11
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has declared that he would rather be sent to prison than be deprived of his mobile phone, describing losing access to the device as unacceptable.
The billionaire businessman made the remark at an event in Lagos where he unveiled his Vision 2030 plan for Africa’s industrial revolution.
Asked to choose between spending a week without his phone and giving up access to his private jet, Dangote said losing his phone would be the more difficult sacrifice.
“Ah… I think it’s easier you put me in prison than to take my phone away. So, you know, I mean taking my phone away is no-go area, okay?” he said.
The industrialist disclosed that he had more than 13,000 contacts saved on his phone, highlighting the device’s importance in maintaining his extensive personal and business network.
“I have more than 13,000 contacts on my phone,” he said.
Explaining the size of his contact list, Dangote said he rarely blocked people, a habit he suggested had contributed to the large number of contacts stored on his device.
“I hardly… I don’t like blocking people, so a lot of people,” he added.
Dangote heads the Dangote Group, one of Africa’s largest industrial conglomerates, with business interests spanning cement, fertiliser, manufacturing and oil refining.
His comments offer a glimpse into how the mobile phone serves as an important communication tool for one of the continent’s most influential business leaders, whose operations and professional relationships extend across multiple industries and markets.
