In a momentous ceremony held on Friday, February 2, 2024, His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, bestowed Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, with high praise, describing him as a blessing to Senegal and the entire African continent.
President Sall commended the extraordinary entrepreneurial and philanthropic endeavors of Dangote, a renowned business magnate, as he presented him with the prestigious National Order of the Lion Award, the highest civilian honor in Senegal.
In response to the recognition, Dangote Group expressed gratitude in a statement, emphasizing that the Senegalese national laurel underscores the remarkable partnership between Senegal and the conglomerate. The Federal Government of Nigeria also joined in commending Dangote for his invaluable contributions, which have enhanced Nigeria’s standing throughout Africa.
Musa Abdulqadir, Counsellor/Head of Chancery at the Nigerian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal’s capital, conveyed the Nigerian government’s appreciation during the conferment ceremony of the Commander of the Order of the Lion on Aliko Dangote by President Sall. Abdulqadir highlighted the exceptional quality of Dangote Cement in the Senegalese market, which has significantly bolstered Nigeria’s reputation in the country. He further remarked that Dangote Cement has become a household name, effectively rebranding Nigeria and Nigerians in Senegal, while exemplifying that Nigerian companies can produce goods of unparalleled quality.
In his acceptance speech, Dangote urged African investors to heighten their commitment to the continent. The business mogul reiterated that the responsibility of developing Africa lies with its own people, as they possess a deep understanding of the continent. He also emphasized the importance of patriotism among African investors, urging them to continue investing in Africa, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
Dangote, the President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, highlighted that this vision has propelled Dangote Cement to become Africa’s leading cement producer, with an impressive capacity of 52.0 million metric tons across the continent, effectively reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported cement.
Expressing gratitude to the government and the people of Senegal for the award, Dangote described the recognition as a clarion call to spearhead rapid industrialization in Africa. He stressed the need to shift Africa’s economic landscape from being an exporter of raw materials and a net importer of finished goods to achieving self-sufficiency in manufacturing, leveraging the availability of essential resources.
Dangote’s decision to invest in Senegal aligns with Dangote Group’s Pan-African vision of creating value and generating numerous direct and indirect employment opportunities. Encouraging African entrepreneurs, he stated, “Our cement plant in Pout, Senegal, stands as one of our proudest success stories across Africa. It contributes to the Senegalese economy through taxes, job creation, and the growth of ancillary sectors such as block-making and building projects. Moreover, it actively supports the well-being of local communities through various corporate social responsibility initiatives.”
It is worth noting that Dangote has previously been honored with prestigious awards, including the Commander of the National Order of Valour of the Republic of Cameroon, the Grand Commander of the National Order of the Republic of Benin, Commander of the Order of Merit of Niger, and the Grand Commander, Order of the Niger (GCON) by the Nigerian Government.