Africa’s foremost industrialist and President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has called on African entrepreneurs, CEOs, and high-net-worth individuals to take full ownership of the continent’s development by investing in bold, transformative projects that can redefine Africa’s economic trajectory.
Dangote made the charge while hosting a delegation of top business executives from six African countries participating in the Global CEO Africa Programme, a collaborative initiative between Lagos Business School and Strathmore Business School, Nairobi. The visit included a strategic tour of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals complex in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos—Africa’s largest industrial infrastructure of its kind.
The delegation, comprising 24 CEOs across finance, manufacturing, and development sectors, were urged to harness Africa’s vast potential and push for structural transformation through long-term investments.
“Africans must develop Africa. Nobody else will do it for us. The opportunities are here—what we need are vision, courage, and big thinking. If you think small, you don’t grow. But if you think big and try, even if you fail, you are better for it,” Dangote said.
Citing the $19 billion Dangote Refinery as a symbol of African capability, he noted that the success of such a project—now the world’s largest single-train refinery—was proof that large-scale industrial ambitions can be achieved locally despite regulatory and infrastructural headwinds.
Dangote admitted that inconsistencies in policy, infrastructure deficits, and financing remain major hurdles for businesses in Africa, but emphasized that persistent innovation and strategic knowledge acquisition remain vital tools for overcoming these challenges.
“We cannot wait for everything to be perfect before we act. Challenges will always exist, but our ability to adapt and solve local problems with local solutions is what will shape Africa’s future,” he added.
The business mogul’s remarks resonated with the visiting executives, many of whom praised his entrepreneurial journey and commitment to African industrialisation.
The Academic Director of the Global CEO Africa Programme, Patrick Akinwuntan, said the initiative aims to build a new cadre of African leaders capable of solving complex development challenges through innovative business solutions. The three-module programme includes residencies in Nairobi, Lagos, and New Haven (USA) to provide participants with cross-continental perspectives and practical learning experiences.
Professor Olayinka David-West, Dean of Lagos Business School, noted that the visit to Dangote Industries aligns with the school’s mission to develop responsible leaders equipped to address Africa’s pressing economic and institutional gaps.
A participant, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, CEO of Nigeria’s Financial Reporting Council, described the tour as “transformational,” adding that it reinforced the importance of courage, scale, and ambition in economic development.
Other notable attendees included global banking expert Segun Aina; Nancy Njau, Managing Director of Family Bank in Nairobi; Emmanuel Wakili, Ecobank CFO for the CEMAC and CESA regions; and Ibukun Oyedeji, former President of the CFA Society Nigeria.
Participants commended the scale, vision, and operational excellence of the Dangote Refinery, which is expected to significantly reduce Africa’s reliance on fuel imports and contribute to the region’s energy security.
As the continent grapples with youth unemployment, industrial gaps, and infrastructural deficits, Dangote’s message is clear: African solutions must drive African progress.
“We cannot continue depending on foreign aid or foreign direction. The time has come for African entrepreneurs to lead with confidence and commitment,” Dangote affirmed.
The visit concluded with renewed commitments from participants to apply their learnings towards inclusive growth and to champion pan-African partnerships for sustainable development.