Dangote Group: Boosting Nigeria’s SME Sector

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

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

Speaking on behalf of the company’s National Assembly Liaison Lead, Hon. Dr. Shuaibu Abdullahi, the Senior Adviser stated that Dangote Group will keep collaborating with the public and private sectors to support small business development.

In accordance with the theme of this year’s Trade Fair, the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Bank of Industry (BoI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and created a N5 billion fund to support MSMEs throughout Nigeria, she said.

“By offering financial assistance to entrepreneurs involved in manufacturing, agro-processing, and the merchandising of products made entirely in Nigeria, this initiative sought to create at least one million direct jobs.”
She went on to say that the MoU 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.

She said the company has assisted Jakura Marble Industry Ltd (JMIL) with electrification as part of its support for MSMEs in Nigeria.

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She also mentioned that Dangote Fertilizer Limited had started a thorough training program aimed at more than a million farmers nationwide, in keeping with the company’s dedication to assisting small enterprises, agriculture, and job creation in Nigeria.

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

In order to increase crop yields and advance sustainable farming methods, the program aims to teach farmers the optimal fertilizer application strategies. We aim to equip farmers with the information and resources they need to increase their output and standard of living by offering practical demonstrations and soil analysis.

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

She claims that the company has made several contributions to “Fostering Economic Development Through Mineral and Agricultural Cottage Industrialization.”

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

By sponsoring this Trade Fair, we hope to give MSMEs a stage on which to display their goods, connect with possible partners, and enter new markets—all of which will help the country’s economy grow.

Thus, as a business, we are joining NASSI and NACCIMA in urging stakeholders in the public and private sectors to give MSMES in Nigeria top priority. This is essential to Nigeria’s industrialization efforts.

Among the Dangote Group’s Strategic Business Units, she said, are Dangote Fertilser Limited (DFL), Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN), Dangote SinoTruck, Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR), Dangote Salt (NASCON), and Dangote Cement Plc.