Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote has revealed how indispensable his mobile phone is to his daily life, saying he would prefer to be imprisoned rather than give up the device.
The billionaire businessman made the disclosure in Lagos while unveiling his “Vision 2030” plan, an initiative aimed at accelerating industrialisation across Africa.
During the event, Dangote was asked to choose between going without his mobile phone for seven days and losing access to his private jet for the same period.
He said being separated from his phone would be far more difficult, stressing that it was something he would not readily accept.
“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.
Dangote also disclosed that his phone contains more than 13,000 contacts, highlighting the extensive network of personal and professional connections he has built 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,” he said.
When asked how he had accumulated so many contacts, the industrialist explained that he rarely blocks people, allowing his contact list to continue growing.
“Wow. Wow. I hardly… I don’t like blocking people, so a lot of people,” he added.
Dangote is the chairman of the Dangote Group, a conglomerate with interests in cement, fertiliser, manufacturing and petroleum refining, among other industries.