Aliko Dangote Steps Down as Dangote Sugar Chairman After 20 Years, Arnold Ekpe Takes Over

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and founder of the Dangote Group, is stepping down as Chairman of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc after two decades at the helm.

In a corporate disclosure filed with the Nigerian Exchange and signed by the company’s secretary, Temitope Hassan, the announcement stated that Dangote’s retirement will take effect from June 16, 2025.

To fill the role, the company’s board has appointed Arnold Ekpe, an independent non-executive director and seasoned banker, as the new Chairman. Ekpe, the former Group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, is expected to bring strong leadership and strategic oversight to the company.

“This change reflects our commitment to strong corporate governance, leadership renewal, and long-term sustainability,” the board stated.

Aliko Dangote has led the company since its incorporation in 2005. Under his leadership, Dangote Sugar Refinery grew to become one of Africa’s largest integrated sugar producers, with extensive backward integration projects across Adamawa, Taraba, and Nasarawa States aimed at enhancing self-sufficiency in sugar production.

The company’s financials reflect its expansion, with revenues rising by over 50 percent to ₦665.6 billion in 2024. It has also consistently delivered dividends to shareholders and pursued significant infrastructure developments, including the launch of a massive sugar complex in Bono East, Ghana, capable of processing 12,000 tonnes of sugarcane daily.

Industry analysts say Ekpe’s appointment signals a new phase of strategic growth for the company, especially in an increasingly competitive West African sugar market.

Dangote Sugar assured stakeholders of a smooth leadership transition and reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the legacy of growth, innovation, and shareholder value established under Dangote’s leadership.