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Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, delivered a powerful address at the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event held recently in Nigeria, underscoring the transformative impact of strategic domestic investment and cross-sector partnerships on the country’s economic and developmental trajectory.
Sharing the stage with philanthropist Bill Gates, Dangote lauded Nigeria’s progress in both the health and business sectors, attributing much of this success to collaboration between public and private sectors. He emphasized how targeted investments, particularly in industrial infrastructure, have not only revitalized the local economy but are also reshaping Nigeria’s role in the regional trade landscape.
One of the most striking examples of this transformation is Nigeria’s evolution in the cement industry. “Nigeria used to be the second-largest importer of cement in the world,” Dangote said. “Today, we export more cement than any other African country.”
This dramatic turnaround has been spearheaded by Dangote Cement, the continent’s largest cement producer, which now boasts a total installed production capacity of 48.6 million tonnes per annum (Mt/a). Of this, 32.3 Mt/a is based in Nigeria alone, with the remaining 16.3 Mt/a distributed across nine African countries including South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and the Republic of Congo.
In a bid to reinforce Nigeria’s position as a major exporter, Dangote Cement last year dispatched seven shipments of clinker—the key intermediate in cement production—from Nigeria to Ghana and Cameroon. This was followed by a remarkable 87.2% increase in clinker exports in the first quarter of 2024, reaching 264,000 metric tonnes.
Clinker, a solid substance formed by heating limestone and other materials in a kiln, is ground and blended with gypsum to produce finished cement. Previously, Nigeria heavily relied on importing cement and clinker to meet domestic demand. Today, thanks to sustained industrial investment, the country not only meets its own needs but also supplies cement products to markets across West and Central Africa.
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Industry sources suggest that clinker exports are expected to grow further as Dangote Cement scales up operations and targets additional African markets. This expansion directly supports the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), enhancing Nigeria’s role in strengthening intra-African trade, particularly within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc.
Dangote’s remarks serve as a powerful testament to how visionary leadership and local investment can unlock economic resilience and global competitiveness, with Nigeria poised to be a cornerstone of Africa’s industrial growth in the years ahead.
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