The Unstoppable Dahiru Mangal
Dahiru Mangal’s ascent is the stuff of entrepreneurial dreams and legends. From the dusty roads of Katsina, where he once drove a truck for a living, to the towering boardrooms of billion-dollar industries, his rise is the trailer to a riveting tale: an unmatched instinct for opportunity, others seeing obstacles but only this man seeing stepping stones.
Mangal started to build a reputation for reliability with a single car hire business. He then expanded into transportation and oil. By the time he founded Max Air in 2008, he had already mastered the art of calculated risks—turning a small airline into a dominant force in Nigerian aviation.
Currently, Mangal’s ventures stretch from horizon to horizon. Even the $1.5 billion cement plant he launched in Kogi State is just one of his business moves, one that is a seismic shift in Nigeria’s industrial landscape. With a capacity of 6,000 tons per day, the project is set to redefine infrastructure, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imports.
Mangal is not just an investor. Here is someone who understands the power of partnerships. His stake in Oando Plc and role at MRS Oil Nigeria Plc is proof that boardroom influence can be as powerful as physical assets. Even corporate conflicts, such as his Oando dispute, only reinforced his stature as a businessman who commands respect.
Wealth alone does not define Mangal. Philanthropy runs deep in his veins, from funding education to supporting displaced persons in northern Nigeria. In Katsina, Kano and Kaduna, his initiatives provide food, scholarships, and relief to those in need. For many, his name is synonymous with generosity, not just financial success.
It is not surprising that recognition follows him naturally. But awards are fleeting; his real legacy lies in the industries he built, the people he empowered, and the economic impact that will outlive any plaque or medal.
At 66, Mangal has little left to prove, yet his empire keeps growing. For those willing to bet on themselves, the road from truck driver to billionaire is not just a fantasy—it’s a possibility.
