By Francis Xavier
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has called on African entrepreneurs and leaders to stop siphoning wealth abroad and instead invest within the continent, emphasizing that only Africans can truly make Africa great.Speaking on the theme “Making Africa Great Again” during a high-powered panel session at the 32nd Annual General Meeting of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Abuja, Dangote delivered a passionate address about the need to retain and reinvest African wealth on African soil.“Africa can only be great if we make money within Africa and reinvest that money in Africa,” Dangote stated. “Some people—whether legally or illegally—make money here and take it outside the continent. That will not make Africa great.”Dangote, whose conglomerate spans cement, oil, and food production, further disclosed that Nigeria is currently the largest exporter of cement in Africa, showcasing the potential of African industrial capacity when supported with the right policies and financial systems.“We African champions are the only ones who can make Africa great. Yes, there will be ups and downs, but once we focus and stay the course, the rest is history,” he declared.Highlighting the continent’s immense resource wealth, Dangote questioned why Africans look elsewhere for growth opportunities when Africa possesses all the minerals and natural endowments needed for sustainable development.“We have everything we need here. Other continents need Africa to grow, not the other way around. If we invest our resources and generate jobs locally, we can create the Africa of our dreams,” he emphasized.On the role of finance, Dangote stated that scaling up Africa’s financial institutions, such as Afreximbank, would be pivotal.“If we can have ten banks like Afreximbank across the continent, we can turn Africa into a haven of prosperity within the next ten years,” he said.Addressing corruption, he noted:“Corruption exists everywhere, but the difference in Africa is that the money ends up outside the continent. That’s where we must change the game.”The billionaire industrialist’s remarks resonated deeply with the summit’s broader theme of “Building the Future on Decades of Resilience,” as leaders across Africa continue seeking bold solutions for the continent’s economic transformation.Dangote’s message was clear: Africa’s greatness lies not in aid or foreign validation, but in the hands of its own people—investing, innovating, and building from within.
