Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has called the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant projects a “game-changing effort” that will boost development and regional integration.
On Saturday, Adesina was given a tour of Dangote Industries Limited’s crude oil refinery and petrochemical production facilities.
“Dangote’s refinery and petrochemical industrial zone struck me greatly. It’s a $16 billion bet. The world’s largest single-train refinery. It demonstrates Africa’s ability to industrialize. For Nigeria and Africa, this is a game-changer. Congratulations, @AlikoDangote! He said, “I am proud of you.”
The AfDB boss who is also Nigeria’s ex-Minister of Agriculture lauded the employment created by Dangote through the refinery.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH DANGOTE’S REFINERY AND PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRIAL ZONE. A $16 BILLION INVESTMENT. THE LARGEST SINGLE TRAIN REFINERY IN THE WORLD. IT SHOWS AFRICA’S POWER TO INDUSTRIALISE. A GAME CHANGER FOR NIGERIA & AFRICA. WELL DONE @ALIKODANGOTE! I AM PROUD OF YOU. PIC.TWITTER.COM/JJMALQXQNF
— AKINWUMI A. ADESINA (@AKIN_ADESINA) JANUARY 23, 2022
“Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Industrial Zone employ 38,000 people: 11,000 expatriates and 27,000 Nigerians. The impact of industrialization is massive. It delivers quality jobs for the youth. Let’s do more to drive industrialization in Africa!,” he added.
He described Dangote as “an inspirational and visionary business leader. For anybody to have done what I have seen here, I think that person deserves world-class kudos for that… I see a company that I will proudly call Africa’s growth accelerator company.”
Adesina said AfDB would continue to work with the Dangote Group to do more for Africa. He said the bank’s industrialisation strategy included identifying and backing “African regional champions” like the Dangote Group.
He added that the African Bank was willing to assist the Dangote Group in such areas as agriculture including rice and dairy products as well as cement expansion into other countries.
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