The successful take-off of some of Nigeria’s most significant industrial projects was shaped not only by funding and technical expertise, but also by traditional leadership and cultural sensitivity, billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote has said.
Dangote disclosed that the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, was crucial to resolving challenges that initially stalled the development of factory sites acquired for his businesses. According to him, the land earmarked for construction was dotted with more than 19 shrines, creating fears and resistance that made development practically impossible.
He explained that the situation remained unresolved until the Ooni personally stepped in. The monarch, Dangote recalled, visited the site himself and assumed responsibility for addressing the spiritual and cultural concerns associated with the shrines, thereby clearing the way for construction to begin.
“When we got there, there were over 19 shrines on the land, and nobody could even go near them to do anything,” Dangote said. “The Ooni went there personally, stood on the site and said they should remove all of them. He told them that if the gods had anything to say, they should come and speak to him.”
Dangote described the intervention as a straightforward but courageous act that proved decisive. Without it, he said, the industrial projects might never have materialised. He stressed that the role played by the traditional ruler went beyond symbolism and had a direct impact on the feasibility and eventual success of the factories.
Expressing his appreciation, Dangote said: “Your Royal Majesty, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without that simple act, I don’t think we would have been able to do this. It is not a coincidence.”
The businessman made these remarks at the launch of the Aliko Dangote Foundation’s ₦100 billion Annual Education Support Fund. He described the initiative as the largest private-sector intervention in education in Nigeria’s history, with projections that it would benefit about 1.3 million students over the next decade.
According to Dangote, the fund represents a defining moment for the Aliko Dangote Foundation and a significant turning point for education in the country. He said it reflects the foundation’s long-standing commitment to human capital development, complementing its broader role in driving industrial growth and economic transformation.
The event underscored how collaboration between traditional institutions, private enterprise and social investment can help remove barriers to development and create lasting economic and social impact.