy and Bloomberg reporting. Each net worth figure is updated every business day after the close of trading in New York. Stakes in publicly traded companies are valued using the share’s most recent closing price. Valuations are converted to U.S. dollars at current exchange rates.
Ellon Musk and Bernard Arnault are the richest in the world with $219billion and $194 billion respectively in their kitties while Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates followed respectively with $151 billion and $130 billion. Larry Ellison was the fifth richest with $130 billion on the world’s billionaires’ chart.
Bloomberg is a global information and technology company, that connect decision makers to a dynamic network of data, people and ideas – “accurately delivering business and financial information, news and insights to customers around the world” Bloomberg L.P. provides financial software tools such as an analytics and equity trading platform, data services, and news to financial companies and organisations through the Bloomberg Terminal.’
Africa’s richest man, with his new worth of $15.6 billion, controls Dangote Industries, a closely-held conglomerate. The Lagos, Nigeria-based company owns sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest cement producer, Dangote Cement. It also has interests in sugar, salt, fertiliser and packaged foods. Dangote also recently commissioned the $19bn petroleum refinery plant, which is now the Africa’s largest refinery.
It would be recalled that Aliko Dangote, was also recently named as among the topmost charitable man in the World by Richtopia, a digital periodical that covers business, economics, and financial news, based in the United Kingdom. This recognition came after he endowed his foundation, the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) to the tune of $1.25 billion.
Aliko Dangote started his Foundation in 1981, with a mission to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden economic empowerment opportunities.
Aliko Dangote Foundation was however incorporated in 1994 as a charity in Lagos, Nigeria. 20 years later, the Foundation has become the largest private Foundation in sub–Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor. The primary focus of Aliko Dangote Foundation is health and nutrition, supported by wrap-around interventions in education, empowerment, and humanitarian relief.
Business
Expectations High For Nigeria’s First Policy Ministerial Quarterly Briefing
In May 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the ‘Nigeria First’ policy, a bold assertion of economic sovereignty to reshape Nigeria’s financial priorities.

*Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment
The first three months of the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First Policy” directive ended with stakeholders expecting Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, to update the business community, especially Nigerian manufacturers on how well the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have complied with the Patronage of quality made in Nigeria products.
In May 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the ‘Nigeria First’ policy, a bold assertion of economic sovereignty to reshape Nigeria’s financial priorities.
This policy emphasises the promotion of domestic goods and services, particularly within government procurement and public sector activities.Its core objectives are to strengthen Nigeria’s local industries, reduce import dependence, and accelerate industrialisation through import substitution.
Following the enthusiasm surrounding the policy, the Minister stated during an appearance on Channels TV that her ministry would conduct quarterly performance evaluations of all MDAs based on their adherence to the Nigeria First Policy, emphasising the importance of buying made-in-Nigeria goods and services.
She noted that compliance with the policy will now be integrated into performance metrics for the President’s Central Coordinating Delivery Unit.
Oduwole asserted, “This compliance will be continuously monitored. As a major player in the economy, the government must lead by example by boosting local production and decreasing reliance on imports.
“She outlined three main areas where the policy will be implemented: focusing on local procurement, ensuring that all local options are considered before exploring foreign alternatives, and improving regulatory and bureaucratic processes to support local enterprises.
The Minister expressed that her ministry’s performance aligns with the President’s directives, with the overarching goal of fostering both domestic and foreign investment to enhance productivity, trade, and export growth.
Business
CPPE Urges Sustained Support for High-Performing Sectors and Targeted Assistance for Sectors in Recession
The sectors currently in recession include air transport, textiles, and coal mining.

•Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry Trade and Investment
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has called for ongoing lending support for high-performing sectors of the economy and targeted intervention for sectors currently in recession.
This appeal follows the recently rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), now based on a new reference year 2019.
The latest GDP data for Quarter 1 of 2025 reveals the following:- 37 sectors recorded growth, though many experienced a slowdown.- 9 sectors contracted, and 3 sectors are in recession.
The top-performing sectors include:- Financial Services: 15.3%- Oil Refining: 11.51%- Transportation: 14.08%- Information and Communication Technology (ICT): 7.4%- Metal Ores: 25%Conversely, the sectors that contracted are:- Livestock: -16.7%- Fishing: -0.21%- Textiles: -1.63%- Coal Mining: -22.3%- Quarry & Minerals: -21.55%- Plastics and Rubber: -3.2%- Iron & Steel: -0.35%- Air Transport: -0.81%.
The sectors currently in recession include air transport, textiles, and coal mining.
Dr. Muda Yusuf, director and CEO of CPPE, emphasised the importance of enhancing productivity in critical areas such as agriculture, manufacturing, and trade.
He stated, “These sectors are essential for economic inclusion, job creation, self-reliance, economic security, and diversification.
However, their growth rates are currently below expectations: agriculture grew by only 0.7%, and manufacturing by 1.7% in Q1 2025.
These sectors require targeted interventions to unlock their full potential and drive sustainable development.”

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has appointed David Bird, the former head of Oman’s Duqm Refinery, as its new Chief Executive Officer.
A report by S&P global on Friday said, Bird heads the refinery’s petroleum and petrochemicals division in a strategic move to overcome production challenges and advance its next wave of expansion.
Effective from July 2025, the former Shell head of operations at its Balau Pokom refinery stepped in as CEO of the Dangote Group’s fuels and petrochemicals business, which commissioned the world’s largest single-train refinery last year.
The CEO participated at the just concluded Dangote Leadership Development Program Graduation Ceremony.
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