Dangote, South-South Commission Seal Partnership on Regional Investment, Youth Employment
By Ekanem Asuquo
The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) and the Dangote Group have strengthened their strategic ties following a two-day working engagement between SSDC Managing Director, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, and the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, in Lagos.
The delegation undertook a comprehensive tour of the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Refinery, where Alhaji Dangote reaffirmed his commitment to deepening economic development across the South-South region. He disclosed that plans are already underway to establish the Dangote Group’s operational presence in the region as part of a broader expansion drive.
Dangote also announced a renewed focus on youth development, revealing that the Group will train more young people from the South-South to acquire globally competitive technical skills relevant for high-value jobs both locally and abroad. He noted that the export of skilled labour and the resultant remittances would contribute significantly to regional economic growth.
Part of the expansion, he said, will improve access to fertilizer, enhance agricultural output, and strengthen the Compressed Natural Gas value chain in line with Nigeria’s clean-energy ambitions. He further revealed plans to establish CNG cogeneration stations across the South-South to widen energy access and support emerging industries.
On agriculture, Dangote outlined a collaboration with the SSDC that will see farmers equipped with soil-specific fertilizers designed to boost crop quality for domestic use and export. The initiative will commence in the first quarter of 2026 and will leverage the advanced fertilizer and petrochemical laboratory of Dangote Industries.
He also praised engineers from the South-South trained under the Presidential Amnesty Programme, describing them as highly competent professionals whose expertise he has previously relied on. He assured that they will be engaged again in upcoming projects tied to the Group’s regional expansion.
SSDC Managing Director, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, expressed strong optimism about the partnership, noting that the South-South remains Nigeria’s energy hub, maritime gateway, and industrial corridor. She said the Commission is committed to creating a conducive policy environment across the six states to support the Group’s investments.
Akpabio listed refined product depots, coastal logistics bases, agricultural value-chain initiatives, and expanded technical training through the Dangote Academy as key areas of collaboration, adding that the partnership represents a major step toward accelerating inclusive growth across the region.
