Business
Dangote Named Most Admired African Brand, Bags Two More Awards in Addis Ababa
Dangote Industries Limited has been named the most admired African Brand after receiving two more major awards in Addis Ababa over the weekend.
This is another historic milestone for the pan-African investor and the Dangote Industries Limited.
The company garnered three prestigious accolades at the 15th annual Brand Africa 100 awards, held at the iconic Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—the birthplace of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU).
Dangote Industries Limited was named Most Admired African Brand, following an independent, consumer-led survey conducted across more than 30 African countries.
The company was also inducted into the Brand Africa Hall of Fame, becoming the first African firm to receive this distinction.
The induction recognises Dangote’s transformative impact on African consumers and its influential role in shaping a positive narrative for the continent.
President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his leadership in driving impactful industrialisation, establishing a world-class African brand, and reshaping the continent’s economic future through a benchmark, homegrown enterprise.
Joining Dangote Industries in the inaugural Hall of Fame were MTN, M-Pesa, Ethiopian Airlines, and South Africa, for consistently ranking among Africa’s most admired brands over the past 5 to 15 years and for building sustainable, globally respected brands.
Reacting to the awards, Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina, said the honours reflect the unwavering commitment, excellence, and innovation that define the group’s journey.
He added that they are a testament to the dedication of the company’s outstanding team, partners, and stakeholders, who continue to believe in the mission to drive sustainable development and economic growth across the continent.
“We also extend our heartfelt appreciation for the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to our Founder and President, Aliko Dangote for building a purposeful world-class industrial brand that has exceptionally transformed African lives and the African narrative.
This accolade celebrates not only his visionary leadership but also his tireless efforts in transforming industries, creating opportunities, and championing African enterprise on the global stage.
His legacy is an inspiration to generations of entrepreneurs and leaders across Africa,” he said.
Noting that the recognition would further inspire the company to push boundaries, empower communities, and deliver meaningful value across Africa and beyond, Chiejina reaffirmed Dangote Industries’ commitment to excellence, integrity, and transformative growth.
In his keynote address, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr Claver Gatete, praised Aliko Dangote, the Hall of Fame inductees, and the Brand Africa laureates for advancing the African agenda.
He highlighted the alignment between Brand Africa and the ECA’s mission to promote inclusive industrialisation, regional integration, and private sector-led growth.
He also called for increased investment in youth-led innovation, regional value chains, and the establishment of a Pan-African Creative Innovation Fund to identify, finance, and globalise Africa’s most promising brands.
“I wish to particularly acknowledge MTN, Dangote Group, mPesa and Ethiopian Airlines for consistently maintaining their distinguished positions among the “Most Admired African Brands” category and continuing to set benchmarks in brand leadership, innovation and continental impact,” he said.
According to the organisers, the 2025 rankings reveal a stark contrast between rising African optimism and declining brand loyalty.
While 68% of Africans expressed belief in the continent—up from 64% in 2024—only 11% of the Top 100 Most Admired Brands are African, marking a historic low and down from 14% in 2024.
The report indicates the urgent need for homegrown brands to translate belief into consumer loyalty, and for Africans to more actively support Made-in-Africa products and enterprises.
“It is disappointing to see the sharp drop in African brands, which mirrors the ranking of non-African nations as the most influential in Africa,” says Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa.
“It’s a wake-up call for Africa—and a barometer of the continent’s lagging industrialisation agenda. It’s not enough for Africans to say they believe in the continent—they must buy made-in-Africa.
For that to happen, African brands must invest in R&D, continue to innovate, deliver quality, and use authenticity as a differentiator.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced a scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC).
According to NNPC, the shutdown is set to begin on May 24, 2025.
In a statement released today by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, the NNPC said the shutdown is part of a planned maintenance and sustainability assessment aimed at ensuring optimal performance of the facility.
The statement reads: “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to inform the general public that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown.
“This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24,2025.
“We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure the maintenance and assessment activities are carried out efficiently and transparently.
“NNPC Ltd remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering sustainable energy security.
”The company added that further updates will be provided regularly through official channels, including its website, media platforms, and public statements.
The Federal Government has threatened that any airline caught airlifting passengers into Nigeria without a valid entry visa, Landing, and Exit cards would be sanctioned.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated this during a stakeholders’ engagement programme on the implementation of the E-Visa, Landing and Exit Cards on Friday in Lagos.
