Africa’s foremost industrialist and founder of Dangote Cement Plc, Aliko Dangote, on Friday, stepped down as the Chairman and Director of the company.

According to an official statement signed by Anthony Chiejina, the Group Chief, Branding and Communications Officer, Dangote stepped down to focus on other strategic business interests, including the Refinery, Petrochemicals, Fertiliser, and Government Relations segments of the conglomerate.

The statement said these areas are central to the group’s five-year growth plan.

In his place, the Board has appointed Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh, an Independent Non-Executive Director, as the new Chairman of the Board. Also, Hajiya Mariya Aliko Dangote has been appointed to the Board, while Professor Dorothy Ufot has retired from her position.

Dangote’s retirement from the board concludes a historic chapter in the Nigerian and African industrial landscape.

Under his guidance, Dangote Cement evolved from a bold vision into the largest cement manufacturer and exporter in Sub-Saharan Africa.

With a combined installed capacity of 52 million metric tonnes per annum (Mta) across the continent, including 35.25Mta in Nigeria, the company has continued expanding with ongoing greenfield projects in Côte d’Ivoire (3.0Mta) and Itori, Nigeria (6.0Mta).

“These developments will increase the company’s total installed capacity to 61.0Mta upon completion this year.”

According to the statement, under Dangote’s stewardship, the company recorded its highest-ever financial performance.

According to unaudited results for the six months ending June 30, 2025, revenue grew by 17.7% to ₦2.07 trillion, up from ₦1.76 trillion in the same period last year.

“Group EBITDA surged by 41.8% to ₦944.9 billion, while the Nigerian operations alone posted an 82.4% rise in EBITDA, reaching ₦845.4 billion.

“Profit before tax increased by 149% to ₦730 billion, and profit after tax rose sharply by 174.1% to ₦520.5 billion. Additionally, export volumes from Nigeria increased by 18.2%, with 18 clinker shipments made to Ghana and Cameroon.

“In 2024 alone, subsidiaries under the Dangote Group paid over ₦402 billion in taxes, making it Nigeria’s highest taxpayer for the year.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh expressed gratitude and commitment to steering Dangote Cement into its next chapter.

“It is a profound honour to take on this role,” he said. “Dangote Cement is a beacon of African enterprise—resilient, innovative, and committed to excellence.”

Ikazoboh outlined his strategic focus for the company, to include operational excellence, strategic expansion, sustainability and innovation, cost reduction and efficiency and employee development and community engagement.

He emphasized plans to reduce costs through robust cost-management strategies, transition toward alternative fuels to cut fossil fuel dependence, and deepen investments in employee training and development.

Ikazoboh brings decades of experience in corporate governance and financial strategy.

He previously served as Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Inc. and held leadership roles at Akintola Williams Deloitte, where he was Managing Partner in both Francophone West Africa and later in West and Central Africa.

In 2010, he was appointed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as Interim Administrator of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), where he spearheaded major capital market reforms