By Ahmad Saka, Bauchi
Africa’s leading cement manufacturer, Dangote Cement Plc, has been named ‘Cement Company of the Year’ at the 2025 edition of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS) held in Abuja.
The award, presented during the closing ceremony of the four-day housing exhibition last Friday, recognizes the company’s exceptional contributions to the real estate and construction sectors across the continent. The event featured participants from 21 countries and over 40,000 exhibitors.
Presenting the award on behalf of the organizers, Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu, represented by his Deputy, Engr. Idris Mohammed Gobir, described Dangote Cement as “a household name and the pride of Africa.” He praised the company for its role in job creation, philanthropy, and support for economic growth in Nigeria and beyond.
Also speaking at the event, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Ahmad Musa Dangiwa, lauded Dangote Cement for its contributions to Nigeria’s economy and called on the company to partner with the government in addressing the country’s housing deficit.
The Coordinator of the Africa Housing Show, Barr. Festus Adebayo, emphasized the importance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in tackling the nation’s housing challenges.
“Innovation and collaboration are top priorities for us, especially with the rapid advancements in housing construction, financing, and policy reforms,” he said.
He expressed optimism that partnerships with companies like Dangote Cement would play a crucial role in reducing Nigeria’s housing shortfall.
In his remarks, Director General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Prof. Samson Duna, commended the company for setting industry standards.
“Dangote Cement dominates the Nigerian and West African markets in terms of patronage. It stands for quality and standard. Thumbs up for Dangote,” he said.
During the company’s Special Day at the show, National Sales Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Dolapo Alli, stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing the country’s housing needs.
He said, “Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models can be leveraged to support mass housing initiatives. Governments can initiate estate development projects while granting tax incentives to companies in the building and construction sector to facilitate affordable housing delivery.”
In a statement, Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, said the theme of the 2025 Housing Show, “Reimagining Housing Through Innovation, Collaboration, and Policy”, aligns perfectly with the company’s core values.
The latest award adds to Dangote Cement’s growing list of recognitions across Africa, further cementing its position as a leader in the continent’s building materials industry.
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