In a bold move to boost Nigeria’s economy through small business empowerment, Dangote Industries Limited has unveiled a series of strategic initiatives to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and drive agricultural development nationwide.
Speaking at the Dangote Special Day during the 2025 Nasarawa Trade Fair Exhibition held in Lafia over the weekend, Senior Adviser to the President of Dangote Group, Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, emphasised the company’s unwavering commitment to the development of small businesses across Nigeria.
Represented by Dr Shuaibu Abdullahi, National Assembly Liaison Lead of the Group, Wali-Abdurrahman highlighted ongoing partnerships aimed at creating sustainable jobs and fostering local production.
She announced a landmark collaboration between the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Bank of Industry (BoI), which resulted in the establishment of a N5 billion MSME fund.
The initiative, she said, is geared towards supporting entrepreneurs engaged in manufacturing, agro-processing, and the sale of goods made in Nigeria, to create at least one million direct jobs.
“This initiative has already started benefiting diverse groups, including cassava processors, aluminium artisans, poultry farmers, vegetable sellers, and market women,” she noted, adding that this aligns with the theme of this year’s fair, “Fostering Economic Development Through Mineral and Agricultural Cottage Industrialisation.”
The Dangote executive also revealed that the Group had supported small businesses such as the Jakura Marble Industry Ltd (JMIL) with infrastructure, including electrification, as part of its broader goal to promote local industry.
In agriculture, Dangote Fertiliser Limited has rolled out an ambitious training programme designed to equip over one million farmers with modern farming techniques.
“The programme includes spot and result demonstrations, field work, and soil sample collection to improve fertiliser usage and crop yields,” she explained.
The company’s efforts are not limited to financial aid and technical support. Wali-Abdurrahman stressed the importance of creating platforms for MSMES to thrive.
“Our sponsorship of trade fairs like this one, organised by the Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), is part of our drive to expose small businesses to wider markets and networks,” she said.
The Dangote Group also called on stakeholders in the public and private sectors to prioritise MSME development as a core strategy for national industrialisation.
Among the Dangote Group’s Strategic Business Units showcased at the fair were Dangote Fertiliser Limited, Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited, Dangote SinoTruck, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Salt (NASCON), and Dangote Cement Plc.
Present at the event were notable figures, including the Permanent Secretary of Nasarawa State’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment, Khadija Oshafu Nuhu; Regional Manager for Dangote Fertiliser, Wilson Kolawole; and other key representatives of Dangote Industries.
Copyright Notice:
All rights reserved. The content on this website, including text and other digital materials, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without the express written consent of THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK.
For advertising inquiries, news coverage, or press releases, please contact us at thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or call 08144048512, 08051017159.
Post a Comment