In a lighthearted moment, billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote jokingly cautioned a Master of Ceremonies (MC) not to refer to him as “President” before President Bola Tinubu.

During the inauguration of the Dangote Refinery, which has a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the MC introduced Dangote as the “President of the Dangote Group”. However, Dangote swiftly corrected him, saying “Next time, when Mr. President is around, my own title is Chairman, not President. Whether with a small p or tiny little p, don’t call me President.”

The crowd erupted in laughter as Dangote humorously emphasized his point, addressing the MC as “Joe”.

The MC quickly apologized, explaining that he had not intended to cause any confusion.

The incident showcased Dangote’s humility and respect for the office of the President, as well as his ability to deffuse a potentially awkward situation with humour.

President Tinubu, who was in attendance, was amused by the exchange, which added a touch of levity to the formal event.

The Dangote Refinery, which has been dubbed a “whole city” due to its massive size and scope, is a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest for energy self-sufficiency.

The project is expected to have a major impact on the country’s economy and cement Dangote’s position as one of Africa’s most influential business leaders.