Aliko Dangote Retires as Chairman of Dangote Cement
…Hands Over to Emmanuel Ikazoboh
By Patience Ikpeme
Africa’s foremost industrialist and founder of Dangote Cement Plc, Aliko Dangote, has stepped down as Chairman and Director of the company, officially retiring from the Board with effect from July 25, 2025.
According to a statement signed by Mr. Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief, Branding & Communications Officer, Dangote is stepping aside to dedicate more time and energy to the operations of the Dangote Refinery, Petrochemicals, Fertiliser businesses, and government relations. This, the statement noted, aligns with a strategic shift to consolidate the Dangote Group’s operations and ambitions over the next five years.
Following his exit, the Board has appointed Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, an independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors. In addition, Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote has joined the board, while Professor Dorothy Ufot has retired from her role as a director.
Aliko Dangote’s retirement marks the end of an era in the company’s history. He played a defining role in transforming Dangote Cement from a national player into Africa’s leading cement producer, with a capacity of 52 million metric tonnes annually spread across the continent, including 35.25 million metric tonnes in Nigeria. With new plants under construction in Côte d’Ivoire (3.0 Mta) and Itori, Nigeria (6.0 Mta), the company is expected to raise its total capacity to 61.0 Mta by the end of 2025.
His long-standing vision of making Nigeria and the continent self-sufficient in cement production saw massive investments in local manufacturing capacity, job creation, and infrastructure development. Today, Dangote Cement is not only a dominant supplier in Nigeria but also the largest exporter of cement and clinker in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Under his leadership, the company achieved record-breaking financial performance. According to the unaudited financials for the half year ending June 30, 2025, group revenue climbed by 17.7 percent year-on-year, rising from ₦1.76 trillion in 2024 to ₦2.07 trillion. The group’s EBITDA rose sharply by 41.8 percent to ₦944.9 billion from ₦666.2 billion, while EBITDA from Nigerian operations surged by 82.4 percent to ₦845.4 billion.
Profit before tax soared to ₦730 billion, up 149 percent from ₦292.96 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2024. Profit after tax grew even more significantly, increasing by 174.1 percent to ₦520.5 billion from ₦189.9 billion. Export volumes also increased by 18.2 percent during the six-month period, with 18 successful clinker shipments made to Ghana and Cameroon.
In addition to its commercial success, the Dangote Group was Nigeria’s highest taxpayer in 2024, with over ₦402 billion paid into government coffers.
Speaking on his appointment, Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead one of Africa’s most valuable industrial brands. He said Dangote Cement has become a symbol of resilience and innovation, playing a vital role in economic development across several African countries.
He outlined his vision for the company under his leadership, focusing on five strategic areas: operational excellence, strategic expansion, sustainability, innovation, and community engagement.
“Our goal is to implement aggressive cost-reduction measures to manage inflationary pressures and improve competitiveness. We will also fast-track the adoption of alternative fuels and clean technologies to support sustainability goals,” he said.
Ikazoboh further pledged that employee welfare would remain a priority, with ongoing investments in training, skills development, and performance enhancement.
He brings to the role decades of corporate leadership experience. He previously served as Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and had a long career at Akintola Williams Deloitte, where he rose to become Managing Partner for West and Central Africa. In 2010, he was appointed Interim Administrator of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Central Securities Clearing System Plc. by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to oversee capital market reforms.
With the baton now passed to Ikazoboh, the company enters a new chapter with a focus on growth, efficiency, and strengthening its position as a continental industrial powerhouse, while Dangote redirects his focus to other major industrial projects under the Dangote Group.
