As a matter of fact i appreciate how Aliyu dangote is investing in this country, even if his money is dirty is a matter of Aliyu dangote and God.But ,our fellow nigerians will benefit from him in one way or the other than investing in foreign countries.As he was saying " let us put head together and work so that we can make nigeria great.

Well,

I like the Man, but why?

Because the way he do his things, his plans and even his talk. He is really good to appreciate.
A problem with me is that, I have two friends from his family (One from Dangote and the other from Dantata). all called Abdul, but still I don't know much about him...

I really don't care to ask my friends about the him, don't over look me, that nature...

But all I know is that, if you want to talk about successful business men, he is one of them...

Let's join his words and make Nigeria greater than great...

Dude. You have the chance of meeting such a great man like that, and u are drawing back. if i were u i'd do anything for his autograph.

buhahha what the hec?

Greatpeter:

Must he be a friend to every government in power to market his goods? That is what I don't like in this guy.

The guy is a shrewd businessman. He knows that u cant mix business with politics and that is why he must court every regime, that was the bane of MKO's wahala, he mixed buisness with politics.

Again, is Dangote the ONLY one that has contacts or public relation? there are others that have as much contact sas the guy but what did they do with their own contacts? We all shouted foul when we discovered that the $40Bilion oil windfall iin 1991 was missing, obviously that mmoney couldn't have vanished like that..someone or some people must have taken the money...Whoever took the money must be powerful enough to do that and i can tell u that u cant be powerful without contacts..  Why did those people NEVER use their own contact to invest massively like Dangote?

lets give it to the guy...he is a good biz man

dangote is my role model, very connected; i would advise other politicians to invest their money in nigeria instead of south africa, ghana or dubai

Dear All,
It doesn't matter the odds of this character. What matters are :

1. Aliko is the only Private investor who has succeded in creating jobs for Nigerians (Obasanjo can not match this )

2. Small -medium enterprises depend directly or indirectly on the empire he has setup ( Nigerian Ports - Drivers
Suppliers, service delivery businesses - even the woman selling food by his many businesses )

3. He is the only one, of all the rich Nigerians, who has been kind enough to establish and manage
manufacturing businesses in this country. Believe it or not factories are what drives Economies.
-China - Malaysia - India - France - Germany- Belgium - Brazil - US . look at all these ranks the
manufacturing and assembly lines - creating Jobs, business oppurtunities and Tax returns to Government .
These economies would never have gotten to where they all stand today. If they depended on
buying and selling, building houses for rent or a 5 man company that returns nothing to the economy, but
earns millions undisclosed.

Bottom line
If we had as much as a 100 Aliko's Plus his achivements, Nigeria would be warming up to move forward.

haba.

Give this man a BOW anywhere anytime anyday.

GUARDIAN:

Dear All,
It doesn't matter the odds of this character. What matters are :

1. Aliko is the only Private investor who has succeded in creating jobs for Nigerians (Obasanjo can not match this )

3. He is the only one, of all the rich Nigerians, who has been kind enough to establish and manage
manufacturing businesses in this country. Believe it or not factories are what drives Economies.
-China - Malaysia - India - France - Germany- Belgium - Brazil - US . look at all these ranks the
manufacturing and assembly lines - creating Jobs, business oppurtunities and Tax returns to Government .
These economies would never have gotten to where they all stand today. If they depended on
buying and selling, building houses for rent or a 5 man company that returns nothing to the economy, but
earns millions undisclosed.

Guardian:
Your point #1 is not really true. There are many others, just because you do not read about them does not mean they do not exist. You know the meaning of MONOPOLY (not the game) I guess, that is an important word in Dangote's dictionary.

Point # 3 is a fallacy also...those small businesses you have thrown into the gutter by your statement are what drive those economies you mentioned. Big Industries do play a role, do not get me wrong, but not as huge as it seems. The problem with Nigeria is that the majority of the small businesses are stuck in the informal sector, so their impact is not felt. Create a means of formalizing their businesses, you'll have an economic boom, bigger than those industries as you have alluded.

nothing left unsaid Imnakoya said it all. very true. I second.

