With a networth pegged at $12.1 billion Aliko Dangote may not be gettiing off the top of Africa’s rich list anytime soon, at least not in 2021.
The Nigerian business tycoon, according to Forbes Africa’s Billionaires list has emerged top of the 2021 ranking for a record 10-year running.
Despite the economic downturn and drag as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic a 30% increase in the share price of his Dangote Cement meant his wealth climbed by $2 billion, an improvement over that of last year.
Two other Nigerians made it into the 2021 top 10 list – Mike Adenuga and Abdulsamad Rabiu.
While Cement and sugar business man Abdulsamad Rabiu (#6) owes his remarkable rise in fortune to his BUA Cement PLC shares which doubled in value in the past year to put his networth at $5.5 billion, Globacom telecoom boss Mike Adenuga (#5) networth sits at $6.3 billion from $5.7 billion in 2020.
Meanwhile, drop in oil prices led to a consequent drop in the wealth of Nigeria’s Folorunsho Alakija, who owns an oil exploration company, to put her below the $1 billion mark and thus off the list.
Others in the top 10 list are Nassef Sawiris of Egypt (#2 – $8.5 billion), Nicky Oppenheimer of South Africa (#3 – $8 billion), Johann Rupert (#4 – $7.2 billion), Issad Ribrab (#7 – $4.8 billion), Naguib Sawiris (#8 – $3.2 billion), Patrice Motsepe (#9 – $3 billion), Koos Bekker (#10 – $2.8 billion).