Aliko Dangote has retired as Chairman and Director of Dangote Cement Plc, officially stepping down from the board on July 25, 2025.
The announcement was contained in a statement by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer. It stated that Dangote is stepping aside to focus on his refinery, petrochemicals, fertiliser, and government relations sectors, as part of a new five-year business strategy.
READ ALSO: Aliko Dangote Biography: Early Life, Education, Business Career, Contributions to Nigeria
Following his exit, the board appointed Emmanuel Ikazoboh, an independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman. Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote also joined the board, while Prof. Dorothy Ufot retired.
Dangote, who founded the company, transformed it into Africa’s largest producer and exporter of cement and clinker. With a current production capacity of 52 million metric tonnes annually across Africa, new plants in Côte d’Ivoire and Itori, Nigeria, are expected to push the figure to 61Mta this year.
The company recorded its highest financial performance under his leadership. In the first half of 2025, group revenue rose 17.7% to N2.07 trillion, while profit after tax surged 174% to N520.5 billion. Exports from Nigeria also rose by 18.2%, with clinker shipments to Ghana and Cameroon.
In 2024, Dangote Group subsidiaries paid over N402 billion in taxes, making it Nigeria’s highest taxpayer.
In his acceptance speech, Ikazoboh pledged to build on Dangote’s legacy by focusing on operational efficiency, sustainability, innovation, and staff development.
A seasoned executive, Ikazoboh previously chaired Ecobank Transnational Inc. and served as a Managing Partner at Deloitte West and Central Africa. He also led key market reforms for the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2010.