since Nigeria is now a country where the end justifies the means I join obong and co in bowing to the man.
you guys especially those of you abroad hailing our own Richard Branson abi na Bill Gates are something else .
I am sure that if one man has the monopoly to import while discouraging the local prodution of sugar into the U S A for a year he would compete with Bill Gates not to talk of Dangotes' more than ten year of pilaging every nigerians table .
lets imagine that hot-angel and nddy   father are given the sole right to import sugar into the US for one year how rich they will be.
Please lets stop flaunting our mediocrity, those who think that the guy is that smart should tell him, that the world is now a global village let him take his skills and products to the international market .because the guy has started making macaroni the government wants to ban the importation of macaroni if it were in the military era they would have long since banned the importation of macaroni.
The guys business skills are so unique that good businessmen abroad dare not use them in this day and age .
last week it was in the papers that he is suspected to be involved in the importation of toxic waste into his beloved country, Nigeria I have not heard of any case in court over the allegation. I will be back later .to talk about his cement business
[move]Seun abi you want make Dangote settle you[/move]
why did seun start thes thread

Now this is what i do not encourage. Character assasination.

This guy has done his part. What have you done? Lay them down and compare. If yours is better, talk, if not please avoid assasinating other peoples reputation without real facts, but only rumours.

Dangote has helped employed thousands of Nigerians. And that means thousands of Nigerians can eat and send their child to school. We need people to create jobs and help the Nigerians in Nigeria. Not hoarding billons of dollars overseas or investing overseas.

This is the way you people defended Abacha that he kept the Dollar price stable while he was busy shipping our foreing exchange out of this country in bags and cartons. okay oga no vex you hear , i say he don do, sorry sir. before you ask me to compare myself to Obasanjo

Hum what are you talking about?

As far as i know Alhaji Aliko Dangote is not using anybodies grand papa's money. And as far as i know, he does legitimate businesses in Nigeria. If the idea of him having monopoly on a product bothers anyone, let that person go to his office in VI and shout at at him. Goodness.

What is it with people , when it comes to rich successful people, especially those helping out Nigerians economy. And indeed Alhaji Aliko Dangote has achieved that. Invested in Nigeria, and given jobs to many Nigerians out there. Is that not true?

Have you done something for Nigeria, to help out? Tell us.

Aliko Dangote once made a statement that if Nigeria crashes today, he crashes with it because all his investments are in Nigeria.
Who among all of us here can decide to invest everything that he has in a very unstable economy or country like Nigeria? Please answer that question honestly before you reach your conclusions about the man.
Crucify him, detest him but don't ever take away something from him, his patriotism which is an essential ingredient that is missing in most Nigerians. If we have more billionaires that believe in Nigeria the way this man does, I tell you, Nigeria will be a much more better place to live in. I rest my case.

Imnakoya , Sorry I don't share your views on this MONOPOLY bullshit. It  makes me sick.
Dear All, whatever the talk Aliko sure didn't place an embargo on other capable Nigerians from creating competiion has he ? How many of all the others capable Nigerian's have dared into venturing the way this man has done ? The most they do is set up businesses that employs barely a handfull of people, buy up properties managed by their relations or close associates.

Abeg you,  we don't need this.  We  need Nigerians who will invest the money they have in some business(es) that profits the growth of this country. - create Jobs , bring in new technology, promote trade, manufacturing and export of finished products. 

Secondly the  small-medium enterprise, that's a different ball game. See all the Nigerian Banks ? them gree give loan to facilitate such take offs ? No.  They only borrow to their friends and associates who are venturing into some self centered business.

What stops us having venture capital in Nigeria ?

If you follow well . You will understand.

Last but not least could you just name a few other Nigerian's who have or are investing in Nigeria to the benefit of our economy
PLEASE NOTE  : This excluding self centered and family business.

Once again admire and encourage the likes of Aliko. I admire a man who manages success. Managing success is the blackman's biggest problem he starts, attains the height and happily falls below the "grass" .

Omo Alhaji Kudos, your views  are worth more than the oversee eyes can see.

Guardian, are yousure you are ready for this?

Your  question: could you just name a few other Nigerian's who have or are investing in Nigeria to the benefit of our economy?

I suggest you do some research first! I do not shoot blindly, I shoot too kill!

Do you remember the Odutolas of many years back? Some of their stuff are still running.

Bode Akindele, (ARAMED), the world largest match marker; he eemploysthousands in Nigerians worldwide

Folawiyo is there. Okoya is there, the Ibrus are there,  right there in Nigeria!

Then how about Adenuga, Consolidated oil and Globacom, he no be Nigerians? All these are big shots. And none runs a monopoly. The monopoly (which is government backed) Alhaji runs is instrumental to his success.

On small businesses, well they data is there as evidence, check it out, please.


