The week-long wedding celebration between Fatima Dangote and Jamil Abubakar, climaxed with a reception dinner, which took place in Lagos on Friday night. Lagos was at a standstill!
It’s a gathering that would take many years to have a re-enactment. Indeed, Aliko Dangote has proved to be Africa’s richest man.
Not only did the astute businessman have an intimidating guest-list, he succeeded in having all that mattered in business, politics and personalities from all walks of life in attendance.
The grand event was graced by Microsoft founder and world’s second richest man Bill Gates, President Akufo Addo of Ghana, Mo Ibrahim, the Sudanese-British billionaire businessman, the movers and shakers of the Nigerian Political and Social Establishment and many other dignitaries. Notable among the dignitaries were; wife of Nigeria’s President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and wife, Dolapo, Senator Bukola Saraki and wife, Toyin, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and wife, Senator Oluremi, 22 Governors, Ministers, captains of industries and society figures.
One of his guests, Mo Ibrahim, is the renowned business titan and Sudanese-British billionaire. Ibrahim worked for several telecommunications companies, before founding Celtel, which when sold had over 24 million mobile phone subscribers in 14 African countries. After selling Celtel in 2005 for $3.4 billion, he set up the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to encourage better governance in Africa, as well as creating the Mo Ibrahim Index, to evaluate nations’ performance. He is also a member of the Africa regional advisory board of London Business School.
Then, there is the Special Guest, Bill Gates. Beyond the vast resources at their disposal, humility, simplicity and strong spirit of humanitarianism are some of the virtues these business titans share in common. Africa is blessed to have Aliko Dangote, and the world is blessed to have Bill Gates.
Acting as one of the ‘protocol’ officer at the prestigious wedding was billionaire oil merchant, Femi Otedola. A good friend of Dangote, he has been present at all the wedding ceremonies between Fatima Dangote and Jamil Abubakar.


