Vice President Kashim Shettima says Lagos played a central role in the rise of leading Nigerian billionaires, including Aliko Dangote and Abdulsamad Rabiu.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has stated that Lagos, rather than Kano, played the defining role in shaping the rise of some of Africa’s wealthiest businessmen, including Aliko Dangote and Abdulsamad Ishaq Rabiu.
Shettima made the remarks while speaking about the economic significance of Lagos and its influence on business growth in Nigeria.
According to the Vice President, “It was Lagos that gave Africa its richest man, not Kano. Aliko Dangote is a Lagos man. Again, it was not Kano but Lagos that gave Africa its second richest man, Abdulsamad Ishaq Rabiu. Lagos made almost everybody who is who in Nigeria.”
The statement places renewed attention on Lagos’ long-standing role as Nigeria’s commercial centre and its influence on enterprise, investment, and wealth creation across different sectors.
Shettima’s comments also highlight the relationship between economic infrastructure and the growth of large-scale indigenous businesses in Nigeria.
The Vice President did not announce any policy position during the remarks, but his statement has further reinforced discussions around Lagos’ place in Nigeria’s economic history and business development landscape.
The comments continue to generate attention amid ongoing conversations around regional identity, commerce, and economic opportunity in Nigeria.