By Peace Orjiani
The Dangote Group has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial capacity and supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as part of efforts to drive economic growth.
This was made known during the ongoing 37th International Trade Fair organized by the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture in Enugu State, where industry stakeholders gathered to explore business opportunities and economic development strategies.
Speaking at the event, the South East Regional Director of Dangote Cement, Olatunbosun Jinadu, described MSMEs as critical to economic development but noted that they continue to face major challenges, including high energy costs, expensive raw materials, and inadequate infrastructure.
He explained that the theme of the trade fair, focused on empowering MSMEs for global competitiveness, highlights the importance of strengthening small businesses, which form the backbone of both local and global economies.
Jinadu stated that Dangote Group’s long-term development plan, known as Vision 2030, is designed to address many of these challenges, particularly in the areas of energy supply and raw material availability. According to him, the strategy focuses on expanding industrial capacity and increasing investments aimed at boosting Africa’s self-sufficiency in key sectors.
As part of this expansion, the Group plans to significantly increase production capacity across its major operations. This includes scaling up output at the refinery, fertilizer plants, and polypropylene production facilities. He noted that polypropylene plays an important role in manufacturing, as it is widely used in packaging materials, plastic containers, textiles, carpets, and other industrial products.
He added that increased availability of such materials would reduce production costs for MSMEs and help them overcome some of the operational challenges they currently face.
Jinadu emphasized that Nigeria’s economic transformation depends largely on local production and industrial self-reliance, noting that Dangote Group remains committed to playing a leading role in achieving that goal.
He also encouraged business owners and investors attending the fair to explore partnership opportunities with Dangote’s various business units, stressing that collaboration is key to sustainable economic growth.
In his remarks, the president of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, Nnanyelugo Onyemelukwe, commended the Dangote Group for its consistent contributions to Nigeria’s economic development.
He noted that the company has made a significant impact across multiple sectors and continues to expand its footprint within Nigeria and across Africa, creating employment opportunities for thousands of people.
According to him, Dangote Group represents a model of vision, innovation, and resilience, adding that its growth reflects strong commitment to industrialization and economic progress both locally and internationally.