Dangote Cement increases dividend by 50 percent, shareholders get N753.8bn

Dangote Cement Plc has increased its dividend by 50 per cent from N30 to N45 per share following its strong financial performance in 2025. In total, shareholders received a payout of N753.8 billion.

The dividend was approved by shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM)  held in Lagos over the weekend, making it the highest dividend payout in Dangote Cement’s history.

Reviewing its 2025 performance during the meeting, the Chairman of the company, Emmanuel Ikazoboh, said the increase is an indication of the company’s commitment to rewarding shareholders for their continued confidence and support.

“Our commitment remains to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. This significant dividend increase demonstrates the strength of our business model, our disciplined approach to capital allocation and our confidence in the future.

“We appreciate the trust our shareholders have placed in us and remain committed to delivering superior returns while maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance and operational excellence”, he said.

He added that the firm achieved a strong financial performance in 2025, with earnings per share rising to N59.86 despite a challenging business environment.

Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Arvind Pathak, said the dividend increase is backed by the Company’s strong financial performance and healthy balance sheet.

“The decision to increase our dividend by 50 per cent to N45 per share demonstrates the strength of Dangote Cement’s earnings capacity and cash generation capability.

“As we continue to execute our pan-African growth strategy, we remain committed to creating lasting value for our shareholders, investing in the future of the business, and supporting Africa’s industrial development.

“Our shareholders have stood by us throughout our journey, and we are delighted to reward that trust with another significant increase in returns”.

Pathak noted that the Company continues to strengthen its footprint across Africa through strategic investments and capacity expansion projects.

In 2025, Dangote Cement commissioned a 3-million-tonne-per-annum grinding plant in Côte d’Ivoire, reinforcing its presence in West Africa and increasing total installed capacity to 55 million tonnes per annum (Mta) across eleven African countries.

He added that the company remains focused on its long-term objective of expanding installed capacity to 80Mta by 2030, while driving operational efficiency, increasing exports, enhancing sustainability initiatives, and improving shareholder returns.

The company’s strategic investments in logistics, energy efficiency, alternative fuels, and plant modernisation continue to strengthen its competitive advantage across its markets.

African startups raise $3.9bn as funding rebounds – Report

African startups raised $3.9 billion across 506 deals in 2025, signaling a recovery in fundraising activity after earlier market challenges, according to a new report by Bloomwit Africa.

The report stated that technology funding exceeded $4 billion through a combination of equity and debt financing, representing an estimated 25 per cent year-on-year increase, with venture debt emerging as a significant source of capital.

Bloomwit Africa, a foremost PR and communications firm, stated in its report that the positive trend extended into 2026, with startup funding reaching $705 million in the first quarter, up 26.5 per cent year-on-year, as investment activity spread across key markets, including Egypt, South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria.

According to the report, the improvement in funding reflects growing investor interest in Africa’s technology ecosystem despite global funding pressures that have affected venture capital markets in recent years.

The report noted that increasing use of venture debt alongside equity financing is providing startups with additional funding options, while investment activity continues to broaden beyond a few traditional markets.

It added that the wider geographical spread of funding across leading African economies suggests a more diversified investment landscape as investors seek opportunities across the continent.

The report stated that sustained capital inflows into technology startups could support innovation, business expansion, and job creation, while strengthening Africa’s position as an emerging destination for venture investment.

CIPM tasks employers on workforce transformation, value creation

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has called on organizations across the public and private sectors to rethink their workforce structures and prioritize human capital development as economic uncertainty, technological disruption and shifting workplace expectations intensify.

The institute said organizations must reposition their people strategies to remain competitive and create long-term value in an increasingly volatile operating environment.

Speaking ahead of the CIPM 58th International Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for September 21 – 24, 2026, in Abuja, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mallam Ahmed Gobir, said businesses must place human capital at the centre of their transformation agenda.

He said organizations globally are facing mounting pressures, including economic volatility, talent shortages, rapid digital transformation and evolving employee expectations, all of which are reshaping how value is created and sustained.

“The world of work is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Organizations today are operating in an environment characterized by rapid technological advancement, shifting workforce demographics, changing stakeholder expectations, and increasing pressure to deliver measurable results”, Gobir said in a statement.

He added that leaders must rethink how they attract, develop, engage and retain talent if they are to remain agile and future-ready. According to him, human resource management has moved beyond administrative functions to become a core driver of organizational performance, productivity, innovation and sustainability.

Gobir said the theme of the 58th International Conference and Exhibition, “Repositioning for Value and Impact,” reflects the urgency for organizations to reassess their structures, strengthen workforce capabilities and align people strategies with broader business objectives.

He said failure to adapt could leave organizations exposed in an increasingly competitive global economy.

“The future belongs to organizations that can effectively align people, technology, culture and strategy to create sustainable value. Repositioning for value and impact is no longer a choice; it is a business imperative”, he said.

Gobir added that the conference would provide a platform for HR professionals, business leaders, policymakers, and academics to explore practical solutions to workforce challenges and emerging opportunities.

He said it is designed to equip delegates with actionable insights and strategies to navigate complexity and support long-term organizational success.

CIPM said the conference remains its flagship event and Africa’s largest gathering of human resource professionals and business leaders, attracting participants from across the continent and beyond for knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and professional networking.