Aliko Dangote has stepped down as Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, the company he founded and transformed into Africa’s largest cement producer.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Friday by Anthony Chiejina, the Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, who said the decision would allow Dangote to focus more on the refinery, petrochemicals, fertiliser, and government relations arms of the Dangote Group.
“Foremost entrepreneur and founder of Dangote Cement Plc, Aliko Dangote, has announced his retirement as a Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective July 25, 2025,” Chiejina said.
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Following his exit, the company appointed Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, an independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman. The Board also announced the appointment of Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote as a new member, while Prof. Dorothy Ufot, another independent non-executive director, has retired.
Chiejina highlighted that Dangote’s journey in the cement business began with the vision to make Nigeria and Africa self-sufficient in cement production. That vision has now materialised with the company boasting a total production capacity of 52 million metric tonnes annually—35.25 million tonnes from Nigeria alone. New plants in Côte d’Ivoire (3.0Mta) and Itori, Nigeria (6.0Mta) are projected to raise the group’s total capacity to 61.0Mta.
He also noted that under Dangote’s leadership, Dangote Cement recorded the highest revenue and EBITDA in the company’s history. According to its unaudited financial report for the first half of 2025, group revenue rose by 17.7 percent to ₦2.07 trillion, up from ₦1.76 trillion during the same period last year. EBITDA surged by 41.8 percent to ₦944.9 billion, profit before tax increased by 149 percent to ₦730 billion, while profit after tax climbed by 174.1 percent to ₦520.5 billion.
The company also recorded an 18.2 percent increase in cement exports from Nigeria, with 18 clinker shipments sent to Ghana and Cameroon.
“Aliko Dangote’s legacy will be counted in the millions of jobs created, the infrastructure built, and the confidence restored in African industrial potential,” Chiejina added, noting that the Dangote Group paid over ₦402 billion in taxes in 2024, making it Nigeria’s highest taxpayer.
In his acceptance speech, Ikazoboh described his appointment as an honour and pledged to uphold “the highest standards of leadership and dedication.” He outlined his priorities, which include implementing robust cost-reduction strategies and adopting alternative fuels and technologies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Ikazoboh previously served as Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Inc. and began his career at Akintola Williams Deloitte. In 2010, he was appointed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to lead reforms at the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Central Securities Clearing System.
