Aliko Dangote, the founder of Dangote Cement Plc, has retired as Chairman and Director of the Board, effective today, July 25, 2025.
The board has appointed Emmanuel Ikazoboh, a seasoned independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman.
This decision allows him to dedicate his full attention to the Refinery, Petrochemicals, Fertilizer, and Government Relations.
His aim is to significantly elevate the company’s five-year business trajectory in these crucial areas.
During his tenure, Dangote transformed Dangote Cement into Africa’s largest cement producer and a leading exporter in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He leaves behind a legacy of self-sufficiency, achieved through strategic investments in modern plants and a strong focus on local content.
Dangote Cement boasts a 52.0 million tonnes per annum (Mta) capacity across Africa, with Nigeria contributing 35.25 Mta. Upcoming greenfield plants in Côte d’Ivoire (3.0 Mta) and Itori, Nigeria (6.0 Mta), set to complete this year, will boost total capacity to 61.0 Mta.
Under Dangote’s leadership, the company achieved record financials for the six months ending June 30, 2025: revenue rose 17.7% to N2,071.6 billion from N1,760 billion in 2024, while EBITDA surged 41.8% to N944.9 billion from N666.22 billion.
Nigeria’s EBITDA grew 82.4% to N845.4 billion, with profit before tax up 149% to N730 billion and profit after tax soaring 174.1% to N520.5 billion.
Export volumes from Nigeria increased 18.2%, with 18 clinker shipments to Ghana and Cameroon. Dangote Group subsidiaries paid over N402 billion in taxes in 2024, marking it as Nigeria’s top taxpayer.
The board appointed Emmanuel Ikazoboh, a seasoned independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman.
Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote joined the board, while Prof. Dorothy Ufot retired.
The new chairman, Ikazoboh, formerly Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Inc., began his career at Akintola Williams Deloitte, later serving as Managing Partner for francophone offices in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire, and West/Central Africa until 2009.
He also led capital market reforms as Interim Administrator of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Central Securities Clearing System Plc. (CSCS) in 2010.
In his acceptance speech, Ikazoboh expressed honour at the role, pledging to uphold leadership excellence.
He called Dangote Cement a beacon of African enterprise, driving economic growth across the continent.
His vision includes sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and key priorities: operational excellence, strategic expansion, sustainability, innovation, and community engagement.
Plans include cost-reduction strategies to counter inflation, adopting alternative fuels to reduce fossil fuel reliance, and investing in staff training to foster excellence.
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