The Head of Community for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Project Management Institute (PMI), Adeola Akande, has hailed the Dangote Refinery as a shining example of visionary leadership, excellence in execution, and Nigeria’s growing capability in project management.
Akande, who led a PMI delegation to the refinery, described the multi-billion-dollar facility as a testament to Nigeria’s potential to deliver world-class infrastructure through effective project management practices.
“The Dangote Refinery represents the best of Nigeria’s capacity to deliver world-class infrastructure and demonstrates how effective project management can transform not just organizations but entire economies,” she said.
She also commended the Dangote Group for its consistent commitment to advancing project management standards across Africa, noting that the new PMI-CP (Construction Professional) certification would further strengthen collaboration with Dangote’s Community of Practice (CoP).
In his presentation titled “Community of Practice: The Journey So Far at Dangote Industries Limited,” Shehu Adekanye, Group Head of Procurement and executive member of the Dangote CoP, detailed the company’s efforts to embed project management as a strategic capability across its operations.
Adekanye explained that the Dangote Community of Practice, launched in June 2025, was established to transform project management from an individual skillset into an organizational asset.
“The formation of the CoP underscores Dangote Industries’ commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership in project management — positioning the company not just as a business powerhouse but as a model for organizational transformation,” he said.
He recalled that the group initially faced challenges such as a lack of standardized templates, fragmented knowledge sharing, limited professional networking, and the slow adoption of global best practices, including the use of Artificial Intelligence.
However, he said the CoP had recorded remarkable progress, growing its membership from seven in March to 32 by September 2025, while 67 staff members have undergone PMP training across various departments.
“We’ve created a platform for continuous learning and innovation. Our work is already influencing how projects are conceived, executed, and evaluated across the business,” Adekanye noted.
He further appealed to PMI to grant formal accreditation to the Dangote CoP, enabling it to award Professional Development Units (PDUs) for its activities.
He also called for greater inclusion in PMI’s events and access to specialized training to strengthen the group’s impact across Africa.
“We believe that with PMI’s support, we can scale up our impact and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of project management across Africa,” he added.
The visit by PMI executives, according to observers, underscores the global significance of the Dangote Refinery — not only as an industrial milestone but also as a case study in successful project management, innovation, and organizational transformation.
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