The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has been hailed as a visionary entrepreneur, with commendable interventions in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
A delegation of Nigerian University Vice-Chancellors, led by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, visited the Dangote Fertiliser plant over the weekend and expressed admiration for the substantial financial investment in the facility.
The university heads unanimously agreed that Dangote deserves special recognition for his contributions to the agricultural revolution in Nigeria through his fertiliser project.
Secretary of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigeria, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, emphasized that the country needs more individuals like Aliko Dangote to drive real growth and development across all sectors of the economy.
“We decided to come and see organizational wellness and resilience in action, and we know that Aliko is one of the most resilient entrepreneurs this country has ever produced, so, it is important to come and have a feel of that action,” Prof. Ochefu stated.
He added that seeing the massive edifice and process at the Dangote Fertiliser plant in person exceeded all expectations.
The Vice-Chancellors were in awe of Dangote’s determination and the successful translation of his vision into reality.
They urged other Nigerian billionaires to emulate his example and invest heavily in manufacturing, creating employment opportunities, and alleviating the suffering of many Nigerians, particularly the youth facing high unemployment rates.
During the tour of the Fertiliser Plant, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Prof. Nnenna Oti, described the facility as impressive.
She lauded the synergy between Lagos State Government and Aliko Dangote, considering Dangote’s Kano State background, as a representation of what Nigeria should aspire to be.
Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), also expressed satisfaction with the factory’s operations, noting that the 3 million tonnes of granulated urea produced annually would significantly contribute to solving food problems in Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Tanko Ishaya, urged the Federal Government to specially recognize Aliko Dangote for providing a real solution to one of the country’s key problems – food security.
Recall that the Dangote Urea Fertiliser plant was constructed to meet Nigeria’s demand for fertiliser, an essential component for achieving food sufficiency in Africa’s most populous country.
The plant, which has a capacity of 3 million metric tonnes of urea per annum, aims to reduce Nigeria’s fertiliser imports and generate over $400 million in annual foreign exchange from exports to African countries.
Managing Director/CEO of Dangote Fertiliser Limited, Vishawajit Sinha, revealed that the plant has the capability to meet both local demand and export requirements.
He highlighted the significance of the fertiliser, which contains 46% nitrogen, an essential nutrient for crops globally.
The Dangote Fertiliser plant, the largest granulated urea fertiliser complex in Africa, covers 500 hectares of land and was built at a cost of $2.5 billion.
Its establishment is expected to create employment opportunities, reduce unemployment, and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s economy, while ensuring top-quality fertilisers are available to farmers in sufficient quantities.
