Dangote Industries Named Most Admired African Brand at Brand Africa 100 Awards

…Aliko Dangote inducted into Hall of Fame, receives Lifetime Achievement Award

 Plant Director, Dangote Cement Ethiopia, Jacinto Leyva (left), and Group Branding Lead, DIL, Tunde Oladipo (right), receive the ‘Most Admired African Brand’ award from Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa, during the 15th Brand Africa 100 Awards held at Africa Hall, Addis Ababa, on May 23, 2025.

Dangote Industries Limited has emerged as the Most Admired African Brand at the 15th Annual Brand Africa 100 Awards, a major pan-African event held at the historic Africa Hall in Addis Ababa. The milestone recognitions underscore the company’s growing influence across the continent and mark a new chapter in its legacy of industrial excellence.

The Lagos-based conglomerate topped a consumer-driven survey conducted across more than 30 African countries, reinforcing its reputation as a leading player in the continent’s economic transformation. In a moment of history, Dangote Industries was also inducted into the Brand Africa Hall of Fame, making it the first African company to receive the honour. The induction acknowledges the company’s role in reshaping perceptions of African-made brands through innovation, quality, and wide-scale impact.

Founder and President of the company, Aliko Dangote, was also celebrated with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognises his leadership in pioneering industrial ventures that have created jobs, spurred local production, and helped reposition Africa in global value chains.

Other inductees into the inaugural Hall of Fame included MTN, M-Pesa, Ethiopian Airlines, and South Africa, honoured for their consistency in ranking among the continent’s top brands over the past 5 to 15 years.

Reacting to the awards, Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer at Dangote Industries, described the honours as a validation of the company’s ongoing commitment to driving sustainable development across Africa.

“These recognitions reflect our deep-rooted mission to create value across the continent through excellence and innovation,” Chiejina said.
“We’re especially proud of the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to our Founder, Aliko Dangote. His vision has shaped a globally respected African brand that continues to transform lives and economies.”

Delivering the keynote address, Claver Gatete, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), commended Dangote and other honourees for their contributions to the continent’s industrial and brand development.

“I commend brands like Dangote, MTN, mPesa, and Ethiopian Airlines for their consistent excellence. Their success underscores the importance of strong local brands in advancing Africa’s development goals,” Gatete stated.

He called for greater support for youth-led innovation and announced a proposal to establish a Pan-African Creative Innovation Fund, aimed at identifying and scaling African brands with global potential.

Despite the celebratory mood, the 2025 Brand Africa rankings revealed some concerns. While 68% of Africans surveyed said they believe in the continent, up from 64% in 2024, only 11% of the Top 100 Most Admired Brands were African—a historic low and a drop from 14% the previous year.

Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa, said the data should serve as a wake-up call for African stakeholders.

“This decline mirrors Africa’s stalled industrialisation. If we truly believe in Africa, we must act on it by buying African brands,” he said.
“That means investing in research and development, delivering consistent quality, and using authenticity to stand out in a crowded global market.”

Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands is an annual ranking based on an independent survey conducted by Geopoll, Kantar, and Brand Leadership, measuring brand perception and influence across African markets.

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