Aliko Dangote is Africa's richest person.

According to Forbes.com World’s Billionaires list, Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote has a networth of $13.8billion as of March 2011, ranking him 51st in the world and number 1 in Africa. This is the first time Dangote has been ranked as
Africa's richest individual.

The 53-yr old businessman’s fortune surged 557% in the past year, making him the world's biggest gainer in percentage terms.

The listing of his company, Dangote Cement, on the Nigerian Stock Exchange served as a catalyst. His company’s listing now accounts for a quarter of the market capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Dangote Flour, Dangote Sugar and national Salt, his other companies also listed on the exchange, means that he accounts for close to 35 per cent of the total market capitalisation.

Dangote began his career as a commodities trader, subsequently building his Dangote Group into a conglomerate with interests in sugar, flour milling, salt processing, cement manufacturing, textiles, oil & gas, and real estate