…”If it’s America First, then it must be Africa First,” Dangote said in the passionate speech delivered at the Afreximbank AGM.
FRI JUNE 27 2025-theGBJournal| At the Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AGM) in Abuja, Mr. Aliko Dangote, Founder and President of Dangote Group, delivered a powerful and timely call to action:
”If it’s America First, then it must be Africa First,” Dangote said in the passionate speech delivered at the Afreximbank AGM.
In a wide-ranging address, Dangote challenged the African continent to take charge of its own future by investing locally, creating jobs, and ensuring that Africa’s wealth stays within its borders.
For Dangote, the path to making Africa great again begins with industrialisation and building regional value chains.
Drawing on the transformation of Nigeria’s cement industry from 1.9 million to over 60 million tonnes he made a compelling case for what is possible when Africans commit to building at home.
He didn’t mince words. Over-reliance on foreign capital, he argued, is unsustainable. “If I’m not investing at home, how can I expect anyone else to?” He announced plans to list his fertiliser and refinery businesses, reinforcing the need for transparency, competition, and African-led growth.
Yet he was candid about the challenges. From chronic electricity shortages to inconsistent policy environments, African industry faces serious barriers.
Still, he praised Afreximbank as a key enabler of large-scale projects, stating,
”Without our bankers, led by Afreximbank, it would have been impossible.”
Dangote urged African nations to shift away from exporting raw materials and focus instead on processing and value addition.
”Don’t take our cocoa and return with chocolate at twenty times the price. Let’s produce here and build jobs.”
He also called for the creation of at least ten institutions like Afreximbank, arguing that with the right financial architecture, Africa could be transformed within five years. “Think big, then grow big.”
On corruption, he reframed the narrative: ”Corruption exists everywhere. The issue is when stolen money is taken out of Africa instead of being reinvested here.”
He said, Africa doesn’t need charity. It needs bold leadership, visionary investment, and institutions that reflect the continent’s ambition. Africa must rise by its own hands, on its own terms.
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