Amanze ChinonyeAfrica’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has officially stepped down as Board Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, marking a significant leadership transition in one of Nigeria’s most prominent conglomerates.
The move, effective 25 July 2025, signals Dangote’s intent to fully dedicate his attention to the company’s multi-billion-dollar oil refinery and allied energy interests.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis was confirmed in a statement issued by Dangote Group on Friday, signed by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief, Branding and Communications Officer. The statement confirmed the appointment of Emmanuel Ikazoboh, an experienced independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman of the Board.
The company also announced the retirement of Prof. Dorothy Ufot from the board and the appointment of Mariya Aliko Dangote, Dangote’s daughter, as a non-executive director.
“After years of steering Dangote Cement to continental leadership in the cement sector, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has taken the strategic decision to step aside in order to concentrate more on the group’s ongoing refinery and petrochemical projects,” the statement read.
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Dangote Cement, which operates in 10 African countries and remains the largest cement producer in Sub-Saharan Africa, has long served as a key revenue source for the Dangote Group. Yet with the $20 billion Dangote Refinery now partially operational in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, attention is shifting to what is seen as Dangote’s most ambitious industrial project yet.
The refinery, which has a designed processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is expected to meet all of Nigeria’s refined petroleum product needs and export surplus volumes to international markets. Commissioned in May 2023, the project has faced logistical and regulatory hurdles, including crude oil supply delays and high lifting costs, which have affected its ability to ramp up to full capacity.
Recent reports indicate that transporting petroleum products from the refinery currently costs more than importing them from nearby countries due to domestic infrastructure limitations and port inefficiencies. Despite these challenges, the company says it is committed to resolving supply chain bottlenecks and expanding operations steadily.
This leadership shift reflects a broader strategic pivot within the Dangote Group as it deepens its investments in downstream energy, petrochemicals, and fertiliser production, positioning itself as a key player in Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
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