Aliko Dangote has officially stepped down as Chairman and Director of Dangote Cement Plc to focus on the Dangote Group’s massive refinery and petrochemicals projects.

The announcement, made on July 25, 2025, was confirmed by the company’s Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina. According to the statement, Dangote is shifting his attention to the $20 billion refinery, as well as ongoing fertiliser operations and relations with key government stakeholders.

Following his exit, Emmanuel Ikazoboh has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board. A seasoned corporate leader, Ikazoboh previously chaired Ecobank Transnational Inc. and played a key role in reforming Nigeria’s stock market.

The company also added Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote to its board, while Prof. Dorothy Ufot has retired from her role.

During his time at the helm, Dangote transformed the cement division into Africa’s leading producer and exporter. With an existing production capacity of 52 million metric tonnes—35.25 million coming from Nigeria—the company is on track to increase capacity to 61 million tonnes by the end of the year through new plants in Côte d’Ivoire and Itori, Ogun State.

The company recently reported record-breaking revenue of N2.07 trillion for the first half of 2025, up 17.7% from the same period in 2024.

In his acceptance message, Ikazoboh expressed gratitude and promised to uphold the company’s legacy of excellence. He described Dangote Cement as a strong symbol of innovation and resilience in Africa’s business landscape.

With this transition, Dangote is expected to pour more energy into refining and industrial expansion—critical components of Nigeria’s economic transformation strategy.