How Dangote is Empowering Small Businesses in Nigeria

Dangote Industries Limited is collaborating with important economic players to expand Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) throughout Nigeria, according to Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, Senior Advisor to the President of the Dangote Group.

Speaking at the Dangote Special Day at the 2025 Nasarawa Trade Fair Exhibition in Lafia, she stated that the company’s involvement and collaboration with the Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI) will aid in raising awareness and growing small businesses.

Dangote Group will continue to collaborate with the public and private sectors to support small business development, according to the Senior Adviser, who was represented by Hon. Dr. Shuaibu Abdullahi, the company’s National Assembly Liaison Lead.

The Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Bank of Industry (BoI) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and established a N5 billion fund aimed at supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) throughout Nigeria, in keeping with the theme of this year’s Trade Fair, she said.

“This program supported entrepreneurs involved in manufacturing, agro-processing, and merchandising products made entirely in Nigeria with the goal of creating at least one million direct jobs.”
The MoU, she continued, benefited micro-enterprises such as market women and artisan groups, poultry farmers, calabash carving groups, small traders, cattle rearing groups, vegetable dealers, and cassava processors.

The company has assisted Jakura Marble Industry Ltd (JMIL) in electrifying their facility as part of its assistance for MSMEs in Nigeria, she said.

In keeping with the company’s mission to help Nigerian small companies, agriculture, and job development, she noted, Dangote Fertilizer Limited had launched a thorough training program aimed at more than a million farmers nationwide.

This program, which is essential to our agricultural extension services, includes soil sample collection, field demonstrations, result demonstrations, and spot demonstrations.

The goal of the program is to improve crop yields and encourage sustainable farming methods by teaching farmers the best fertilizer application strategies. Through practical demonstrations and soil analysis, we aim to equip farmers with the skills and resources they need to increase their output and standard of living.

“This program demonstrates our commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic growth and agricultural development.”

The company supports “Fostering Economic Development Through Mineral and Agricultural Cottage Industrialization” in several ways, she said.

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“I would also like to let this distinguished audience know that one of the main ways we support the expansion of trade and small businesses throughout Nigeria is by sponsoring a number of trade fairs, such as this one hosted by the Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI).”

We want to help the country’s economy by giving micro, small, and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) a platform to exhibit their goods, connect with possible partners, and enter new markets by supporting this trade fair.

We are hence joining NASSI and NACCIMA as a corporation to urge stakeholders in the public and private sectors to give MSMES in Nigeria top priority. Our Nigerian industrialization endeavors depend on this.

She claims that the Dangote Group’s Strategic Business Units that are involved include Dangote Cement Plc, Dangote Fertilser Limited (DFL), Dangote SinoTruck, Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR), Dangote Salt (NASCON), and Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN).