Why Dangote deserves recognition, by business leaders

Osoba, Adeola, Adebayo commend The Guardian
Eminent personalities and top executives of the organised private sector have described Aliko Dangote as a unique Nigerian who deserves recognition for his hard work and efforts at industrialising Nigeria, in particular, and Africa in general.

This verdict was delivered on the sidelines of the ceremony to officially present The Guardian Man of the Year Award to Dangote by the management of Guardian Newspapers Limited, in Lagos, at the weekend.

The captains of industry also lauded The Guardian for the manner in which the ceremony was held, noting that it was ‘sharp, short and unique.’
Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba said Dangote’s hardworking capacity is unrivalled.

According to him, “Dangote never got to where he is today by chance, but by hard work. His success in business didn’t come through government contract or patronage. I also commend The Guardian for recognising Dangote’s achievements in the development of the nation.”

Dangote’s daughter, Fatima said she was proud of his father and The Guardian’s initiative for recognising him, as “this award is special and I am very grateful.”

Chairman, Philips Consulting, Mr. Folusho Philips, said what impressed him the most about Dangote was that “he is one individual who has invested more than the Federal Government.”

Also commending The Guardian, particularly the publisher, for organising such a modest award presentation to one of Nigeria’s most illustrious personalities, pioneer Managing Director, GTbank, Mr. Fola Adeola said, “Beyond all the accolades to the business mogul, what is also unique is the moderation and the simple environment of the programme. This is a type of thing I want to be associated with and not a situation where we would be waiting for a governor or politician.”

According to him, “This is a very simple environment, not stuffy, rowdy and for this I give kudos to Maiden Ibru.”The former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Tunde Lemo said it was a well-deserved award, maintaining, it was not a gratuitous award but an award for a job well done.

“He is one Nigerian that we should all be grateful to, for his contributions to our society, in terms of job creation and economic development.”

In another round of accolades to the recipient and The Guardian, former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and former Minister of State for Defence, Chief Demola Seriki said they did not know of any other Nigerian that deserved such an award than Dangote.

To the duo, what was most inspiring was the simplicity associated with the event as it was “very sharp, short and unique. The Guardian has laid a very good example with the way the event was organised.”

Adebayo also maintained that Dangote is a source of pride to the entire black race for what he has contributed in terms of economic development, not only in Nigeria but across the African continent.

To Mr. Binto Famutimi, National President of the Nigeria-American Chamber of Commerce, “Dangote deserves more for what he has contributed to Africa.”

Going down memory lane, President, South South South East Professionals, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, who said he had known Dangote right from the 80s said: “It is marvellous that we are celebrating him today because at a time in 1981, I remembered when some evil-minded people wanted to shoot him, but God preserved his life. He is one among millions that could be regarded as a special breed.”

The Chief Executive Officer GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje said even if The Guardian had decided to give the award to someone else “the organisation would have found such a decision very difficult to take because Dangote has contributed not only to business but his impact on human capacity building is second to none.”

For the President and Chairman in Council, Nigeria British Chamber of Commerce, Dapo Adenekan, no one would doubt the credibility of the award to Dangote because of the fact that it came from The Guardian, the flagship of newspapers in the country.