Ben Murray-Bruce, senator representing Bayelsa-east, says he first met Aliko Dangote, billionaire businessman in 1981 when he was the richest man in Apapa, Lagos.

In a tweet on Thursday, the lawmaker said in less than three decades, the president of Dangote Group grew from being the richest man in Apapa to becoming Africa’s richest man.

Challenging the younger people, Bruce said despite the challenges in Nigeria, Dangote worked hard and delved a path of success for himself.

The “common sense” senator said “if you see those challenges as problems, you will remain poor”.

He added that however, “if, like Aliko, you see them as opportunity, success will find you”.

“When I first met @AlikoDangote in 1981, he was the richest man in Apapa. Today, he is the richest man in Africa. Nigeria has challenges,” the tweet read.

“ But if you see those challenges as problems, you will remain poor. However, if, like Aliko, you see them as opportunity, success will find you.”

With a net worth pegged at $12.2 billion, the latest Forbes report rated Dangote as the richest man in Africa for seven consecutive years.