Top executives from six African countries were recently led by Lagos Business School (LBS) on an eye-opening visit to the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos.

The delegation, part of LBS’s Global CEO Africa Programme, included 24 CEOs from sectors like finance, construction, IT, and the public service. Their goal: to see firsthand the impact of large-scale private investment in Africa.

They were received by Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, who encouraged African business leaders to invest more within the continent. He noted that most African countries still rely heavily on fuel imports, highlighting the need for local production.

Reflecting on the refinery’s journey, Dangote revealed that the challenges were far greater than expected but said persistence paid off. “If I had known what was ahead, I might have backed out. But we stayed committed and proved it’s possible.”

LBS Dean, Prof. Yinka David-West, praised the refinery as a symbol of African potential and leadership. She thanked Dangote for inspiring others to believe in Africa’s capacity to build world-class infrastructure.

Patrick Akinwuntan, Academic Director of the programme, called the refinery a bold example of turning vision into reality, urging African leaders to embrace daring solutions to the continent’s challenges.

The visit was part of LBS’s effort to shape a new generation of transformational leaders committed to driving progress across Africa.