Onome Amuge
Pan-African industrial conglomerate Dangote Industries Limited and its founder, Aliko Dangote, have swept the 15th annual Brand Africa 100 awards, cementing their status as dominant forces in the continent’s business landscape. This is as the group was named the most admired African brand and garnered two additional accolades, while Dangote himself received a lifetime achievement award.
The honours, announced over the weekend in Addis Ababa, follow an independent, consumer-led survey conducted across more than 30 African countries.
In a landmark achievement, Dangote Industries was also inducted into the Brand Africa Hall of Fame, becoming the first African firm to receive such a distinction.
Aliko Dangote was celebrated for his leadership in driving impactful industrialisation, establishing a world-class African brand, and fundamentally reshaping the continent’s economic future through a benchmark, homegrown enterprise.
Joining Dangote Industries in the inaugural Hall of Fame were other consistently highly-ranked African brands including MTN, M-Pesa, Ethiopian Airlines, and South Africa, recognised for their sustainable and globally respected brand building over the past five to 15 years.
Anthony Chiejina, group chief branding & communications officer at Dangote Industries Limited, commented on the accolades, stating that they reflect the unwavering commitment, excellence, and innovation that define the group’s journey. He emphasised that the awards are a testament to the dedication of the company’s team, partners, and stakeholders who remain committed to driving sustainable development and economic growth across Africa.
“We also extend our heartfelt appreciation for the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to our Founder and President, Aliko Dangote, for building a purposeful world-class industrial brand that has exceptionally transformed African lives and the African narrative,” he added.
Chiejina commended Dangote’s visionary leadership and tireless efforts in transforming industries, creating opportunities, and championing African enterprise on the global stage, describing his legacy as an inspiration to generations of entrepreneurs and leaders across Africa.
Chiejina affirmed Dangote Industries’ continued commitment to excellence, integrity, and transformative growth, noting that this recognition would further inspire the company to push boundaries, empower communities, and deliver meaningful value across Africa and beyond.
In his keynote address at the event, Claver Gatete, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa , lauded Aliko Dangote, the Hall of Fame inductees, and other Brand Africa laureates for their role in advancing the African agenda. He underscored the strong alignment between Brand Africa’s mission and the ECA’s objectives of promoting inclusive industrialisation, regional integration, and private sector-led growth.
Gatete advocated for increased investment in youth-led innovation, regional value chains, and the establishment of a Pan-African Creative Innovation Fund. This fund, he suggested, would identify, finance, and globalise Africa’s most promising brands.
Furthermore, he acknowledged MTN, Dangote Group, mPesa and Ethiopian Airlines for consistently maintaining their distinguished positions among the most admired African brands’ category and continuing to set benchmarks in brand leadership, innovation and continental impact.
