The development was confirmed on Friday evening by a senior company official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. In his place, the board has appointed Emmanuel Ikazoboh, a seasoned corporate executive and former independent non-executive director, as the new Chairman.
Ikazoboh brings to the role over four decades of experience in senior management positions across Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and South Africa. He began his career at Akintola Williams Deloitte and rose through the ranks to become Managing Partner for the firm's francophone offices in West and Central Africa. He later served as Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, a major Pan-African banking group.
His extensive background in auditing, governance, and regional corporate leadership is expected to help guide Dangote Cement through its next phase of strategic growth.
Dangote’s exit from the cement board follows a similar move in June, when he stepped down as Chairman of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, ending a two-decade tenure. Both transitions, the Group has maintained, are in alignment with global best practices in corporate governance and long-term succession planning.
While Dangote continues to lead the broader Dangote Industries Limited as Group President and Chief Executive, his gradual withdrawal from chairmanship roles across subsidiaries signals a deliberate shift toward a more diversified leadership structure within one of Africa’s most influential business empires.