In a seismic shift in African corporate leadership, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, widely recognized as Africa’s richest man, has formally retired as Chairman and Director of Dangote Cement Plc, effective July 25, 2025. This decision comes as he chooses to fully immerse himself in his energy and industrial transformation agenda, particularly the Dangote Refinery.

The board has already appointed Emmanuel Ikazoboh, an independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc. Ikazoboh, known for his strong background in corporate governance and pan-African business, has pledged to continue the legacy of growth and innovation set under Dangote’s leadership. Alongside this transition, Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote has joined the board, while Prof. Dorothy Ufot has officially retired—signaling a blend of continuity and generational evolution within the company’s leadership.
Under Dangote’s leadership, Dangote Cement grew to become Africa's largest cement producer and exporter, with an installed production capacity of 52 million tonnes per annum (Mta). Of this, 35.25 Mta is in Nigeria alone, making the company a dominant force in the continent’s construction and infrastructure sector. This capacity is projected to increase to 61 Mta by the end of 2025 with new plants in Côte d’Ivoire (3 Mta) and Itori, Nigeria (6 Mta).

Financially, Dangote Cement has seen tremendous success. The first half of 2025 showed a 17.7% increase in revenue to ₦2.07 trillion. Group EBITDA rose by 42% to ₦944.9 billion, and profit after tax climbed an impressive 174% to ₦520.5 billion. These figures underscore the company’s continued dominance and profitability even as leadership transitions occur.

Dangote’s retirement marks a deliberate pivot to focus on what may be his most ambitious project yet: the Dangote Refinery. Described as a game-changer for Nigeria and the continent, the refinery is the world’s largest single-train refinery, with the capacity to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day. After years of planning and billions in investment, the refinery is now operational and producing refined products such as diesel, aviation fuel, LPG, and gasoline.
Production at the refinery began to scale significantly in 2024 and hit 500,000 barrels per day by early 2025. The facility is expected to reach full capacity before the end of the year. With this output, the refinery is capable of meeting Nigeria’s entire domestic fuel demand and exporting excess products to neighboring African countries, transforming Nigeria from an importer to a net exporter of refined petroleum.

Dangote’s full-time commitment to this project reflects the scale of its importance—not just to his legacy, but to Nigeria’s broader economic future. Beyond refining, his focus extends to petrochemicals, fertilizer production, and pipeline infrastructure. These sectors are integral to national food security, industrial development, and foreign exchange generation.

Part of the refinery plan also includes public listings. Dangote has already expressed intentions to list the refinery on both the Nigerian and London Stock Exchanges within the next two years. This move aims to attract global investors, improve corporate transparency, and solidify the refinery’s international credibility.

The implications of Dangote’s retirement from the cement sector are significant. It symbolizes a transition from a legacy built on construction and infrastructure to one targeting industrialization, energy independence, and regional dominance in petrochemicals. The decision also highlights the operational demands of large-scale refinery management and the need for executive presence and focus.

The broader regional impact is equally critical. With local refining capacity increasing, Nigeria is already seeing reduced dependence on fuel imports and lower subsidy burdens. The refinery is also fostering job creation, tax contributions, and new trade corridors as countries across West and Central Africa turn to Nigeria for petroleum products.

This bold shift also comes at a time when Dangote’s net worth is reported between 23.8 billion and28.1 billion, anchored by his holdings in cement, sugar, petrochemicals, and now refining. As Africa’s richest man, his strategic moves carry global attention and economic ripple effects throughout the continent.
Dangote’s exit from cement is not a retreat, it’s a refocusing of vision. The infrastructure is in place, the team has been selected, and the numbers show consistent growth. As he hands over the reins at Dangote Cement, his sights are now fully set on transforming Nigeria’s industrial and energy landscape for the next generation.

Aliko Dangote’s decision is more than just a corporate reshuffle, it’s a generational shift in focus that could redefine Africa’s position in the global energy and manufacturing space.