I got first private jet at 22 — Dangote

LAGOS — President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has disclosed that he acquired his first private jet at the age of 22 and a half.

Dangote made the disclosure on Monday at the Nigerian Exchange in Lagos during the formal launch of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.

Reflecting on his journey as a businessman, the billionaire industrialist said he had enjoyed his career but now placed greater emphasis on channeling wealth into productive investments.

“My career as a businessman, I really had a great time. I was telling somebody that right now I don’t mind, I can take commercial, I can take anything. I had my first private jet at 22 and a half years old,” he said.

Dangote urged wealthy Nigerians who own expensive private aircraft to consider investing their resources in productive ventures that could contribute to economic development.

He said Nigeria could not attain its full potential without greater investment in production and other productive activities.

“I try as much as I can to encourage people who are riding $900 million aircraft to please go and put that into production. We are not going to be a great nation without doing something productive,” Dangote said.