Meet Arnold Ekpe, new Chairman of Dangote Sugar
Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Arnold Ekpe as the new Chairman of its Board of Directors, effective June 16, 2025. The appointment follows the retirement of Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (GCON), who has served as Chairman for nearly two decades.
The announcement was made in a corporate filing dated June 11, 2025, and marks a significant leadership transition at one of Nigeria’s largest and most prominent food and consumer goods companies.
According to the company, Mr. Ekpe’s appointment followed a rigorous selection process aimed at identifying a seasoned and capable successor to lead the Board. The Board expressed confidence in Mr. Ekpe’s ability to steer the company through its next phase of growth, citing his exceptional track record in finance, corporate strategy, and leadership.
A Veteran Banker and Corporate Leader
Mr. Arnold Ekpe brings to the role over three decades of experience spanning engineering, banking, and executive management in some of Africa’s leading financial institutions. Born in Nigeria in August 1953, Ekpe attended King’s College Lagos before proceeding to the United Kingdom for his higher education.
He earned a First Class Honours degree in Engineering from the University of Manchester (1976), where he was a Shell Scholar, and later obtained an MBA from Manchester Business School in 1979.
Mr. Ekpe began his professional career with Schlumberger SA in 1977 as a Wireline Logging Engineer. He later held positions at Alcan Aluminium Nigeria and several financial institutions, including International Merchant Bank, City Securities Limited, and Nigeria International Bank (Citibank Nigeria).
He is perhaps best known for his role as Group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, a position he held until his retirement in 2012. Under his leadership, Ecobank expanded its footprint across Africa and established itself as a pan-African banking leader.
Mr. Ekpe joined the Board of Dangote Sugar as an Independent Non-Executive Director in 2024.
A New Era for Dangote Sugar
Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s departure marks the end of an era for the sugar refining giant, where he oversaw massive expansions, investments in backward integration, and consolidation in Nigeria’s sugar value chain.
The Board lauded Dangote’s leadership and legacy, describing his contributions as “instrumental in shaping the company into a market leader.”
With Mr. Ekpe stepping in as Chairman, Dangote Sugar Refinery is expected to maintain its strategic direction while tapping into fresh insights from the seasoned banker as it faces evolving market dynamics and regulatory demands in Nigeria’s manufacturing and FMCG sectors.
Mr. Ekpe’s appointment is expected to be formally ratified at the company’s next Annual General Meeting.
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