Dangote steps down as Chairman of Dangote Cement, Ikazoboh steps in
Africa’s wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote has stepped down as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dangote Cement Plc.
Having chaired the Board for over 22 years, the business mogul retired on Friday in order to aid increased personal focus and attention on the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.
This was made public in a statement on Friday by the Company’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, who stated that the retirement took effect from July 25, 2025.
According to the statement, Dangote “is relinquishing his position as Chairman and retiring from the Board so as to focus more attention on the Refinery, Petrochemicals, Fertiliser and Government Relations, in order to drive the company’s five-year business trajectory to a superlative height.”
The Company’s Board has consequently announced Emmanuel Ikazoboh, who is an independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The development also saw the appointment of Mariya Aliko Dangote to the Board of Directors of the Company, with Prof. Dorothy Ufot retiring from the Board.
Responding in his acceptance speech, Ikazoboh stated that he was honored to accept the role while pledging to uphold the utmost standards of leadership and dedication in the new office.
The Company, according to the new Board Chairman remains a beacon of African enterprise, which has consistently demonstrated resilience, innovation, and a commitment to excellence.
Shedding light on the company’s prospects, Ikazoboh envisioned a sustainable growth trajectory for the establishment, built on excellence. “My vision for Dangote Cement Plc is built upon a foundation of sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and unwavering commitment to our core values.
“We will continue to focus on the following key priorities, Operational Excellence, Strategic Expansion, Sustainability, Innovation and Community Engagement,” Ikazoboh stated.
Emmanuel Ikazoboh who previously chaired Ecobank Transnational Inc., the Pan-African banking group, has been on the Dangote Cement Board since January 2014.
He has garnered over 40 years of experience in senior management roles in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and South Africa.
He started his professional career at Akintola Williams Deloitte and thereafter, became the Managing Partner for francophone offices in Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire. He subsequently became the Managing Partner of the Deloitte firm in West and Central Africa until 2009.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appointed him in 2010 as an Interim Administrator to carry out capital market reforms of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Central Securities Clearing System Plc. (CSCS).
Ikazoboh has an MBA in Financial Management and Marketing from Manchester University Business School, and serves on several corporate boards as chairman or non-executive director.
He is a Certified Accountant in the United Kingdom, and a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Chartered Accountants.
