NIGERIA: Dangote Group Shines With Multiple Products At 2017 Gateway Trade Fair

The Dangote Group shone at the just concluded 2017 Gateway Trade fair which was held in Abeokuta, emerging as the second most patronised exhibitor, just as the Group disclosed that it was investing N10 billion dollars in rice cultivation in five states to boost food self-sufficiency.

To mark its Day at the Fair, a subsidiary of the Group, Dangote Cement, gave out several tools and implements to the block makers in Ogun State in appreciation of their patronages.

Tools such as wheel barrowers, shovels, umbrellas and hand gloves were donated to block makers who assembled from different areas of the state.

During the 10-day trade fair, Dangote Flour delighted customers and participants with free sampling of its new pasta products.

The wet sampling made the Group’s pavilion the center of activities at the Fair as participants trooped in for their daily meal. Customers were rewarded with branded coolers, kitchen aprons, exercise books and customized ladles.

Commending Dangote Group for its sponsorship and participation at the Fair, President of Ogun State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) Mrs. Adesola Adebutu said the support given by the Group went a long way in making the staging of the Fair a success.

She commended the Pan African Conglomerate for its giant strides in economic development of the country through massive investments in several sectors of the economy describing the feat as worthy of emulation by other Nigerians.

A director of Dangote Group, Tunde Mabogunje who represented the Group at the special day, said that the partnership with OGUNCCIMA is beneficial as Ogun State is the host of the 12 mmtpa Dangote Cement Plant, Ibese, the second largest cement plant in Nigeria.

Dangote Cement, he said, through the plant provides thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the state. As a responsible corporate citizen, we participate fully in all events and activities designed to drive social and economic welfare of the state.

He described the theme for this year’s Trade Fair: Promoting Agricultural Value Chain through SMEs for Nigeria Economic Recovery as being apt, given the nation is now paying attention to Agriculture, which has the potential of becoming the major driver of the economy instead of oil, pointing out that in line with the theme the Group is at the forefront of job creation and is the largest employer of labour outside government.

Mabogunje stated We have been contributing our quota to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.

Towards aiding agriculture, we are building a fertilizer plant in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos State. When completed, farmers will have regular access to fertilizer for their farming activities. The delays and disruptions experienced in waiting for imported fertilizer will cease.

We are investing about $1 billion in rice cultivation. We have an outgrowers scheme where thousands of farmers are empowered with improved seeds and items needed to cultivate rice.

Dangote Cement Plc signed a contract valued at $4.34 billion with Chinese firm, Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd, for the construction of 11 new plants, 10 of which would be located in Africa, and one in Nepal in Asia.

When completed, the new projects are expected to add 25 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) to the company’s existing capacity that stands at 46 mmtpa.

Both companies signed the deal in Lagos in the presence of some of the Ambassadors of the African countries where the projects would be sited.

The Dangote Group strengthened the bilateral trade between Nigeria and Zambia, with the official opening of the Dangote Cement Plc’s $400 million cement plant that has an installed capacity of 1.5 million metrics tonne per annum and a 30 megawatts coal plant, to power the factory.

Zambian President, Edgar Lungu, commissioned the Greenfield project sited at Masasiti district, Ndola, Zambia on 4th August. Top dignitaries including Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; captains of industry, diplomats and politicians from both countries, graced the occasion.

In his remarks at the occasion, the President/Chief Executive of the Group, Aliko Dangote, said his company decided to invest in Zambia owing to the enabling environment in place and the country’s unique socio-economic status.

Nearly one-half of Zambia’s 14.5 million people live in urban centres, while the rural areas are under-populated.

This makes Zambia one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most highly urbanised countries.

He added: “This high level of urbanisation invariably requires massive investments in infrastructure to keep pace with the rate of growth and development.”

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) launched a new listing platform - the Premium Board and the associated Premium Board Index (PBI), in Lagos in August. Dangote Cement Plc is one of the companies that qualified for the Premium Board that featured companies that meet the Exchange’s most stringent listing criteria of capitalisation, governance and liquidity.

FBN Holdings Plc and Zenith Bank Plc also made the list, which aims at providing a platform for greater global visibility for eligible African corporates to make it easier for them to attract global capital flows and reduce the cost of funding.

Commenting on the new listing, Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema said the effort is in keeping with Exchange’s commitment to promoting Africa’s biggest companies, as well as influencing the economic growth and development of Nigeria.

He said: The Exchange is a member of the United Nation’s Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative, which is designed to encourage stock exchanges to influence their ecosystem to adopt sustainable ways of doing business around Environmental, Social, and Governance dimensions.

The Premium Board is one result of our commitment to place corporate governance front and centre as a way to improve the climate for doing business in Africa.

The Dangote Group is always evolving and considering new ways to strengthen its operations. We pride ourselves in having a vast array of brands and are dedicated to providing the highest quality products, so our customers will always find the product that truly expresses their taste.

- Dangote Sugar

- Dangote Salt

- Petit Tomato Paste

- Dangote Cement

- Dangote Sacks

- Danvita

- Dangote Macaroni

- Mowa Water

- Dangote Flour

- Dangote Spaghetti

- Ziza Milk

- Dansa Juice

- Dangote Noodles

The Dangote Group is a diversified and fully integrated conglomerate with an annual group turnover in excess of N450 billion (US$3 billion). The Group's interests span a range of sectors in Nigeria and across Africa.

Current interests include cement, sugar, salt, pasta, beverages and real estate with new projects underway in the oil and gas, telecommunications, fertiliser and steel sectors of the economy.

The Group's core business focus is to provide local, value-added products and services that meet the 'basic needs' of the populace.

Through the construction and operation of large scale manufacturing facilities in Nigeria and across Africa, the Group is focused on building local manufacturing capacity to generate employment, prevent capital flight and provide locally produced goods for the people.

In line with its mission statement, Dangote has a rich portfolio of products, which meet the basic needs of Nigerians.

The Group's products & services and other sectors emcompass: real estate, telecommunication, steel, oil & gas, poly products, haulage, port operations, food & beverages, cement, haulage, services, and packaging.