Africa’s largest cement manufacturer, Dangote Cement Plc, has been named the ‘Cement Company of the Year’ at the just-concluded Africa International Housing Show held in Abuja.
The award, which organisers said recognises outstanding contributions to the growth of the housing and real estate sector in Africa, was presented to the company on Friday during the closing ceremony of the four-day event that attracted over 40,000 participants and delegates from 21 countries.
Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu, who was represented by his deputy, Idris Gobir, presented the award to the company, describing it as a “household name and the pride of Africa.”
According to Gobir, Dangote Cement has not only helped stabilise the building materials market but has also made significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy through job creation, philanthropy, and industrial innovation.
“There is hardly any home or building in Nigeria today where Dangote Cement hasn’t been used. It is a household name and the pride of Africa. The company continues to support our economy through jobs, charity and investment,” Gobir said.
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, also commended Dangote Cement for its long-standing support to the country’s economic development and housing industry.
He urged the company to deepen its collaboration with the government to address Nigeria’s enormous housing deficit, which experts say stands at over 28 million units.
“We appreciate Dangote Cement’s contribution to infrastructure and housing delivery. But we must do more. The government alone cannot solve the housing problem. We need private sector players like Dangote to join hands with us to build more affordable homes,” Dangiwa said.
The theme of the 2025 edition of the Africa Housing Show — “Reimagining Housing Through Innovation, Collaboration and Policy” — underscored the call for stronger public-private partnerships, especially in addressing the deficit in affordable housing.
The Coordinator of the Africa International Housing Show, Barr. Festus Adebayo, in his remarks, said innovation and collaboration must go hand-in-hand for Nigeria to make any meaningful progress in the housing sector.
“Innovation and collaboration are top priorities for us, given the rapid technological advancements in housing construction, financing and system improvements,” Adebayo said.
He added that the AIHS was encouraged by the presence and support of Dangote Cement, which he described as a “strategic partner in housing development.”
“We are optimistic that our partnership with Dangote Cement Plc will help rewrite the narrative on Nigeria’s housing shortfall. Their participation and visibility at the show reaffirm their commitment to the sector,” he added.
Also speaking at the company’s Special Day during the exhibition, the National Sales Director of Dangote Cement, Mr. Dolapo Alli, emphasised the need for a multi-stakeholder approach in addressing the housing challenge in Nigeria.
“Addressing housing issues requires collaboration among various stakeholders including government agencies, private developers, non-profits, and communities,” Alli said.
He advocated the adoption of Public-Private Partnership models to support mass housing initiatives and called on the government to provide incentives such as tax waivers and financing credits for companies in the building and construction sector.
“Through PPP models, the government may initiate the construction of new estates, while companies and firms in the building and construction sector can be granted tax waivers and credits to facilitate the financing of new and affordable housing developments,” he noted.
In his goodwill message, the Director-General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Prof. Samson Duna, praised Dangote Cement for its market dominance and unwavering commitment to quality.
“Dangote Cement dominates the Nigerian and West African markets in terms of patronage. The company is doing very well and remains a benchmark for quality. Thumbs up for Dangote Cement,” Duna said.
In a statement issued by the Group Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, on Wednesday, the company said the award was a reflection of its values and long-term dedication to transforming Africa’s infrastructure landscape.
“The theme of the 2025 Show — Reimagining Housing Through Innovation, Collaboration and Policy — aptly resonates with our core values. This recognition is not just a badge of honour but a call to do more,” the statement read.
Dangote Cement, which operates several plants across Nigeria and other African countries, has received multiple awards in recent years for its role in supporting sustainable infrastructure and its commitment to delivering high-quality cement products.
The Africa International Housing Show has grown over the years to become the continent’s largest housing and construction forum, attracting policymakers, developers, manufacturers, researchers, and advocates from around the world.
With this latest award, industry stakeholders say Dangote Cement has once again reaffirmed its position not only as a market leader but also as a dependable partner in the quest to provide affordable housing for millions of Nigerians.
