Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, weekend, parodied Nigeria for wasting much foreign exchange in importing foods that ordinarily would have been produced locally and exported.
Dangote, who spoke in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, at the Dangote Cement Plc, said until a new approach at redirecting the economy from import dependent to an export one, which the present government was leading, no meaningful changes could happen.
He said it was because of his belief in government’s approach at re-energising the economy and make it export-oriented, that made him step up his investment in agriculture, especially with regards to food sufficiency.
The president said, “We have invested massively in rice, sugar, diary products, and tomatoes. Our rice-out grower scheme will produce rice by next year and that will reduce our rice import to nearly zero because Nigeria imports more than half of the rice it consumes.
”We have expanded our sugar operations with our operations in Tonga in Nasarawa in addition to Numan sugar projects where sugarcane is being planted for raw sugar production that will be refined.
”Dangote Cement new managers who were inducted weekend at the Dangote Academy Ikeja, Lagos are being trained under the newly established scheme: Management Trainees Programme (MTP).”
Earlier, he had said he has been engaged in strategic investments in agriculture and fertilizer production in the country to complement the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
Dangote commenced the training of its newly engaged managers in order to sustain its leadership and competitiveness in the industry.
He said the decision of the government at diversifying the economy away from oil only to an agriculture centered one remained the viable solution to creating a healthy economy, adding that the private sector had important roles to play.
The president said this explained why he had taken up the challenge to lead the way as a leading private sector operator.
Joseph Makoju, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Cement Plc, lauded the programme, saying it would support the overall drive of the conglomerate.
Makoju said the management scheme was part of effort of the conglomerate “to sustain our exponential growth, competitiveness and market leadership.”
He said, “We are committed to attract top talents into our business for our current and future business needs.”
Addressing the trainee managers, Mr. Makoju said, “The fact that you are sitting here today among the top 20 candidates selected for the pilot scheme out of over 16,000 interested applicants speaks volume of your quality and expected potential as future business leaders.”
