DANGOTE’S ENCOUNTER WITH ARCHBISHOP BENSON IDAHOSA THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE

 

Dangote’s Encounter With Archbishop Benson Idahosa That Changed His Life

Today Aliko Dangote’s name rings a lot of bells in the world as one of the most successful businessmen from Nigeria.

Alhaji Dangote, born April 10th, 1957 is a businessman and philanthropist, who is the founder and the chairman of Dangote Group. This man has weight! He has an estimated net worth of 8.3 billion US dollars as at 29th May 2020. He is one of the wealthiest people in the world and the wealthiest in Africa. You too can have the same, even more of this weight.

But this did not just happen because nothing just happens without a propelling force.

Let's get into his story.

THE ENCOUNTER

It was an ENCOUNTER with the servant of God, Benson Andrew Idahosa and it is one of the most touching events in the Christian circle in Nigeria.

We have heard and seen the veracity of the manifestation of the Spirit of God and power in the ministry of the Apostles, Prophets, and others such is the same that played out in the encounter.

Arch Bishop Benson Andrew Idahosa, the name is not strange to any of us who has been around and familiar with the revival that took place in Nigeria in the 80s in Benin City, through the ministry of Papa Idohosa who is the founder of the Church of God Mission.

Alhaji Dangote who was born to the family of Mohammed Dangote and Mariya Sanusi Dantata in Kano State, showed his passion for business by selling sweets even in primary school. As a teenager, he worked for his uncle Sani Dangote and it was said of him to have served diligently.

Sometimes in 1977 after his 20th birthday, he approached his uncle and told him about his plan to establish a business outfit that would trade in cement, sugar, rice, pasta, salt, cotton, millet, vegetable oil, and other products.

His uncle provided a loan of N500,000 and gave him a caveat to return the loan within the space of 3 months which was the practice at the time.

In the view of developing this new business idea into reality, Dangote relocated to Lagos in June 1977.

A few years earlier, the Benin Airport had been constructed. This served as one of his routes to the Niger-Delta, South-South of Nigeria. Benin City, formally known as the City of Blood, was at that time experiencing a great revival through Benson Idahosa, who was established as a young Christian in the Assemblies of God.

Idahosa who had recently returned from a missionary school in America had established strong links with a number of pastors such as Gordon Lindsay, Jim Baker, and Tommy Lee Osborn (popularly known as T.L. Osborn),  one of the greatest evangelists in modern times and  had first responded to Benson's letter in 1962.

Subsequently, a solid relationship had been over the years resulting in Osborn's visit with his wife, Daisy to Benin on a few occasions, either for crusades or specifically to his church.

"THE ENCOUNTER"

Of all the visits, however, one specific visit in the late 1970s was very unique. T.L and Daisy Osborn had stayed late ministering at the Miracle Center of Church of God Mission just opposite the Airport.

They, therefore, went late to catch their flight to Lagos which was supposed to be a connecting flight from Johannesburg to France, England, and then the USA.

By the time Idahosa took his guests to the airport, they were told that the last flight for the day was overbooked. Ah! Not one seat was available, the passengers had boarded and the flight about to take off.

Not only that, the jetliner, had begun to taxi towards the runway. Benson Idahosa's new Mercedes sped towards the tarmac and screeched to a halt in front of the plane. Benson came out and wave at the pilot frantically.

The plane stopped and the steps were lowered as the pilot came down to know what the issue was. Idahosa began "I have two God’s important servants who must go to Lagos".

"But we are loaded to capacity, every seat is full," said the captain.

"Never mind! Let me on board. They all know me. They watch 'Redemption Hour'. Let me talk to them". Idahosa insisted, went into the plane, and walked down the crowded aisles. The passengers were annoyed. He prayed silently as he returned to the front. He turned around facing the passengers and started, " Excuse me friends, I have two of God's special servants in my car. They must go to Lagos today on this plane; two of you will get off now so God's special servants can board. God bless you". Really, just like that?

Find out what happened next.

He waited for a minute, no one moved. The silence showed annoyance by the impatient passengers.

Some pretended to be asleep and others praying.

Idahosa slowly walked the aisle again. As he approached the rear, a young man rose up from the back of the plane and asked the person sitting next to him to get up. Hallelujah! Yes, said Idahosa pointing, "You can go tomorrow" and "You can travel later," he said, pointing to the other man.

Both men gathered their belongings and proceeded to the exit door. Benson Idahosa suddenly stopped the first man in the aisle and asked him, "Young man, what is your name and what do you do?”

"My name is Aliko Dangote and this is my assistant. I am a trader, a businessman",  the young man replied.

“Impressed”, Idahosa responded.

THE BOMB

The man of God looked directly at him and declared, "The world will get up for you". The passengers who were mostly Christian responded, "Amen".  He continued, "My God will bless you! God will take you and your business beyond Africa and bless you beyond measure".

Just before descending the stairs, Idahosa turned and raised his hands with tears in his eyes, praised the Lord, and blessed the remaining passengers for their patience. They all broke into spontaneous clapping.

"See you on 'Redemption Hour' this Sunday evening”,  he concluded. They clapped as T.L and Daisy Osborn boarded the flight.

The world has since stood up for the young man. Today, Alhaji Aliko Dangote is a Nigerian billionaire. He flies one of the best jets in the country. He owns one of the biggest businesses in Africa. He is currently a force to reckon with around the world.

Believe in the Lord God, so shall be established, believe also in His prophets, so shall you prosper. 2Chronicles 20:20.

There were Christians in that plane but they were not sensitive. Jesus wept for Jerusalem because His people did not recognize their time of visitation. So it was for those Christians in the plane.

We are still behaving like that today – still missing the opportunity that will transform our lives.

I believe you're learning already.

In our day, one of the most powerful life-changing virtue 'HONOUR' has been bastardized so much so that the grace carriers are no longer revered and honoured so we miss out on the rich economy of grace.

Hebrews 7:7 and without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. Yes, this happens when observing the protocol of honor.

This is a big lesson for Christians all over the world.  Some Christians may never be as wealthy as Dangote. He is not a Christian but because he observed a spiritual protocol, he has become great.

Life is spiritual. The spiritual controls the physical/natural. "For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap LIFE ETERNAL" says Galatians 6:8.

We do not have Idahosa in our day anymore but the spirit that powers the blessed covenant (JESUS CHRIST) still dwells in the life of our parents if they are born of God, your pastor in that your local church, the fathers in faith, the brethren and everyone around.

Kindly comment. Share your thoughts on what Dangote did.

Source: The African Apostles; Volume 1(Patriarchs and Pacesetters) by Oluwaleke Beecroft.