The President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has officially stepped down as Chairman and Director of Dangote Cement Plc, the continent’s largest cement producer. His retirement, effective July 25, 2025, marks a strategic shift as he focuses more on other core businesses, including the Dangote Refinery, Petrochemicals, Fertiliser operations, and government relations.
After stepping down, the Board of Directors appointed Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, an independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman. Additionally, Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote joins the Board, while Prof. Dorothy Ufot exits after her tenure.
Dangote’s departure comes at a time of impressive performance for the company. Under his leadership, Dangote Cement achieved unprecedented growth, transforming from a domestic player into a continental powerhouse with a combined production capacity of 52.0 million tonnes annually across Africa—35.25Mta of that based in Nigeria. This figure is expected to rise to 61.0Mta by the end of the year with the completion of new plants in Côte d’Ivoire (3.0Mta) and Itori, Nigeria (6.0Mta).
The company’s half-year 2025 financial results reflect this success. Revenue rose 17.7% to ₦2.07 trillion from ₦1.76 trillion in the same period of 2024. Group EBITDA jumped 41.8% to ₦944.9 billion, with Nigerian operations contributing ₦845.4 billion—an 82.4% increase. Profit before tax surged by 149% to ₦730 billion, while profit after tax climbed 174.1% to ₦520.5 billion. Export volumes from Nigeria also grew 18.2%, with 18 clinker shipments to Ghana and Cameroon.
Dangote’s exit marks the end of an era defined by industrial audacity and aggressive local content development. His vision to make Nigeria and Africa self-sufficient in cement production became a reality, helping to drive job creation, infrastructure development, and economic resilience. In 2024, companies under the Dangote Group paid over ₦402 billion in taxes, making it the highest tax contributor in Nigeria.
In his acceptance speech, the new Chairman, Emmanuel Ikazoboh, said he was honored to take on the leadership role at such a crucial point in the company’s history.
“Dangote Cement is a symbol of African excellence. My vision is rooted in sustainable growth, operational efficiency, innovation, and community impact,” Ikazoboh said.
He pledged to implement cost-reduction strategies, accelerate the adoption of alternative energy sources, and deepen staff development across the board.
Ikazoboh is a seasoned executive with a robust background in corporate leadership and financial governance. He previously served as Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Inc. and was Managing Partner at Deloitte for West and Central Africa. In 2010, he was appointed Interim Administrator by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to lead key reforms at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS).
With Dangote now redirecting his energy toward Nigeria’s industrial renaissance via the refinery and related sectors, and Ikazoboh steering the cement arm, Dangote Industries looks set to consolidate its influence across Africa’s economic landscape.