Business

Dangote Becomes Most Admired Brand In Africa for the Sixth Consecutive Year

Published

3 years ago

June 5, 2023

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The Dangote brand has become the Most Admired African Brand for the sixth consecutive year, and among top 100 brands in the continent and 2nd in Sustainability brand in Africa among top 100 brands.

As the most Admired African Brand when respondents are prompted to recall an African brand specifically, Dangote was followed by the Telecommunication outfit, MTN in the second position and the Digital Satellite Television (DSTV) coming third, both of South-Africa origin.

The pan-African conglomerate brand was also adjudged as the number one African Pride brand followed by the Ethiopian Airline and MTN respectively.

In a newly introduced category, the Dangote brand came second in Sustainability, by brands doing good for the people, Society and the Environment.

These were announced in Johannesburg, South-Africa on the occasion of the Africa Day marking the 13th Annual Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands 2023 rankings of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa based on a survey and rankings conducted by Geopoll, Kantar and Brand Leadership, across 32 African countries that account for more than 85% of the continent’s GDP and population.

Brand Africa in its statement announcing the ranking disclosed that in a new category of brands that are doing good for people, society and the

environment, inspired by business shifting from profit to purpose, MTN and Dangote as African brands came first and second respectively while Unicef

emerged as the number one NGO and Coca Cola emerged as the number one non-African brand.

In the category specific ranking of the Top 25 financial services brands, Africa’s

oldest banking group, Standard Bank surged to the number one position of the most admired brand in Africa, displacing GTBank, which had led the rankings for the past 3 years, but is reeling from recent UK regulatory issues, service challenges and a tough competitive environment. The category is dominated by South African (6) and Nigerian (6) brands which account for 48% of the rankings, with the USA (4), led by VISA, at 16% percent, making up 64% of the Top 25 brands.

In another category specific ranking of the Top 25 media brands, DSTV, the consumer brand of the Multichoice Group, retains its dominant ranking ahead of BBC and CNN as the most admired media brand in Africa. Consistent with previous rankings, non-African media dominate the continent, accounting for 76% of the Top 25 brands.

Brand Africa disclosed that Dangote retained the number one spot for the 6th time despite African brands slipping to 14% of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa as non-African brands entrench their position in the continent.

Thebe Ikalafeng, founder and chairman of Brand Africa expressed concern that despite optimism with the progress of African Continental Free Trade Area

(AfCFTA) and other initiative to drive African initiatives, African brands still regressed 20% from a 10-year high of 17% to 14% share of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa.

“It is concerning that despite the momentum in operationalizing the AfCFTA, rising internal pride in continent albeit against global economic challenges, that African consumers have reverted to their trusted, mostly non-Africa brands, rather than give African brands a chance,” he stated. “Nonetheless, this is the state of brands in Africa, and an urgent need to build trust in Made in African brands.”

Bernard Okasi, the Director of Research, GeoPoll, which has been the lead data collection partner since 2015 while speaking on the outcome of the survey explained “With an ever increasing number of countries, greater sample size, and the growth of mobile across the continent, more than ever, using mobile continues to prove to be an effective tool to reach and access respondents across the continent”.

The Chief Growth Officer Africa Middle East for Kantar, Karin Du Chenne, who has been the insight lead for Brand Africa since inception in 2010 says, “despite the increased countries and sample sizes which have invariably grown the volumes of brands analysed, the survey continues to yield a very consistent picture of the leading brands in the continent, albeit not yet to Africa’s advantage.”

He added that as a non-profit initiative and to ensure the objectivity and independence of the rankings, the Brand Africa 100 | Africa’s Best Brands research to determine the most admired top-of-mind brands in Africa are not funded by any brand.

Reacting to the last survey affirming Dangote as number one most admired indigenous African brand, Group Chief, Branding and Communication, Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina said the awards were well deserved because “the Dangote brand generates strong nationalistic impressions and powerful feelings across the Continent in terms of industrialization, self-sufficiency, prosperity, power and production.”

He stated that this was further strengthened with the recent commissioning of 650,000 bpd Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemical complex which is a huge industrial complex or frigate. “The brand portends the inevitability of Nigerian global ascendancy and a gateway to regional and continental development”, he added.

Established in 2010, Brand Africa is a intergenerational movement to inspire a brand-led African renaissance to drive Africa’s competitiveness, connect Africa and create a positive image of the Continent.

Business

JUST IN:, Naira Depreciates to N1,405/$ in Parallel Market

Published

6 hours ago

July 8, 2026

Charles Flames

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The Nigerian naira continued its recent slide against the US dollar, hitting N1,405 per dollar in the parallel (black) market amid ongoing demand pressures and supply constraints in the foreign exchange market.

According to traders and market sources, the local currency weakened from around N1,400–N1,410 levels in recent sessions, reflecting persistent challenges in the forex ecosystem. In contrast, the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) rate, managed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stood firmer at approximately N1,368–N1,370 per dollar.

