Table of Contents
The richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote has credited customers and trade partners as the backbone of his conglomerate’s growth, saying strong relationships remain central to the group’s long-term strategy.
Speaking at the Nascon 2025 Customers’ Dinner and Awards Night in Abuja, the president of Dangote Group told distributors, board members and executives that the event was more than a celebration. It was a reminder of how the business has grown and where it is headed next.
“This is an event that reflects not only how far we have come as a group, but also how we intend to move forward,” he said.
Dangote, whose group spans cement, sugar, salt, rice and petrochemicals, said that despite operating across multiple sectors and consumer markets, one principle ties everything together.
Strong customer partnerships are the foundation of sustainable growth in our group, he said.
He pointed to the transformation the group has undergone in recent years, from expanding manufacturing capacity to modernising distribution channels and strengthening brand portfolios. Each step, he said, was shaped by customer demand and market realities.
Over the past several years, our group has evolved significantly. We have expanded our manufacturing capacity, strengthened our brand portfolio and modernised our go to market systems. Each of these milestones was influenced by customer needs and market realities, Dangote said.
He acknowledged the role distributors and trade partners have played in pushing new products into the market and keeping volumes steady during periods of economic strain.
Many of the customers present tonight have walked this journey with us, supporting new product launches, expanding distribution into new territories and standing by our brands during periods of economic uncertainty. We must thank you for standing by us, he said.
Dangote added that the group’s next phase of growth will focus on supply chain efficiency, digital capability, sustainability and brand equity. Those investments, he noted, only make sense when aligned with customer feedback.
Earlier, Nascon Allied Industries chairman Olakunle Alake described the dinner as both symbolic and strategic, saying the company’s long term performance depends on collaboration rather than transactions.
Long term growth is built on collaboration and not on transactions, Alake told attendees, stressing that distribution strength and retail partnerships remain critical in a highly competitive FMCG market.
He said the awards presented at the event recognise partners who have delivered scale and consistency over time, calling customer service a strategic asset in an environment where loyalty is fragile and competition intense.
Nascon, a subsidiary of the Dangote Group, has recorded strong recent results. In the first half of 2025, the company posted a profit of N15.6 billion, up 222 percent from the same period a year earlier. Revenue rose 55 percent to N78.2 billion, while operating profit climbed to N21.3 billion.
The numbers underscore the scale of the group’s operations. Dangote’s message to customers was clear. Growth is shared, and the next chapter will be built the same way the last one was, in partnership.
