Aliko Dangote Named 2024 African Business Icon Of The Year By Champion Newspapers

Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been honoured as the 2024 African Business Icon of the Year by Champion Newspapers.

The announcement was made in a statement by Tunde Oladipo, Group Branding Lead at Dangote Industries Limited, who received the award on behalf of Dangote during the 2024 Champion Newspapers Annual Awards held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Oladipo described the recognition as a testament to Dangote’s lasting impact on Africa’s economic development. “This award reflects the awardee’s excellence in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.

Dangote, whose conglomerate remains the largest in West Africa, was also recognised as Man of the Year and Global Business Icon, highlighting his decades-long commitment to industrialisation, philanthropy, and driving economic growth on the continent.

The billionaire is also the founder and chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which was endowed with $1.25 billion in 2014 and continues to support health, education, and economic empowerment initiatives across Africa.

He was among 41 individuals and organisations honoured at the event for their outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s social, economic, and technological advancement.

Other recipients included Zenith Bank (Bank of the Year), United Bank for Africa’s Oliver Alawuba (Banker of the Year), and Olufemi Soneye of NNPC Limited (Media Manager of the Year).

In her remarks, Group Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Champion Newspapers, Dr. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, stressed the importance of celebrating those advancing good governance, social welfare, and economic progress.

“Our joy lies in the realisation that Nigeria is not running in circles but progressing, albeit slowly, towards development,” she said, while calling for stronger support for manufacturing and agriculture.

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who was named Most Outstanding Deputy Governor of the Year, was represented by Olumide Sogunle, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy.

Leo Stan Ekeh, tech entrepreneur and founder of Zinox Technologies, chaired the occasion and lauded Champion Newspapers for organising what he described as one of Nigeria’s best-curated award events. He also reiterated Zinox’s commitment to digitising media and advancing Nigeria’s digital economy.

The ceremony recognised achievers across various sectors, including energy, entertainment, finance, insurance, public service, and grassroots governance, highlighting a broad array of leadership shaping Nigeria’s development.