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| PHOTO CAPTION: Plant Director, Dangote Cement Ethiopia, Jacinto Leyva, and Group Branding Lead, DIL, Tunde Oladipo, received the ‘Most Admired African Brand’ award from Brand Africa Founder and Chairman, Thebe Ikalafeng, at the 15th Global Brand Africa 100 ceremony held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Friday, May 23, 2025. |
•Company named Most Admired African Brand, inducted into Hall of Fame
•Aliko Dangote receives Lifetime Achievement Award for transforming Africa’s industrial landscape
Aliko Dangote and his flagship conglomerate, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), have once again cemented their dominance in the African business landscape, emerging with top honours at the 15th annual Brand Africa 100 awards, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dangote Industries was crowned the Most Admired African Brand, beating other continental heavyweights such as MTN, DSTV, and AZAM.
The recognition was based on an independent, consumer-led survey conducted across more than 30 African countries.
It reflects the company's growing influence and sustained relevance in the lives of millions of Africans.
In a major milestone, Dangote Industries was also inducted into the inaugural Brand Africa Hall of Fame, becoming the first African company to receive the distinction.
The honour celebrates the firm’s transformative impact on consumer perception and its pivotal role in reshaping Africa’s narrative through industrial excellence.
Adding to the accolades, the company’s founder and President, Aliko Dangote, was conferred with a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising his visionary leadership, dedication to African industrialisation, and success in building a globally respected African brand.
Dangote was joined in the Hall of Fame by a distinguished group of brand leaders, including MTN, M-Pesa, Ethiopian Airlines, and the country of South Africa, all of whom have maintained consistent top-tier rankings among Africa’s most admired brands for at least five years.
These brands were recognised for setting the standard in innovation, resilience, and brand equity on the continent.
Speaking on the triple honours, Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer of Dangote Industries, described the awards as a validation of the group’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and transformative growth.
“These accolades reflect the tireless dedication of our incredible team, partners, and stakeholders who believe in our mission to drive sustainable development and economic empowerment across Africa,” Chiejina said.
“We are deeply honoured by the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to our Founder and President, Aliko Dangote.
“It celebrates not only his entrepreneurial genius but his enduring legacy in transforming industries, creating opportunities, and championing African enterprise on the global stage,” he stated.
Chiejina added that the recognition would further inspire the company to push boundaries, empower communities, and deliver long-term value across the continent and beyond.
Delivering the keynote address, Claver Gatete, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), commended the award recipients for advancing the African agenda.
He underscored the synergy between Brand Africa’s mission and the ECA’s commitment to inclusive industrialisation, private sector-led growth, and regional integration.
Gatete called for increased investment in youth-driven innovation and regional value chains while advocating for the establishment of a Pan-African Creative Innovation Fund to identify, finance, and globalise promising African brands.
“I wish to particularly acknowledge MTN, Dangote Group, M-Pesa, and Ethiopian Airlines for consistently maintaining their outstanding positions among Africa’s Most Admired Brands.
“These organisations are setting benchmarks in brand leadership and continental impact,” Gatete said.
The 2025 Brand Africa rankings also revealed mixed sentiments about African brands.
While African optimism continues to rise, with 68% of survey respondents expressing belief in the continent’s potential, up from 64% in 2024, only 11% of the Top 100 Most Admired Brands were African, the lowest in the report’s 15-year history and a decline from 14% in 2024.
According to the report, this stark contrast highlights the urgent need for local brands to convert belief into loyalty by investing in quality, innovation, and authenticity.
Brand Africa Founder and Chairman Thebe Ikalafeng called the trend a wake-up call.
“It is disappointing to see the sharp drop in African brands, which mirrors the ranking of non-African nations as the most influential in Africa.
“It’s not enough for Africans to say they believe in the continent, they must buy Made-in-Africa. For that to happen, African brands must invest in R&D, deliver quality, and leverage authenticity as a differentiator,” he said.
Despite the challenges facing local brands, Dangote Industries’ triple recognition serves as a beacon of what is possible with purpose-driven leadership, consistency, and investment in value-added industries.
As Dangote Industries continues to expand its footprint across Africa, most notably through cement, sugar, salt, and recently the $19 billion Dangote Refinery, its impact is shaping a new narrative of African self-reliance, resilience, and global competitiveness.
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