Alhaji Aliko Dangote is now the 64th richest man in the world.

The president of Dangote Group significantly moved up in the world billionaires’ list after he gained $5.8bn within 24 hours and his total net worth rose to $16.6bn on Tuesday.

Dangote, who was previously ranked as the 103rd richest person in the world, remains the richest man in Africa for the eighth year running.

Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a ranking of the world’s 500 richest people, showed that Dangot's wealth fell from $10.5bn at the end of 2018 to $9.63bn on January 1, 2019.

But it grew to $10.8bn on Monday, February 25. His net worth increased by 23 per cent from $13.5bn on February 26, 2018, to $16.6bn, making him the 64th richest person in the world.

Dangote has seen his wealth rise by 58 per cent so far this year.