Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the Dangote Refinery as more than an industrial project, saying its construction demonstrated Africa’s ability to deliver ambitious projects on a massive, market-changing scale.
Sanwo-Olu made the remarks on Thursday at the Africa–Diaspora Leadership Programme 2026 Young Global Leaders Convening, held at the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
The governor noted that the refinery was built on land reclaimed from swamp, lagoon and open water, with supporting infrastructure such as a jetty and power plant developed to serve the project.
According to him, the scale of the project showed that Africa could successfully execute major industrial ventures despite significant challenges.
“Mr Dangote did not build a refinery. He built a country around a refinery, and then he built the refinery,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He explained that because there was no port capable of receiving the equipment required for the project, Dangote built a jetty, while a power plant was also constructed because of inadequate electricity supply.
Sanwo-Olu said the project survived the COVID-19 pandemic, major currency depreciation and rising costs, despite doubts from some observers about whether it would eventually become operational.
However, he cautioned that Africa’s development should not depend on the efforts of individual entrepreneurs alone.
He said projects that require one person to build supporting infrastructure such as ports and power plants are not sustainable models of development, describing such efforts as “heroism” that may be difficult to replicate.
The governor called for greater involvement of African pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and the diaspora in financing and owning strategic assets across the continent.
He also highlighted infrastructure projects in Lagos, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Lekki Free Zone and Lagos Blue Line rail, saying they were designed to reduce barriers for future investors.
Sanwo-Olu urged the young global leaders to move beyond discussions and convert their networks and ideas into practical projects capable of solving real problems.
He further said Africa should approach international partnerships with confidence, insisting that the continent does not need permission from the rest of the world to develop.
Drawing a comparison between Lagos and New York, he said both cities demonstrated how determination and collaboration could transform challenging environments into major urban centres.
The governor encouraged the participants to carry the lessons from the Dangote Refinery experience with them and work towards building Africa through collective action and sustainable investment.
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