The President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has said the Group’s US$100 billion Vision 2030 target no longer reflects its ambitions and will be replaced with a higher figure early next year.
Dangote made the disclosure while hosting prominent figures from Nigeria’s creative industry at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals complex in Lekki, Lagos.
The delegation, which included Nollywood stars, content creators, comedians and other entertainment and lifestyle personalities, toured the facility before joining him for a conversation on entrepreneurship, innovation, ambition and legacy.
“We realised that our Vision 2030 target was too modest. We are working towards unveiling a new vision in January, with a revised target that reflects our ambition to achieve far more than US$100 billion,” he said.
He explained that the Group’s continued industrial expansion was driven by a determination to build enduring institutions, strengthen Africa’s productive capacity and show that the continent could produce enterprises able to compete globally.
Dangote urged the creatives to pair their talent and drive with discipline, perseverance and the courage to take on ambitious projects. He stressed that lasting success should be judged not only by personal wealth but by the businesses built, the opportunities created and the contributions made to society.
“It is not just about money; it is about legacy. We have often been taken for granted, and in many ways, we have contributed to that by waiting for foreigners to come and make our continent prosperous. That will never happen. We must take responsibility for building Africa’s prosperity ourselves,” he said.
Citing Singapore’s economic transformation, Dangote said nations could overcome difficult beginnings through deliberate investment, enterprise and a commitment to developing their own capabilities.
He encouraged Nigerian entrepreneurs to reject limiting assumptions, noting that transformative achievements often demanded the courage to pursue ideas others considered impossible.
Reflecting on his own journey and the building of the refinery, he named perseverance, disciplined execution and sound judgement as essential to business success.
He warned, however, that ambition should be balanced by the ability to recognise when an investment had stopped being commercially viable.
“Before embarking on any venture, you must carefully consider all the issues involved. We have made mistakes too, and I share these experiences so others can learn from them,” he said. “One important lesson is never to keep putting good money into a bad investment. Some situations are simply too difficult to turn around, no matter how much you invest.”
Turning to the entertainment sector, Dangote commended Nigerian entertainers for building a strong international presence despite a challenging business environment and limited government support.
He described Nollywood’s growing global influence as proof of the country’s creative potential and urged practitioners to build on it through stronger business structures, innovation and collaboration. In his view, the industry’s next phase should move beyond international recognition to sustainable enterprises, job creation and a stronger position in the global creative economy.
Veteran Nollywood actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, who moderated the session, praised Dangote’s industrial investments as an enduring contribution to national development.
“Your legacy has already been built, and its continuation is assured. You deserve all the praise and recognition you have received for what you have accomplished,” he said.
Nollywood actor Abdullateef Adedimeji described the visit as inspiring, saying the scale of the refinery had challenged him to aim higher in his career.
“Coming here today is a source of motivation for us. As someone in the film industry, this experience inspires me to push beyond my limits, broaden my imagination and strive for greater achievements, including making a more meaningful impact in my community,” he said.
Adedimeji also called for closer collaboration among Nollywood practitioners, drawing lessons from the coordination and partnerships behind Dangote’s industrial operations.
“That is what we need in Nollywood. The more we collaborate, the stronger and more successful we become,” he said.
