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| President/CEO Aliko Dangote leads Harvard Kennedy School scholars on the Nigeria-Ghana Trek to the polypropylene section of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals during their visit to the facility in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. |
•As Business Mogul Inspires Harvard Scholars with Visionary Leadership
In an inspiring engagement with scholars from Harvard Kennedy School, Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has urged young entrepreneurs to break barriers and embrace ambition, emphasizing that “nothing is impossible.”
Speaking to a delegation of 50 scholars from 18 nationalities at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals complex and Dangote Fertiliser Limited in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, Dangote shared his journey of perseverance and innovation in building one of the world's most ambitious industrial projects.
He encouraged scholars to challenge limitations, seek knowledge, and pursue endeavours that leave a lasting impact beyond financial gain.
Reflecting on the monumental challenges faced while constructing the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery—hailed as the world’s largest single-train refinery, Dangote revealed that many had doubted the feasibility of such a project.
“People told me that a project of this magnitude was only achievable by sovereign nations, not individuals,” he recounted.
“But I believe that life is not worth living without ambition. If you want to succeed, you must be knowledgeable about your business. I am not an engineer, yet I ensure I understand every business I venture into”, Dangote added.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when global supply chains crumbled, Dangote’s resolve remained firm.
The company devised innovative strategies to keep the project alive, demonstrating the resilience that has come to define the Dangote brand.
Edwin Devakumar, Vice President of Oil & Gas at Dangote Group, described the refinery’s construction as an engineering marvel that required unparalleled courage and vision.
He explained that instead of outsourcing to an external Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firm, the Dangote Group took the unprecedented step of acting as its own EPC contractor, a feat rarely attempted in the oil and gas industry.
“This refinery meets global best practices and produces Euro V products. It can refine over 100 different types of crude oil.
“When we faced challenges, we reminded ourselves of our Group President’s philosophy, nothing is impossible.
“This is the same mindset we applied when we revolutionised Nigeria’s cement industry, transforming the country from one of the largest importers of cement to a net exporter,” Devakumar stated.
He further highlighted the extraordinary investments made to bring the refinery to life.
The group dredged 65 million cubic meters of sand to elevate the site by 1.5 meters, mitigating potential sea level rise due to climate change.
With limited local infrastructure to support the project, the company imported 330 cranes and lifting equipment, built the world’s largest granite quarry for construction materials, and installed an astonishing 250,000 piles, possibly the highest number ever used in a single project.
The Dangote Refinery is a game-changer for Nigeria, significantly reducing the nation’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products.
The facility can meet all of Nigeria’s fuel needs, with surplus production available for export.
Additionally, the refinery produces polypropylene, carbon black feedstock, and sulfur—key materials for various industries.
“The economic impact is tremendous. This project is not just about refining petroleum; it’s about job creation, economic diversification, and positioning Nigeria as a global refining hub,” Devakumar emphasised.
The Harvard Kennedy School scholars who toured the refinery and fertiliser complex were visibly awed by the scale and ambition of the project.
Many described the experience as the highlight of their tour, which also included visits to Ghana and Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
Sheffy Kolade, leader of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Nigeria-Ghana Trek and a global advisor for the Women for Prosperity project at the Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Center, lauded Dangote’s contributions to Africa’s economic transformation.
“The Dangote Group is not just a business; it is a symbol of Nigeria’s resilience. It embodies the extraordinary achievements possible when vision and determination meet.
“Standing here, we see how thousands of people earn their daily livelihoods because of this project. It has created jobs, enhanced Nigeria’s energy security, and increased our foreign reserves,” she said.
Kolade noted that the delegation comprised scholars from diverse academic backgrounds, including policy, business, sustainability, and development.
“We have students from Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School, Harvard Public Health, and joint degree students from Stanford and MIT.
“We are all impact-driven individuals inspired by initiatives like this,” she added.
Darrow Merton, a Foreign Service Officer with the United States, described Dangote as a beacon of innovation and resilience.
“What impresses me most is not just the scale of the refinery but the mindset behind it. It’s about breaking barriers and finding solutions in the face of adversity. Dangote’s story is an inspiration to entrepreneurs worldwide,” Merton said.
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