Dangote Reaffirms Africa Industrial Growth at 2025 Lagos Trade Fair

 

By Kayode Olopade 

The Group Executive Director, Commercial Operations, Dangote Industries Limited, Fatima Aliko-Dangote, has reiterated the conglomerate’s commitment to driving industrialisation and economic growth across Africa during the company’s Special Day at the ongoing 2025 Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF).

Speaking at the event, Fatima Aliko-Dangote congratulated the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on successfully hosting the 39th edition of the Fair, describing it as a critical platform for businesses to engage with stakeholders and showcase innovative products.

She highlighted the Fair’s theme, “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value,” as timely and strategic, noting that it promotes collaboration among manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and consumers. “This initiative facilitates both business-to-business and business-to-consumer engagements, offering valuable feedback for improvement,” she said.

Emphasizing Dangote Group’s partnership with the LCCI, she stated that the conglomerate focuses on value co-creation and global business collaboration. “As Africa’s leading indigenous conglomerate, we believe that only Africans can develop Africa,” she noted.

Fatima Aliko-Dangote highlighted the Group’s recent $2.5 billion, three-million-metric-tonne Urea Fertiliser Production Complex groundbreaking in Gode, Ethiopia, a collaboration with Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), which will generate thousands of jobs and boost agricultural output. She also mentioned the $400 million expansion of Dangote Cement Plant in Ethiopia, which will double its production capacity, and the start of operations at the 3Mta Côte d’Ivoire grinding plant, raising Dangote Cement’s total installed capacity across Africa to 55Mta. Additionally, a 6Mta integrated cement plant is under construction in Itori, Ogun State, aimed primarily at exports.

Reaffirming Dangote Group’s commitment to Nigeria’s industrialisation, she disclosed plans to expand the Dangote Petroleum Refinery from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028, as well as expansions at Dangote Fertiliser Limited and Dangote Polypropylene to increase their domestic economic contributions.

She also highlighted the achievements of Dangote Sugar Refinery and NASCON Allied Industries Plc (Dangote Salt). Dangote Sugar is investing over $700 million in its Backward Integration Programme to end raw sugar imports, while NASCON produces high-quality iodized salt and seasonings to promote public health.

Concluding her remarks, Fatima Aliko-Dangote encouraged attendees to visit the Dangote Pavilion, noting that the Trade Fair provides an opportunity to expand awareness of the Group’s products, generate sales, attract prospective buyers, enhance brand image, and open new markets—further contributing to job creation and economic development.

“Our partnership with LCCI continues to deliver benefits not only for our organisations but for the Nigerian and African economies as a whole,” she said.