Buhari felicitates with Aliko Dangote at 60

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Africa’s renowned businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on his 60th birthday.

The President’s congratulatory message to Dangote is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

Adesina said President Buhari joined the business world, Dangote’s friends and family in congratulating the Forbes’ rated richest African and black man for his “patriotism and kind heartedness’’

The president noted with delight that Dangote was always making sacrifices to safeguard the health of the nation, most remarkably the polio and Ebola interventions.

According to him, the global business mogul remains a shining example of the virtues of choosing entrepreneurship from an early age.

He noted that over the years, the business mogul had pursued his career with diligence and perseverance to build some of the world’s largest manufacturing and distribution companies.

President Buhari commended “the humility, simplicity and cosmopolitan outlook of the entrepreneur who defies ethnic and religious persuasions in extending support to the poor and vulnerable and providing employment opportunities without discrimination’’.

He also lauded him for inspiring and mentoring young Nigerians to greatness.

The President acknowledged Dangote’s role in bolstering the economy through continuous engagement and counseling of governments on best practices in promoting the ease of doing business.

He prayed that the almighty God would grant Dangote more wisdom, good health and longer life to serve his country and humanity.

Aliko Dangote, described as “a prodigiously wealthy and luxuriantly blessed billionaire’’, was born on April 10, 1957, in Kano state.

Dangote, who owns the Dangote Group, which has interests in commodities as well as oil and gas businesses, operates in Nigeria and other African countries, including Benin, Kenya, Ethiopia, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Togo, Tanzania, and Zambia.

The business mogul had once replied to a question that he wants to be remembered “as Africa’s greatest industrialist.’’