Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has applauded the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his multi-billion dollar investments in cement plants across Africa, adding that it has created thousands of jobs.
According to him, Dangote has spurred the industrialisation of many African economies through the establishment of integrated cement plants which are geared towards making those countries self-sufficient in cement production.
Oshiomhole was quoted to have stated at the inauguration of the 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum Dangote Cement Grinding Plant in Douala, Cameroon.
He said the real sector was the engine room of any economy, therefore investments in the sector would have a multiplier effect on other sectors leading to massive direct and indirect job opportunities.
He noted that the growth resulting from Dangote’s investments has propelled job creation which African countries needed.
“Many of the so called entrepreneurs are mere traders whose business activities could hardly rejuvenate the economy, that is why when they reel out figures to indicate there is a growth it does not reflect on the economy and the people,” he was quoted as saying.
He said Dangote was the true symbol of black capital, where capital for investment in Africa is expected to flow from Africans into the African economies.
“It is better for the likes of Dangote to invest in Africa than African countries looking for loans which come with outrageous interest rates,” he said.
Dangote Cement had recently inaugurated plants in Ethiopia, Zambia and Cameroon with each capable of producing 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum.
The said it had also set machinery in motion to commission its plant in Tanzania, followed by Senegal with another 1.5 metric tonnes per annum capacity cement plant.