The Minister, who was emphatic on the Federal Government’s resolutions, vehemently said that Nigeria is not a dumping ground and that no foreigner should be allowed entry without a visa.
He added that although Nigeria was making entry more accessible with the introduction of the E-Visa, but the country would not compromise on national security.
He urged the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority on the enlightenment and enforcement of its oversight function as a regulator to ensure that airlines adhere to the 2025 Nigeria Visa Policy.
Tunji-Ojo further tasked airlines on national security, stating that the E-Visa was of national interest to improve border security, tourism, and sustainable economic growth.
He said, “I plead with the NCAA to regulate, that is why this meeting is a strategic collaborative effort of the ministry, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the NCAA. I can see the DG of the NCAA on seat and that is what is called collaboration.
“For the airlines, I know you are here to do business but you also have a responsibility in terms of national interest and security. Before anybody comes to Nigeria, please see their Visas, not a proof of payment or their tickets.
“It is not acceptable in the UK, US, Canada, and other climes, and it will not be acceptable in Nigeria anymore,” he added.
Speaking on the ease of applying for the E-Visa and Landing and Exit cards, Tunji-Ojo said that it was necessary for the purpose of opening Nigeria’s frontiers to investors.
He disclosed that as of May 22nd, the NIS had received a total of 5,814 applications, approved 5,671, rejected 66, and queried 62 applications since the introduction of E-Visa on May 1.
According to him, the E-Visa process will improve the database of the NIS with information on travelers.
He explained the features of the E-Visa, the Landing and Exit cards with a barcode.
“That you applied for a Nigerian visa does not mean you will have the visa, you will need to meet certain criteria for the visa to be issued” he added.
The Director-General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo in his welcome address said that the introduction of the e-Visa and the associated Landing and Exit card systems was a milestone.
Najomo said that was a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards enhancing air travel facilitation while ensuring the highest standards of aviation security and operational efficiency are maintained.
“The e-Visa showcases one of the practical ways we continually align with global best practices by complying with the ICAO provisions of Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation – on Facilitation.
“It is, inherently designed to improve the experience of travelers, while strengthening our border control mechanisms.
“The importance of seamless inter-agency collaboration cannot be over-emphasized in a bid to ensure the effective implementation of these systems without compromising safety, security, or service delivery.
“The benefits derived from e-Visa applicants being able to complete visa applications entirely online, with processing time reduced to less than 48 hours, would have a multiplier effect.
It will showcase Nigeria as an investor- and tourist-friendly nation, invariably translating to economic growth.
”The Controller General of the NIS, Kemi Nandap in her closing remarks expressed her appreciation to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the NCAA D-G, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority, and the NIS team.
She called for more inter-agency collaborations to further strengthen the seamless implementation of the e-visa, Landing, and Exit cards innovation.
Business
MAN Seeks CBN’s Interventions Over Freezing of Members Accounts By Commercial Banks
“Commercial banks and manufacturers should be partners that collaborate to build shared prosperity for the nation, not adversaries, “said Ajayi-Kadir.
A worrisome case in point is the ongoing forex forward-related dispute involving KAM Industries Nigeria Limited, a leading manufacturer in the steel sector in West Africa a member of the Association, and one of the commercial banks in Nigeria.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has call on the Central Bank of Nigeria to direct commercial banks to immediately unfreeze the accounts of manufacturers affected by unmet foreign exchange forwards obligations.
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, the Director- General of MAN, in a statement, yesterday , lamented that this development has led to the harassment and the freezing of some of its members’ corporate and personal bank accounts by some commercial banks in the country.
The $2.4 billion Forex backlog was part of a $7 billion outstanding obligation.
Last year, despite the interventions of the former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka, the CBN’s failure to these forward contracts, which are intended to mitigate currency risks, is causing financial distress for manufacturers.
“A worrisome case in point is the ongoing forex forward-related dispute involving KAM Industries Nigeria Limited, a leading manufacturer in the steel sector in West Africa a member of the Association, and one of the commercial banks in Nigeria.
“Commercial banks and manufacturers should be partners that collaborate to build shared prosperity for the nation, not adversaries, “said Ajayi-Kadir.
He emphasised that as a vital sector of the economy, manufacturers rely heavily on access to Forex for the importation of essential raw materials, machinery, and equipment that are not locally available.
However, recent developments have shown a troubling trend in the way banks are handling the matter, to the extreme detriment of manufacturing industries.
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