President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said investors applying for N50,000 or less in the Dangote Refinery Initial Public Offering (IPO) will receive priority consideration as the company seeks to widen public participation in the ownership of the facility.
Dangote made this known during the final leg of the nationwide IPO roadshow in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which attracted investors, financial market experts, business leaders and other stakeholders.
He described the public offering as an opportunity for Nigerians to become shareholders in one of Africa’s major industrial projects, adding that the initiative was designed to make ownership accessible to investors across different income groups.
“We will prioritise people with N50,000 and below,” he said.
Dangote noted that although international and African investors had committed substantial capital to the refinery, the IPO would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to invest directly in the project.
He said investing in the refinery went beyond potential financial returns, describing it as a means of supporting Nigeria’s industrial development, job creation and long-term economic growth.
“African investors have invested in this refinery. Now it is time for Nigerians to invest in themselves and participate in a project that is creating value, jobs and opportunities for generations to come,” he said.
The Dangote Group president urged prospective investors to adopt a long-term approach, noting that participation in the offering could provide opportunities for wealth creation and portfolio diversification.
He added that broader participation in the capital market would encourage a savings culture, improve financial literacy and help Nigerians understand how businesses contribute to economic development.
At the roadshow, economists and market analysts also discussed the refinery’s potential impact on the Nigerian economy and the opportunities associated with the IPO.
Renowned economist Bismarck Rewane highlighted the economic potential of the South-South region, stressing the need to translate its abundant resources into sustainable prosperity, infrastructure development and improved living standards.
He said the IPO could also deepen Nigeria’s capital market by encouraging more citizens to participate in wealth creation through investments.
Similarly, economist and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, outlined the refinery’s potential contributions to economic diversification, domestic value addition, energy security, capital formation and employment generation.
Yusuf said the refinery’s impact extended beyond petroleum processing, with potential benefits for petrochemicals, packaging, manufacturing, logistics and other downstream industries.
He stressed the importance of policy consistency, regulatory stability and sustained stakeholder engagement in maintaining investor confidence and attracting long-term capital into Nigeria’s industrial sector.
Stakeholders at the event also urged prospective investors to assess the company’s operational performance, valuation and long-term fundamentals before making investment decisions.
Discussions further highlighted the importance of sound monetary policy, affordable financing and a predictable business environment in supporting industrial expansion and investment-led growth.
Legal practitioner and business leader Paul Usoro expressed satisfaction with the participation of investors from the South-South region, urging more people from the area to take advantage of the offering.
“My joy is to see the South-South well represented,” Usoro said.
The Port Harcourt engagement marked the final stop of the nationwide IPO roadshow, which was organised to raise awareness of the offering and encourage wider participation among Nigerian investors.
The initiative is aimed at expanding public ownership of the refinery while strengthening local participation in a major industrial project with potential implications for employment, economic growth and national development.
