Ismail Umar Muhammed, popularly known as Dangote is a businessman as well as an established entrepreneur who is currently doing very well as a young man in the business sector.
Born on 1st February 1989, Isma’il was brought up at Jingre, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He started schooling at Jingre from primary one up to JS3 after which he was transferred to University of Jos staff school where he completed his secondary School.
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Young Isma’il started business while in JSS1 under the watchful eyes and guidance of his father and it was obvious that his agility and ability to grow in the sector had impressed his father and he introduced him to other forms of businesses.
However, Isma’il had maintained that his successful business journey wouldn’t have been possible without recognizing the efforts of Madam Okika, though Igbo by tribe Madam Okika saw the potentials in Isma’il and she didn’t hesitate to encourage the young man to succeed.
“My business journey will never be complete without mentioning of my boss, who is igbo by tribe, named Madam Okika, she used to give me trucks of cement to distribute.
“At a start, i used to sell ten trucks in a month. As the business progressed, I moved from selling ten trucks per month to twenty trucks and my business always progressed and gained more customers,” he said.
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When the change to register as a distributor with Dangote group presented itself, Isma’il was quick to grab it. Within a short period his name became a household name in dealing with products from Dangote.
“I became the second top distributor of Dangote Cement in the northeast and also one of the top hundred in Nigeria.
He became to known that people started to call him Dangote. “People started calling me Dangote because I deal in different products of Dangote.
There are numerous products available in the market but I choose to stick to Dangote products because of the quality of the products. That’s how I got the name Dangote and I am very proud to be one of the distributors of Dangote products,” he revealed.
As a businessman with a strong sense of business expansion, Isma’ila took the advantage while engaging some Kannywood artists, he saw an opportunity to invest in Kannywood which he did. He became so close with big names like Ali Nuhu, Bashir Mai shadda, Sheikh Alolo among many. “We are one family, we believe in the adage that says an injury to one is an injury to all,” he stated.
As a versatile businessman, he was able to successfully produce films like Babban Tawaga in 2021, Sabon Salo in 2022, Ummita in 2022, Darasi in 2023 among others.
“I have also produced several songs that have or are still making waves in the entertainment industry such as, 4 episodes of Yamu Baba Angon Sambisa in 2022, Ke Daya and Ina Son Ki all by ace singer Hamisu Breaker, Big show song and Kibar Kuka by Umar M Sharif in 2022 among other songs.” He revealed.
However, he told many people who always asked him about his dreams in the entertainment industry that his dream is produce Hausa films that would make it to Netflix.
“I have made a resolve to spend a huge sum of money in producing films that will successfully make it to Netflix and Amazon prime. I have a strong belief that Kannywood has the potential and the skills to produce such films. This is my dream and I am working towards making it a reality,” he revealed.
