Concord Times (Freetown)
By Bhoyy Jalloh
4 April 2008
Freetown — State House Thursday disclosed that President Ernest Koroma will be hosting West Africa's richest man from April 6-7, 2008.
The special guest, Nigerian-born business tycoon Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is coming to explore the possibility of investing in Sierra Leone, while local businessmen would have an opportunity to learn from his experience.
Owner of the Dangote Group with large operations in Nigeria and other countries in West Africa, Aliko Dangote has a current net worth of about US$ 3.3 billion, making him the second richest black person in the world after Ethiopian-born Mohammed Al Amoudi (US$9.0).
Dangote controls much of Nigeria's commodities trade.
The Group's interests are diverse, the most significant of which are the manufacture of fast-moving consumer goods like sugar, flour, salt and spaghetti/macaroni. It has also made huge investments in the Nigerian cement industry. Other interests include commercial real estate complexes and a fleet of over 1,500 trucks. Furthermore, the Group has ventured into telecommunication as well as fertilizer processing.
The Dangote Group has established a philanthropic organization called the Dangote Foundation, dedicated to providing assistance to less-privileged Nigerians in the areas of education, health, water supply, sports and poverty alleviation generally.
In recognition of his achievements and philanthropy, Aliko Dangote has been conferred with many awards, including but not limited to the Zik Award for Excellence, Officer of the Order of the Niger, Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science, Entrepreneur of the Year, CEO of the Year, and Corporate Citizen of the Year.
President Koroma, who is very delighted to welcome the business magnate to Sierra Leone, has proposed a dinner in honour of Alhaji Dangote on Sunday at Country Lodge, Freetown, to which journalists and business people will be invited.
Meanwhile, President Koroma and entourage are expected to have left Freetown yesterday afternoon for Kenema to make his first visit to the eastern region headquarters after his election as President of Sierra Leone.
He will meet paramount chiefs, community elders, and the local people to thank them for reposing confidence in him for the running of the country.
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While i do not know anything about this man, i applaud the action of the president in inviting someone with such potential to invest in salone. The fact that he is an african is a good thing as he knows and understand the areas that needs urgent investment in the country. Well done Mr President, keep up the positive work. (the future of african and salone in general must at all times be in the hands of africans. We must always be concern about this)
While i do not know anything about this man, i applaud the action of the president in inviting someone with such potential to invest in salone. The fact that he is an african is a good thing as he knows and understand the areas that needs urgent investment in the country. Well done Mr President, keep up the positive work. (the future of african and salone in general must at all times be in the hands of africans. We must always be concern about this)
WHO IS ALICO DANGOTII THE BIGEST THIEF IN NIGERIA PLS PRESIDENT KOROMA DONT MAKE YOURSELF LITTLE BECAUSE ALICO DANGOTI THE BIGEST THIEF IN NIGERIA.
1. HE DIDNT PAY ANY TAX FOT THE GOVERNMENT 2. HE IS USING STUPID PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA TO TAKE MONEY FOR THEM AND TRADE WITH THE GOVERNMENT MONEY PLS PLS IF YOU DONT KNOW ALICO DANGOT I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT HIM. HE IS THE GREADIEST PERSON IN NIGERIA