Dangote
Corporate brand
UnclaimedDangote is a Nigerian multinational conglomerate and one of Africa's largest industrial brands, spanning cement, sugar, salt, flour, fertiliser, and petroleum refining.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Dangote is the flagship brand of Dangote Industries Limited, a Nigerian multinational conglomerate founded by Aliko Dangote in 1981. The group began as a small trading business and grew into one of Africa's largest and most diversified industrial enterprises. Its operations span cement, sugar, salt, flour, fertiliser, packaging, and petroleum refining, with a presence in multiple African countries and beyond. The Dangote brand is closely associated with its founder, Aliko Dangote, who is widely recognised as one of Africa's most prominent industrialists and philanthropists. The group's best-known business is Dangote Cement, which is listed on the Nigerian Exchange and has operations in several African countries. Dangote Cement is a leading producer of cement in Africa and has played a major role in the continent's infrastructure development. Other key businesses include Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Salt, Dangote Flour Mills (which was acquired by Olam International in 2019), and Dangote Fertiliser. The group has also invested heavily in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, a massive project in Nigeria's Lekki Free Trade Zone, which is designed to process crude oil into refined products for domestic and export markets. Dangote's brand identity is built on scale, self-sufficiency, and African industrialisation. The group has a significant presence in Nigeria and other African markets, and it has expanded into countries such as Ethiopia, Senegal, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Cameroon through its cement operations. The Dangote brand is also involved in logistics, with a large fleet of trucks and ships, and in real estate and telecommunications through various subsidiaries. As a private company, Dangote Industries Limited is not listed on a stock exchange, although some of its subsidiaries, such as Dangote Cement, are publicly traded. The group is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, and remains majority-owned by Aliko Dangote. The Dangote brand is a symbol of African entrepreneurship and industrial capacity, and it continues to expand its footprint across the continent and into global markets.
History
Dangote Industries Limited was founded in 1981 by Aliko Dangote as a small trading company dealing in commodities such as sugar, salt, and flour. Over the following decades, the group expanded into manufacturing and diversified into cement, fertiliser, and petroleum refining. In the 1990s, Dangote began importing cement and later established its own cement production facilities, which became the group's most profitable business. Dangote Cement was listed on the Nigerian Exchange in 2010 and has since expanded across Africa, with operations in countries including Ethiopia, Senegal, Zambia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Cameroon. The group also entered the sugar and salt refining businesses, becoming a major player in Nigeria's food and consumer goods sectors. In 2019, Dangote Flour Mills was sold to Olam International. The group's most ambitious project, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, began construction in 2016 and is expected to be one of the world's largest single-train refineries. The refinery is located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, Nigeria, and is designed to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The project has faced delays but is a cornerstone of Dangote's strategy to reduce Nigeria's reliance on imported refined petroleum products. Throughout its history, the Dangote brand has been synonymous with large-scale industrialisation in Africa and has played a significant role in the continent's economic development.
- 2019
Dangote Flour Mills sold to Olam International.
- 2016
Construction of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery begins.
- 2010
Dangote Cement listed on the Nigerian Exchange.
- 1981
Dangote Industries Limited founded by Aliko Dangote as a trading company.
Products and positioning
Africa's leading industrial conglomerate, focused on large-scale manufacturing and infrastructure development.
Dangote Cement
Cement production and distribution across Africa.
Dangote Sugar
Sugar refining and distribution.
Dangote Fertiliser
Production of urea and ammonia fertilisers.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery
Large-scale crude oil refinery in Nigeria.
Controversies
2026
Kenya court ruling on Dangote refinery may affect site activities
A court in Kenya issued a ruling connected to Dangote's refinery project. According to Dangote, the ruling will not halt the refinery's launch but may affect site activities. The event was reported as a controversy note concerning the project.
2021
Dangote truck fatal crash in Ondo
A cement-laden Dangote truck rammed into a shop in Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, killing about ten people, including students of Adekunle Ajasin University. The National Association of Nigerian Students condemned the incident and called on the federal government to caution Dangote Company over deaths it attributed to the company's heavy-duty trucks.
Recent events
Reported
Honeywell launches Forge Plant Cognition at Dangote refinery[4]
Honeywell Technologies said it was launching its new industrial AI platform, Forge Plant Cognition, at Nigeria’s Dangote refinery. The platform will use NVIDIA and Dell Technologies’ capabilities and is intended to boost the plant’s productivity.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Dangote breaks ground on $16 billion East African oil refinery in Kenya[5]
Nigeria's Dangote has broken ground on a $16 billion oil refinery in Kenya, marking the start of construction of the East African facility.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Kenya court ruling on Dangote refinery may affect site activities[2]
A court in Kenya has issued a ruling connected to Dangote's refinery project. Dangote says the ruling will not halt the refinery's launch but may affect site activities.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Dangote to help fund $660m fuel pipeline between Ethiopia and Djibouti[6]
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote announced he is helping to fund a $660m fuel pipeline between Ethiopia and Djibouti. The project includes a 120km pipeline connecting Djibouti's Damerjog port to a distribution facility in Dewele, Ethiopia, plus about 400 million litres of storage capacity, and is expected to begin operations within 18 months. The first phase will transport jet fuel, diesel and petrol.
Reported
Dangote truck fatal crash in Ondo[3]
A cement-laden Dangote truck rammed into a shop in Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, killing about ten people, including students of Adekunle Ajasin University. The National Association of Nigerian Students condemned the incident and called on the federal government to caution Dangote Company over deaths it attributed to the company's heavy-duty trucks.
Sources6 sources
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