By Nehemiah Anini
Africa’s largest cement manufacturer, Dangote Cement Plc, has reaffirmed its industry dominance after being named “Cement Company of the Year” at the Africa International Housing Show 2025 in Abuja.
The award, presented during the closing ceremony of the four-day event, recognised Dangote Cement’s outstanding contributions to the growth of Africa’s housing and real estate sector. The show drew over 40,000 participants and delegates from 21 countries.
Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu, represented by his deputy, Idris Gobir, handed the award to the company, describing Dangote Cement as “a household name and the pride of Africa.”
“There is hardly any home or building in Nigeria today where Dangote Cement hasn’t been used. The company continues to support our economy through jobs, charity, and investment,” Gobir said.
Commendations from Government and Industry Leaders
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa FNIA, also praised the company’s long-standing role in Nigeria’s housing delivery and economic growth. He urged Dangote Cement to deepen its collaboration with the government to address the nation’s housing deficit, currently estimated at over 28 million units.
“We appreciate Dangote Cement’s contribution to infrastructure and housing delivery. But the government alone cannot solve the housing problem. We need private sector players like Dangote to join hands with us to build more affordable homes,” Dangiwa said.
The Call for Innovation and Collaboration
This year’s show, themed “Reimagining Housing Through Innovation, Collaboration and Policy,” underscored the need for stronger public-private partnerships in tackling Nigeria’s housing challenges.
Coordinator of the Africa International Housing Show, Mr. Festus Adebayo, stressed the importance of marrying innovation with collaboration to achieve progress in the sector.
“Innovation and collaboration are top priorities for us, given the rapid technological advancements in housing construction, financing, and system improvements,” Adebayo noted.
Dangote’s Approach to Housing Solutions
Speaking during the company’s Special Day at the exhibition, Mr. Dolapo Alli, National Sales Director of Dangote Cement, called for a multi-stakeholder approach to solving Nigeria’s housing deficit.
“Addressing housing issues requires collaboration among government agencies, private developers, non-profits, and communities,” Alli said.
He advocated for Public-Private Partnership models to drive mass housing delivery, urging the government to introduce tax waivers and financing incentives for companies in the building and construction sector.
Commitment to Quality and Sustainability
In his goodwill message, Prof. Samson Duna, Director-General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), praised Dangote Cement’s market dominance, product quality, and commitment to sustainable infrastructure.
Dangote Cement operates multiple plants across Nigeria and several African countries, and has received numerous awards in recent years for its role in driving quality standards, innovation, and sustainable infrastructure development.
The Chronicles of Construction will continue to spotlight milestones like this, where industry leaders, government stakeholders, and innovators collaborate to shape the future of Nigeria’s built environment.