“To succeed in business, you must build a brand and never destroy it. One competitive advantage I had when I ventured into manufacturing was my brand ‘Dangote,’ which I diligently built in the course of my trading commodities.” – Aliko Dangote
“Don’t kill the competition. Competition is healthy for businesses. It keeps you the entrepreneur on your toes.” – Aliko Dangote
‘‘We [Dangote Group] are not doing like other Africans who keep most of their money in the bank. We do not keep money in the bank. We fully invest whatever we have and we keep on investing. ’’ – Aliko Dangote
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“I built a conglomerate and emerged the richest black man in the world in 2008 but it didn’t happen overnight. It took me 30 years to get to where I am today. Youths of today aspire to be like me but they want to achieve it overnight. It’s not going to work. To build a successful business, you must start small and dream big. In the journey of entrepreneurship, tenacity of purpose is supreme.” – Aliko Dangote
I took time to organize Aliko Dangote’s business worldview. I am updating “The Dangote System: Techniques for Building Conglomerates” with new lessons.
I have argued that nations rise via many phases. Phase 1 is enshrining the Rule of Law in the land. Phase 2 is Energy Security. Possibly, while Dangote can provide cement security, etc for Nigeria/West Africa, any attempt for Energy Security will not come easily, because that will distort the global energy market system. Simply, Nigeria may not solve the fuel or electricity problem unless we have uncommon radical leaders, to decouple us from the global lords.
If Africa can overcome the energy challenge, many things will open up. But I doubt the possibility because energy is synonymous with global battle, and Nigeria does not seem to be ready to fight. Shut them from electricity, shut down from fuel; you will keep them poor!
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The people who need knowledge most are not interested in reading and improving themselves, so it doesn’t matter what you postulate or recommend, they are very comfortable with their ignorance and lack of purpose. If you build a world-class hospital and try to discourage Nigerians from seeking medical care overseas, Nigerians will challenge you and question why you should tell them where to go, that’s after complaining that your hospital is not for the poor.
Build a world-class educational institution and try to discourage Nigerians from going elsewhere, you will be resisted with every energy in them. The same people who are ‘worried’ about Dangote being a monopoly are never worried about the mafias who have been shortchanging them for decades, their grouse is always against their own compatriots who are trying to decouple them from slavery.
To say that black man does not have a fundamental problem will be a lie, it seems to be the only race that hate their people more than others. The irony is that the people they desperately seek their approval and validation don’t give a damn about them. Yet they keep doing everything to please the same people, while always at war with their own people.
Black man, know thyself. Stop fooling.