NOTE: Dangote is a great guy, I like him and what he has done is great.

small-medium enterprise, that's a different ball game. See all the Nigerian Banks ? them gree give loan to facilitate such take offs ? No.  They only borrow to their friends and associates who are venturing into some self centered business.

Is this the reason why the billions in the SMEIS scheme laying fallow in bank vaults? Once aging do your research! Check out the conditions for getting a loan through this scheme...

Give me the right to sole importation of sugar, and other material like cement 4 one yr and see what diffrence it would make on nairaland

I guess Guardian is in the same business with Aliko and they have some personal grudges between them

Anywayz why do you all of a sudden have so much interest in his ventures in particular? there are many other business out there in Nigeria waiting to be explored, that is for crying out loud.

Dem when i monopolise some businesses in Nigeria, so I would get people to talk about me. buhahaa. I love this.

I said this man is coming to buy each family in Nigeria if they are offerd for sale excluding mine sha.

He's a friend to each govt may it be military or civilian.

By the way whats wrong with that? I really dont understand. Any big corporate company anywhere in the world has connections in the government. Look at M$ in the USA for example. Dont tell me Bill is not one of the big contributors to the potential presidential seats or Senators campaign. .

Guys this is the business world, and all they are doing is grabbing leads to help them run their businesses. Nothing harmful. That is just the corporate way of doing things.

Ok be ready to be privatised then.

kazey:

By the way whats wrong with that? I really don't understand. Any big corporate company anywhere in the world has connections in the government. Look at M$ in the USA for example. Dont tell me Bill is not one of the big contributors to the potential presidential seats or Senators campaign. .

Guys this is the business world, and all they are doing is grabbing leads to help them run their businesses. Nothing harmful. That is just the corporate way of doing things.

Yeah Kazay, that is business, even Gates has been taken through the mill to some extent, and fined. Dangote has enjoyed a lot of patronage from the Nigeriangovernment and people, and it isn't a surprise really that he putting his money where is mouth is. Where else could he benefit hugely as he has- na only Nigeria now!

He's smart and has mapped out his game plan so tight!!

What i know about Alhaji Dangote?hmm..
He's a very rich amn, he owns Dangote Spaghetti and Dangote cement

:osince monopoly can be excused, what i want the guy to do is not to innovate anything but to try his skills in the global village, then we will know if he is just a local bully or a world class business man.let's see how much foriegn currency he can bring into this country

You see this is exactly the problem with many Nigerians. When you are struggling at the beginning from the graces, they don't see anything. Once you become succesfull, then they would start saying all sorts of things. Did Aliko start with the millions? No he started and grew with time.

Therefore all that you have said doesnt come up at all. If he had ventured into trying his hands on anything and he has given it the input, dedication and consistency he has given to all his businesses, you would say the same thing today. Just that now he has his millions. Doesnt make him disabled or lazy.

Let me just give all of you the secret, to get a million dollar takes a century, but once u get that million dollars you can duplicate it in 24 hours, thats the secret of riches. its hard to create but easy, to duplicate. I guess a lot don't know that.

Let me just give all of you the secret, to get a million dollar takes a century, but once u get that million dollars you can duplicate it in 24 hours, thats the secret of riches. its hard to create but easy, to duplicate. I guess a lot don't know that.

This is very very true. Warren Buffet said the same thing too.

I am a withness to the dirth deals Dangote has involved in.

Example is the cement business. I know for the fact that many Igbos, including my uncle (Chicason), Ibeto, and others were competing head to head with Dangote Cement until 1999-2000 when Obasanjo took over and declared cement import illegal unless it is imported in bulk and bagged in Nigeria.

This was done from plessure from Dangote Group once they had completed their cement factory. After that cement prices went way up.

WHat I am saying is that Dangote gains from favouritism through Babagida and others like OBJ cause, he is their cronies in stealing from Nigerians and making the playing grounds hard for other businesses.


Quote: "As far as I can tell, this is not the case, and I'm sure that if an innovative businessman came into Dangote's area of industry, he would be in real trouble. I remember that nearly two years ago the government granted his cement companies special privileges so that he could do well - if he was so good a businessman, why should he rely on these privileges?"

Thanks.

Okafor David
www.okafordavid.com
www.theafricanstore.org

okafor:


Obasanjo took over and declared cement import illegal unless it is imported in bulk and bagged in Nigeria.

lolz well lets put it this way, you prefer to be importing the bagged ones rather than bagging it in Nigeria, and creating Jobs? Is that what you are saying? This really I don't understand. The government from what I see is just promoting local establishment to explore more local added flavours to import, and thereby benefiting the public in terms of creating job opportunities etc. If it does not benefit your rich uncle and so be it. He is an individual, Dangote is employing people to bag it. And thus creating job opportunities. Your uncle has the money, he should look somewhere else.

