Dangote steps down as chairman of Dangote cement, names replacement

In a major shake-up at one of Africa’s largest cement manufacturers, Nigerian billionaire and industrialist Aliko Dangote has officially stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Dangote Cement Plc.

The news, which broke on Friday evening, was confirmed by a senior company official who spoke on condition of anonymity. According to the source, Emmanuel Ikazoboh has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board, stepping into the role previously held by Dangote.

Mr Ikazoboh previously served as an independent non-executive director. With over four decades of leadership experience across Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and South Africa, he brings a wealth of expertise to his new role.

He began his professional journey at Akintola Williams Deloitte and went on to become Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Inc., the Pan-African banking group.

Before 2009, Mr Ikazoboh served as the Managing Partner for Deloitte’s francophone offices in Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, later overseeing operations in West and Central Africa as Managing Partner.

This leadership change at Dangote Cement follows Mr Dangote’s retirement in June as chairman of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, marking the end of two decades at the helm of that company.

At the time, the company described the move as being “in line with the principles of good corporate governance and succession planning.”