Dangote, Kano Govt deepen partnership at 2025 international trade fair
Kola Oyelere Kano
The Dangote Group and the Kano State Government are strengthening ties to boost business activities, industrial development and social welfare initiatives across the state, officials said at the ongoing 46th Kano International Trade Fair.
The Fair, which has continued to attract visitors to the Dangote Pavilion, showcases a range of the company’s innovative products as it leads private-sector participation at the annual event.
Speaking to journalists, Kano State Commissioner for Investment and Commerce, Shehu Wada Sagagi, said the state government is expanding its collaboration with the Dangote Group to enhance economic growth.
“The partnership with Dangote Group will strengthen Kano’s industrial and trade capacity. By linking government policies with private sector initiatives, we are creating opportunities for businesses to grow in Kano State,” he said.
Sagagi commended the Dangote Group for its consistent support to Nigeria’s economic development and for its strong backing of the Kano Trade Fair, noting that the administration of Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf has continued to create a conducive environment for investment.
A statement from the Dangote Group confirmed that a major highlight of its partnership with the state government is the establishment of a world-class rice milling plant in Kano. The project, the company said, will boost local rice production, enhance value addition, and introduce modern processing technologies that meet global standards.
The Group also highlighted ongoing social intervention programmes executed through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, covering food security, health, education and economic empowerment.
According to the statement, the Foundation distributed 120,000 bags of rice and more than 10,000 iftar meals during the 2024/2025 period, targeting vulnerable households across Kano. It added that the Foundation is supporting treatment for severe acute malnutrition through the provision of Ready-To-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), alongside community sensitization campaigns on nutrition.
On economic empowerment, the company said thousands of women and vulnerable groups in Kano have benefitted from micro-grants aimed at helping small-scale entrepreneurs expand their businesses.
In the education sector, the Foundation funded a modern Business School at Bayero University Kano (BUK), and supported infrastructure upgrades at Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil.
Healthcare interventions include contributions to a state-of-the-art Surgical and Diagnostic Centre at Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital.
The Dangote Group also announced plans to unveil new 100-gram and 25-kilogram cement bag sizes on its Special Day scheduled for December 4, 2025, at the Trade Fair.
Regional Director (Cement), Northwest, Dayo Laniyan, said the theme of this year’s fair — Empowering SMEs for Sustainable Growth — aligns with the company’s mission. “SMEs are the backbone of any economy and play significant roles in enhancing growth, development, security and stability,” he said.
President of the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), Ambassador Hassan Usman Darma, said the fair is hosting about 100 organizations and over 1,000 exhibitors from within and outside Nigeria.
He described this year’s edition as unique due to improvements and expansions at the fairground, and reaffirmed KACCIMA’s long-standing relationship with the Dangote Group.
“In this year’s fair, we want to partner with the Dangote Group on SME development, backward integration, and industrial skills transfer,” Darma said.