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business 1 min readSeptember 3, 2026

Who Owns Dangote?

Short answer: Aliko Dangote. Africa's richest man controls the Dangote Group — Dangote Industries owns about 86% of the listed cement business, and he plans to keep 65–70% of the refinery.

The Dangote Group is owned and controlled by Aliko Dangote — Africa's richest man — through his holding company, Dangote Industries Limited. Dangote Industries holds roughly 86% of the issued share capital of Dangote Cement 1, the largest company listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).

Even as the group opens up to public markets, control stays home. Announcing plans to list a 10% stake in the ~$20bn Dangote Refinery on the NGX in 2026, Dangote said the family doesn't want to keep more than 65–70% 2 — i.e. it retains a controlling majority.

That is the value-capture story in reverse: cement, sugar, fertiliser and now refined fuel — heavy, strategic industry — built and owned by a Nigerian, listed in Lagos, with the upside retained on the continent. It is the mirror image of the foreign takeovers this desk tracks, and a template few African brands have matched — see MTN and Shoprite for the others that stayed home.

By the NumbersOwnership at a glance
~86%[1]
Dangote Industries' stake in NGX-listed Dangote Cement
65–70%[2]
Stake Dangote plans to keep in the refinery after a 2026 NGX listing

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References

  1. 1.Wikipedia Dangote CementDangote Industries holds ~86% of Dangote Cement, the largest company on the NGX.
  2. 2.Nairametrics Dangote to list 10% refinery stake on NGXPlan to list a 10% refinery stake on the NGX in 2026; Dangote's stated intent to keep 65–70%.

In the Index

#whoowns#dangote#alikodangote#nigeria#cement#valuecapture
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