Dont you see that? its like the recent case of scratch card, I am sure if your uncle was the main importer of the scratch cards for this mobile companies, you would complain again. I really don't get your point.

Innovative guy coming in? and who told you Dangote is not smart? heheheh see the guys o, you dey try a Hausa man , they are born traders man and Dangote has the money and the runs, just dont go into his territory. Nigeria has 120 million ++ population , how many can you provide goods too?

Guardian wrote:

Last but not least could you just name a few other Nigerian's who have or are investing in Nigeria to the benefit of our economy
PLEASE NOTE  : This excluding self centered and family business.

If you know who the first Nigerian millionaire was and how he ran his business to benefit Nigeria and Nigerians then you won't be asking such questions.

I will give you example of Ekenedilichukwu (Transport and others), Coscharis, Ishiaku Rabiu etc

The case with Dangote is that he invests in Nigeria but look behind the scene and see who really owns the investments - Babangida them.

Have you ever wondered how he gets all these favours from every government? That's because they use him as well as others as puppets to hide and invest their loots in Nigeria.

As a business man, I have no grudge at all on Dangote but the overall bad effects his practices have on Nigerians in general outweighs the benefits.

If his products are doing that well, why don't he export them to international markets just like Cosmos Chemical does with its Dudu-Osun African Black Soap.

The owner of Cosmos Chemical is another person that invests in Nigeria and is not only helping Nigerians with jobs but people all over the world, especially minorities in the U.S. like me.

Thanks.

Okafor David
www.okafordavid.com (Play Nigerian songs free)
www.theafricanstore.org

Please, add a link to The African Store (www.theafricanstore.org) in your yahoo, msn, google, profiles, groups, even this site as one of your cool websites.

I have a limited advertising funds but with your help, more people will know about my biz website.

I for one don't understand you.

You accuse Dangote of getting a share of ill gotten gains of government officials in his businesses. Are you very sure? Where did you get your facts? Can you give us a proof to such accusation?

Do you know the history of Dangote? We should be very carefull in making factless accusations.

The case with Dangote is that he invests in Nigeria but look behind the scene and see who really owns the investments - Babangida them.

Have you heared about the Dantata family before? I doubt it They have been rich for 10 generations ++ if I am not mistaken. They are born merchants, and that is just what they do? The just a guy who doesnt like fame. And he is the main guy behind Dangote's Achievement today in terms of fundings. Dangotes Uncle is Dantata.

You mention some rich early millionaires. I for one don't know others , but by mentioning Isiaka Rabiu of Kano, I know the guy quite well. The guy with the biggest white house in Kano, hmmm, well I think now you do not know what you are talking about. have you heared about what he did in Saudi Arabia? Or even how he and many of his comrades nearly got Bank of the North banckrupted due to not repaying loans worth billions?

If his products are doing that well, why don't he export them to international markets just like Cosmos Chemical does with its Dudu-Osun African Black Soap.

You honestly lost me here, so there was a motive I suppose? To advertise your products, thats pathetic. Please let us not allow personal grudges to ruin our judgements.

Most people don't know the source(s) of funding for some people hence the possibility of them accusing them wrongly.

If you guys know how most of these people get their money you will think twice before saying anything.

"Dangote is employing people to bag it. And thus creating job opportunities. Your uncle has the money, he should look somewhere else. "

Dear Kazey,

What is the essence in employing about 2000 people while affecting the demand-supply adversely?

I never doubt of his patrotism in investing in Nigeria. What I said is that his business skills have affected the lives of so many ordinary Nigeria in much negatively because of the high costs that came about.

See it this way:

He secure approval from the government to process/package stuff locally thereby pushing other players aside, then increase profits by shutting down a plant to create scarcity of the products.

Now tell me if that is innovative business.

My uncle never depended on the cement import so I have no reason to worry but no matter who we are or who we relate to, we should always try to see life outside our own circle.

I made a request for linking to my site and you are not obliged in anyway to do that. If you are ashamed of your own, I am not.

My business is my source of survival, I may not depend of hand-outs from dad and mom like you. You should keep your crazy Nigerian mentality to yourself.

Thanks and God bless.

Okafor David
www.okafordavid.com
www.theafricanstore.org