Lagos, Nigeria — April 25, 2025 — Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, has been appointed to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, an initiative aimed at driving investment and job creation in emerging economies. A strategic appointment between Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group and the World Bank as they announced Dangote's inclusion as part of its efforts to expand the Lab's membership, bringing in leaders with proven track records in sectors critical to job creation, such as infrastructure, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and manufacturing. The Lab, launched in June 2023 by World Bank President Ajay Banga, now comprises 19 business leaders focused on overcoming barriers to private sector investment in developing nations. In a statement, Dangote expressed his enthusiasm: "I am both honoured and excited to accept my appointment to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, dedicated to advancing investment and employment in emerging economies. This opportunity aligns with my long-standing commitment to sustainable development and unlocking the potential of developing economies."
The Lab has identified five key priorities to attract private investment: regulatory clarity, political risk insurance, foreign exchange risk, junior equity capital, and securitization. These efforts are designed to foster job creation and economic growth in developing countries. The World Bank has already seen results from these initiatives, including a 30% increase in the issuance of guarantee instruments and expanded local currency financing through its International Finance Corporation (IFC) branch. By partnering with institutional investors like Standard & Poor's and BlackRock, the bank is also working to standardize and securitize investment portfolios to unlock capital from sources such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. Aliko Dangote's appointment is seen as a strategic move, given his extensive experience in industrial development and investment across Africa. His leadership in the Dangote Group has been instrumental in advancing economic growth and job creation in Nigeria and beyond. With the expanded membership, the World Bank aims to mainstream this work across its operations and tie it directly to the jobs agenda that is driving its strategy. As World Bank President Ajay Banga stated, "It's about helping the private sector see a path to investments that will deliver returns, and lift people and ..." Dangote's participation in the Private Sector Investment Lab underscores the importance of collaboration between global business leaders and international financial institutions in addressing the challenges of investment and employment in emerging economies. His involvement is expected to contribute significantly to the Lab's mission of creating sustainable economic opportunities worldwide.
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