Africa’s richest business mogul and industrialist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Tuesday arrived in The Gambia to participate in the ongoing African Caucus Meeting at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.
Dangote was in Banjul, at the invitation of President Adama Barrow, to participate in a distinguished gathering of African leaders, senior officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group and other key stakeholders to discuss strategies for accelerating the continent’s economic transformation.
Dangote spoke at the high-level conference, which was attended by other dignitaries including the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau. He said industrialisation, private-sector investment and innovation were the key to securing Africa’s long-term prosperity.
In his keynote address, he said Africa’s future hinges on developing strong local industries, encouraging innovation and promoting economic self-reliance. He described investment as the foundation of the continent’s economic transformation and urged Africans to invest more aggressively in their own economies.
“Only Africans can safeguard and shape Africa’s destiny,” Dangote said, calling on governments, entrepreneurs and investors to support home-grown businesses and create industries capable of generating employment, adding value to natural resources and strengthening regional economies.
The Nigerian business magnate also encouraged African leaders to adopt bold economic policies that promote entrepreneurship, resilience and greater collaboration across the continent, saying these would be essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.
His participation in the African Caucus Meeting underscored the growing role of the private sector in driving economic development and supporting government efforts to transform African economies.
According to the Presidency, President Adama Barrow held bilateral talks with Dangote at the State House in Banjul after his speech, adding that the meeting was on strengthening cooperation, promoting investment and reinforcing Africa’s collective commitment to economic resilience and sustainable development.
The discussions demonstrated a shared resolve to deepen public-private partnerships and to position Africa as a stronger and more competitive player in the global economy.
