President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has called for the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI) to become Africa’s premier centre for grooming transformational leaders, urging the institute to provide specialised leadership training for presidents, prime ministers, governors and senior public officials across the continent.
Dangote made the call during a visit by the leadership of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute and the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, where discussions focused on strengthening leadership capacity as a catalyst for Africa’s economic transformation and sustainable development.
Describing the institute as a timely intervention for the continent, Dangote said Africa’s future depends largely on the quality of its leadership, stressing that continuous learning and practical leadership development should become integral to governance at all levels.
«”The Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute is exactly what Africa needs at this critical time. With President Obasanjo and other outstanding African former presidents at its core, the institute is uniquely positioned to deliver experiential leadership programmes and tailored training for leaders who genuinely desire to transform their countries,” Dangote said.»
He emphasised that African leaders must embrace lifelong learning if the continent is to overcome longstanding governance and developmental challenges.
«”If Africa is serious about changing its development story, then our leaders must embrace continuous learning. OOLI offers the right platform—rooted in African experience but globally oriented—to make that happen,” he added.»
A major highlight of the engagement was former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s revelation of the policy decision that transformed Nigeria from a major cement importer into Africa’s largest cement-producing nation.
Obasanjo recounted how he invited Dangote to a meeting during his presidency after learning that the businessman was making substantial profits from cement importation despite Nigeria’s abundant limestone deposits.
According to the former president, he asked Dangote why he preferred importing cement instead of producing it locally. Dangote candidly replied that importation was then more profitable than local manufacturing, prompting Obasanjo to seek practical policy solutions that would encourage domestic production.
«”I asked him what government could do to make local production more attractive. He told me to make cement importation less profitable by tying import licences to actual investment in local production. That conversation changed everything,” Obasanjo recalled.»
The former president explained that the policy adjustment eventually encouraged massive investments in cement manufacturing, laying the foundation for Nigeria’s emergence as a continental industrial powerhouse in the sector.
Reflecting on the outcome of that decision, Dangote noted that Nigeria now produces more cement than several countries once considered industrial giants in the region, attributing the achievement to visionary leadership and strategic policymaking.
«”President Obasanjo’s strategic intervention completely changed the trajectory of our business. Today, Nigeria is the largest producer of cement in Africa and the Middle East, and that decision has generated investments across several African countries. This is exactly the kind of practical leadership that OOLI should teach future presidents, governors and policymakers,” Dangote stated.»
He added that the business expansion made possible by the policy reform has extended to several African countries, including Ghana, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, contributing significantly to industrialisation and job creation across the continent.
Responding on behalf of the institute, the Deputy Chief Executive of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute, Prof. Samuel Adedeji Daramola, who represented the Director-General, retired Lt.-Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, appreciated Dangote for endorsing the institute’s vision and acknowledged the significant contribution of the Dangote Group to Africa’s economic development.
Daramola explained that the institute was established to nurture visionary leaders capable of delivering measurable results in governance, public administration and economic transformation across Africa.
«”Our mandate is to raise leaders who deliver measurable results. Our programmes are practical, experiential and designed around real-life leadership challenges. With our faculty of diplomats, academics and experienced practitioners, we are ready to support presidents, prime ministers, governors and senior public officials committed to transformational leadership,” he said.»
He further disclosed that the institute is positioning itself as a continental hub for leadership excellence, focusing on governance, peacebuilding, economic development, regional integration and sustainable growth.
Education and governance experts have consistently argued that Africa’s developmental aspirations depend not only on infrastructure and economic resources but also on the quality of leadership available to formulate and implement sound public policies. Dangote’s call for structured leadership education therefore reinforces the growing recognition that investing in leadership development remains essential for building stronger institutions, accelerating economic growth and preparing a new generation of African leaders equipped to address the continent’s complex challenges.
