Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has officially stepped down as Chairman and Director of the Board of Dangote Cement Plc, effective July 25, 2025.

The announcement was made Friday via a statement by the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina. Dangote’s decision, the statement said, is to enable him dedicate more time to the group’s multi-billion-dollar refinery, petrochemicals, fertiliser projects, and strategic government relations, which are central to the company’s five-year growth plan.

Following his retirement, the board appointed independent non-executive director Emmanuel Ikazoboh as the new Chairman. Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote was also named to the board, while Prof. Dorothy Ufot retired.

Dangote leaves behind a legacy that transformed not only Dangote Cement but the entire African cement industry. Under his leadership, the company became the continent’s largest producer and exporter of cement and clinker.

“His vision and tenacity redefined not just a company, but the entire cement landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa,” the statement said.

With a total installed capacity of 52.0 million tonnes per annum (Mta), Dangote Cement operates across several African countries. Nigeria alone accounts for 35.25Mta. Additional greenfield plants under construction in Côte d’Ivoire (3.0Mta) and Itori, Nigeria (6.0Mta) will bring total capacity to 61.0Mta by year-end.

The company also achieved its best-ever financial performance under Dangote’s watch. For the first half of 2025, group revenue rose by 17.7 percent to ₦2.07 trillion, up from ₦1.76 trillion in the same period of 2024 — marking the highest revenue in the company’s history.

In his acceptance speech, Ikazoboh said he was honoured to assume the chairmanship and pledged to maintain the company’s legacy of excellence. He described Dangote Cement as a “beacon of African enterprise” known for its innovation and resilience.

Ikazoboh brings vast leadership experience, having served as Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Inc. and previously led Deloitte’s operations across West and Central Africa. In 2010, he was appointed by Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission as Interim Administrator to implement reforms at the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Central Securities Clearing System.