This development widens the gap between the official and parallel markets, raising concerns among analysts about liquidity, speculative activities, and the impact on importers and businesses reliant on dollar transactions.

The depreciation comes as Nigeria grapples with balancing foreign exchange inflows, including remittances and oil revenues, against high demand for imports, debt servicing, and other obligations. Market watchers attribute the pressure partly to seasonal factors and limited dollar availability at official windows, pushing more transactions toward the parallel market.

The CBN has been intervening through various measures to stabilize the naira, including boosting liquidity and tightening monetary policy. However, the parallel market remains sensitive to real-time supply and demand dynamics.

Economists warn that sustained volatility could fuel inflation and affect consumer prices, particularly for imported goods. Stakeholders are calling for stronger policy coordination to narrow the official-parallel rate disparity and restore greater confidence in the forex regime.

Further updates will depend on upcoming CBN interventions and inflows in the days ahead.

Business

BACITI graduates pioneer set of 40 Senior Customs Officers

The Comptroller-General of Customs,Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said that the capacity building was aimed at raising the next generation of customs officers (2026-2035).

Published

1 day ago

July 7, 2026

OCHEFA

26 Views

The Bashir Adeniyi Centre for International Trade and Investment (BACITI) at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos, has graduated 40 senior officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, in Advanced Senior Executive Course.

The Comptroller-General of Customs,Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said that the capacity building was aimed at raising the next generation of customs officers (2026-2035).

Represented by Gabo Aliu, Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, NCS, Adeniyi described global customs operations as dynamic and evolving, stressing that the Service must be futuristic and responsive to emerging trade realities.

He added that incoming framework would be all-inclusive with the graduates’ deliverables forming the basis of the strategic policy direction for the next generation of customs officers.

Aliu said the CGC’s administration was forward-thinking, responsive and resilient with a clear objective to position the NCS at the front vanguard of trade, policy formulation and integration.

He said: “For the pioneering set, the CGC has emphasised on a definite mentor-mentee programme, so they are going out as ambassadors of the NCS and NIIA, so we are looking that they are going to be impacting whatever they’ve learned here onto the future generation of custom officers, so it will be a win-win for the Nigerian Customs Service and the industry in general.

Dr. Adesuwa Erediauwa, Head\Director of Bashir Adeniyi Centre for International Trade and Investment (BACITI) at the NIIA, the organisers of the training, charged graduating senior customs officers to become “interpreters of change” and architects of institutional resilience as the Nigeria Customs Service prepares for 2035 and beyond.

She noted that customs administrations globally now face shifting trade routes, AI-driven border management, geopolitical tensions, climate change and supply chain disruptions.

“In this kind of world, yesterday’s methods are no longer sufficient for even today’s challenges, not to talk of tomorrow’s challenges,” he stated.

She stressed that future customs officer “must not just be an administrator or a gatekeeper” but must become “an analyst of uncertainty, a strategist, and an innovator.”

Business

Emmanuel Nnorom takes over as UBA Chairman

” I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board, Management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders.”

Published

2 days ago

July 6, 2026

OCHEFA

38 Views

• Emmanuel Nnorom, incoming board chairman , and the outgoing Chairman, United Bank for Africa Plc, Tony Elumelu…Photo Credit: Tony Elumelu

United Bank for Africa Plc has announced that Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, Group Chairman of UBA, will retire from the Board of Directors of UBA on 21 August 2026.

Alero Ladipo Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications United Bank for Africa Plc, said that Elumelu was retiring

upon the completion of the 12-year tenure limit prescribed for Non-Executive Directors of Banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

At its meeting held on 6 July 2026, the Board accepted Mr. Elumelu’s retirement and elected Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom, a Non-Executive Director of the Bank, as his successor, with effect from 21 August 2026.

The Board places on record its profound appreciation to Mr. Elumelu for his visionary leadership and exceptional contribution to the strategic vision and institutional strength of the UBA Group.

Mr. Elumelu’s tenure has been a defining chapter in the Group’s history. Under his stewardship, UBA was transformed into a pan African institution, operating in 20 African countries and 4 global financial centres and serving over 50 million customers.

Mr. Nnorom is a chartered accountant with over forty years’ experience in banking, finance and audit. He brings to the role extensive leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge of UBA.

Commenting on his retirement, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu:

“Serving United Bank for Africa has been one of the great privileges of my career. UBA has established a unique competitive position, across Africa and globally, and I leave the Board with great confidence in UBA’s future. Emmanuel Nnorom is a leader of integrity, experience and sound judgement, and I am confident that the Bank will continue to thrive under his leadership.”

Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom, on his appointment, said:

“I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board, Management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders.”

United Bank for Africa Plc is Africa’s Global Bank. Operating across twenty African countries and in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.

UBA is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 50 million customers globally.