…As Dangote marks Special Day at ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair in Algiers
President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has called for a deliberate reorientation towards industrialisation and regional value chain development as a pathway to shielding Africa from global economic shocks.
Speaking during the company’s Special Day at the ongoing 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, Algeria, Dangote—represented by his Special Adviser, Engr. Ahmed Mansur—urged African nations and manufacturers to look inward and harness local strengths while seizing global opportunities.
He emphasised that the theme of this year’s fair, “Gateway to New Opportunities,” underscores Africa’s vast but underutilised potential. For too long, he noted, the continent has exported raw materials with limited local processing. According to him, “There must be a fundamental shift in mindset and a deliberate re-orientation toward industrialisation and the development of Africa’s manufacturing sector. While this was always necessary in the past, it is even more urgent today, given the alarming rise in youth unemployment, and the need for sustainable, inclusive growth.”
Dangote pointed out that current geopolitical tensions and trade wars have disrupted traditional supply chains, compelling major economies to diversify their partnerships. This, he said, presents an opening for African exporters to competitively fill global supply gaps while simultaneously strengthening intra-African trade.
Attributing his group’s philosophy to an Afrocentric vision, Dangote highlighted some of the conglomerate’s transformative investments across the continent. These include:
- Cement production capacity of 52MMtpa across 10 countries—the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.
- A 3MMtpa urea plant that has turned Nigeria from a net fertiliser importer into an exporter across Africa, South America, North America, and Europe.
- Africa’s largest oil refinery, a 650kbpd single-train facility, which is reducing the region’s reliance on imported petroleum products and strengthening energy self-sufficiency.
He added that achieving Africa’s full potential requires governments to create enabling business environments through policy reforms, infrastructure development, and incentives that can attract private capital.
The Dangote Special Day drew widespread attention at IATF, featuring presentations from the group’s business units—Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar, Dangote Salt (NASCON), Dangote Fertiliser, Dangote Polypropylene, and Dangote Packaging. Each unit showcased products and reiterated the company’s commitment to collaboration and trade integration across the continent.
Dangote concluded by reaffirming the group’s dedication to driving Africa’s industrial transformation:
“Africa’s potential and prospects are immense. However, this potential will only be fully actualised if individual nations take deliberate steps to improve their business environment.”
