He was born in Nigeria in 1957. He started by founding a small trading company, thanks to a loan given to him by his grandfather. With this company he was able to gradually pave his way into the world of business.

Nowadays, Dangote Group is one of the leading companies on the African continent and obtains large profits from sectors such as food and cement. According to Forbes magazine, it has an annual turnover of 10 million dollars. The cement market has generated large profits for the company, even giving Dangote the nickname of "king of cement." He also controls the sugar market which is just as lucrative.

He has established friendships with many important people, such as the Nigerian ex-president Olusegun Osabanjo, which has helped him increase his business. He is also known for his philanthropic nature. He has donated millions of dollars to education, health and many other social causes.