Dangote Industries Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to boosting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria through strategic partnerships and targeted financial interventions.
Speaking during the Dangote Special Day at the ongoing 2025 Nasarawa Trade Fair Exhibition, Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, Senior Adviser to the President of Dangote Group, said the company’s participation at the trade fair and collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI) will help scale small businesses and improve awareness around opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Okay.ng reports that Wali-Abdurrahman, who was represented by Hon. Dr. Shuaibu Abdullahi, National Assembly Liaison Lead at Dangote Group, disclosed that a N5 billion fund had been created through a partnership between the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Bank of Industry (BoI) to empower MSMEs.
“This initiative aimed to create at least one million direct jobs by providing financial support to entrepreneurs engaged in manufacturing, agro-processing, and the merchandising of goods made wholly in Nigeria,” she said.
She noted that beneficiaries of the MoU include cassava processors, poultry farmers, aluminum artisans, cattle rearers, market women, small traders, and artisan groups, among others.
According to her, Dangote Group had also supported Jakura Marble Industry Ltd (JMIL) in electrification as part of its broader support for small and medium scale enterprises.
Wali-Abdurrahman highlighted the group’s focus on agriculture through Dangote Fertiliser Limited, which has launched an expansive training programme targeting over one million farmers. The initiative covers spot demonstrations, result demonstrations, soil sample collection, and best practices in fertiliser application.
“By providing hands-on demonstrations and soil analysis, we strive to empower farmers with the knowledge and tools necessary to improve their productivity and livelihoods,” she said.
She further noted that the theme of the trade fair, “Fostering Economic Development Through Mineral and Agricultural Cottage Industrialization,” aligns with the company’s mission.
“By supporting this Trade Fair, we aim to provide MSMEs with platforms to showcase their products, network with potential partners, and access new markets,” she stated. “We are calling on public and private stakeholders to prioritize MSMEs in Nigeria as a key driver of industrialization.”
Participating business units from Dangote Group at the trade fair include Dangote Fertiliser Limited (DFL), Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN), Dangote SinoTruck, Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR), Dangote Salt (NASCON), and Dangote Cement Plc.
