Aliko Dangote, born on April 10, 1957, in Kano, Nigeria, is a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He hails from a wealthy Hausa-Muslim family; his mother, Mariya Sanusi Dantata, was the daughter of businessman Sanusi Dantata, making Dangote the great-grandson of Alhassan Dantata, who was the richest person in West Africa at the time of his death in 1955. His father, Mohammed Dangote, was also a businessman. Dangote received his early education in Kano, attending the Sheikh Ali Kumasi Madrasa and Capital High School. He later graduated from the Government College in Birnin Kudu in 1978 and earned a bachelor's degree in business studies and administration from Al-Azhar University in Cairo.

In 1977, Dangote relocated to Lagos and established a small trading firm, the Dangote Group, with a loan of 500,000 naira from his uncle. Initially, the company focused on trading commodities such as cement, rice, and sugar. Over the years, the Dangote Group expanded into manufacturing, becoming one of the largest conglomerates in Africa. Its subsidiaries include Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Cement, and Dangote Flour Mills. In May 2023, the group inaugurated the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Nigeria, which, upon reaching full operational capacity, is expected to process about 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it the largest single-train refinery in the world. 

Beyond his business ventures, Dangote has been actively involved in philanthropy and public service. In 1994, he established the Dangote Foundation, later renamed the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) in 2018, focusing on health, education, and economic empowerment. The foundation has made significant contributions to combat diseases such as polio, Ebola, and COVID-19, and has provided disaster relief and efforts to address childhood malnutrition. In recognition of his contributions to Nigeria's economic development, he was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. In August 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as the chairman of the Nigeria End Malaria Council. 

Dangote's business acumen has earned him numerous accolades. He has consistently been listed among the world's wealthiest individuals, ranking as the richest person in Africa with an estimated net worth of $13.9 billion as of 2024. In 2014, Time magazine included him in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world. He has also been recognized by Forbes and Bloomberg for his influence and contributions to business and philanthropy. 

On the personal front, Dangote has been married and divorced twice. He has three daughters—Halima, Mariya, and Fatimah—and an adopted son, Abdulrahman. Despite his immense wealth, Dangote is known for his modest lifestyle and dedication to the growth and development of Africa's economy.