By: Odeh Favour
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has stated that he would rather be sent to prison than be separated from his mobile phone, revealing the extent to which he relies on the device for communication.
The billionaire business mogul made the remark in Lagos while presenting his “Vision 2030” plan, which focuses on accelerating industrialisation across Africa.
During the event, Dangote was asked to choose between spending seven days without his phone and losing access to his private jet for the same period.
Responding, he stated that losing his phone would be far more difficult to accept than going without his jet.
“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 also disclosed that his phone contains more than 13,000 contacts, reflecting the extensive network of people he has connected with over the years.
“I know that would be almost… my number I have that number since… Twitter… I have more than 13,000 contacts on my phone,” Dangote said.
Asked how his contact list had grown so large, he explained that he rarely blocks people.
“Wow. Wow. I hardly… I don’t like blocking people, so a lot of people,” he added.
Dangote heads the Dangote Group, a conglomerate with interests in cement, fertiliser, manufacturing, and petroleum refining, among other sectors.
