Billionaire industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote has announced his retirement as Chairman and Director of Dangote Cement Plc, effective July 25, 2025. The decision was confirmed in a statement issued Friday by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer.
Dangote’s exit marks the end of a transformative era for Dangote Cement, Africa’s largest cement producer. He is stepping down to devote more focus to the \$20 billion Dangote Refinery project, as well as the group’s petrochemicals, fertiliser operations, and strategic government engagements.
To fill the leadership vacuum, the board has appointed Emmanuel Ikazoboh as the new independent non-executive Chairman. Ikazoboh brings extensive corporate governance experience, having previously served as Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Inc. and as an Interim Administrator of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Also joining the board is Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote, while Professor Dorothy Ufot retires from her role as a director. The statement paid tribute to Dangote’s legacy, noting his pivotal role in transforming the cement industry across Africa. His efforts made Nigeria self-sufficient in cement production and positioned Dangote Cement as the continent’s top exporter, with a current production capacity of 52.0 million tonnes per annum (Mta), and additional plants set to raise this to 61.0Mta by the end of the year.
Under his leadership, Dangote Cement achieved record financial performance, with unaudited results for the first half of 2025 showing a 17.7% increase in revenue—from ₦1.76 trillion in H1 2024 to ₦2.07 trillion—the highest in the company’s history. In his acceptance speech, Ikazoboh pledged to uphold the company’s legacy of excellence, describing Dangote Cement as a model of African resilience and innovation.
Source : https://punchng.com/
