Billionaire industrialist and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has offered a rare glimpse into his personal communication habits, declaring that parting with his mobile phone is non-negotiable.
Dangote made the candid remarks during an event in Lagos where he unveiled his “Vision 2030” initiative aimed at advancing Africa’s industrial development and economic transformation.
Choosing a mobile phone over a private jet
When asked during an interactive session to choose between spending seven days without access to his mobile phone or forfeiting his private jet for the same duration, the business mogul lightheartedly rejected the idea of surrendering his mobile device.
“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?”
Over 13,000 contacts and an open communication approach
Elaborating on why the device is so critical to his daily routine and global operations, Dangote disclosed that he maintains an unusually expansive contact directory on a primary phone line he has kept for years.
Key highlights from his disclosure include:
Over 13,000 saved contacts: Dangote stores more than 13,000 entries on his phone, reflecting his extensive network across business, government, and civil society.
Long-standing phone number: He has retained the same primary mobile number since the early days of social media platforms like Twitter.
A policy against blocking callers: Explaining how his contact list grew so large, Dangote admitted that he rarely blocks contacts and prefers to answer incoming calls directly whenever possible.
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