Nothing is impossible — Dangote tells Harvard Scholars
…Encourages young entrepreneurs to pursue their ambitions
Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, has urged young entrepreneurs and scholars to overcome limitations and pursue their ambitions to create meaningful change in the world.
The prominent industrialist delivered this message on Wednesday during a visit by a delegation of Harvard Kennedy School scholars to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals complex and Dangote Fertiliser Limited in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos.
Addressing the 50 scholars from 18 different nationalities, Dangote underscored the need for determination, ambition, and an unwavering belief in success—values that guided the Dangote Group in constructing the world’s largest single-train refinery.
He stressed that ambition should not merely be profit-driven but must be paired with a commitment to leaving a lasting impact.
“Life is not worth living without ambition. In this life, nothing is impossible. Don’t let fear hold you back. Be knowledgeable about the business you want to pursue. I am not an engineer, but I do not venture into any business I don’t fully understand,” he stated.
Dangote shared insights into the challenges and triumphs of building the refinery, recalling how he was advised against undertaking the project, as many believed such large-scale ventures were feasible only for governments, not private individuals.
He revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic posed additional hurdles but noted that the refinery has remained operational despite a shortage of Nigerian crude oil, thanks to its advanced design, compliance with global standards, and ability to process over 100 different types of crude.
Speaking on the ambitious scope of the refinery, Edwin Devakumar, Vice President of Oil & Gas at Dangote Group, described it as a monumental undertaking that demanded vision, resilience, and bold decision-making.
He highlighted how the company functioned as its own Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor, overseeing the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery—an achievement unprecedented in the private sector.
“Our Group President has a plaque in his office that reads, ‘nothing is impossible.’ This mindset guided us throughout this project. He does not accept limitations and always aims for excellence. We applied the same approach when we transformed Nigeria’s cement industry. We turned the country from one of the world’s largest cement importers into a net exporter.
“Today, after decades of relying on imported petroleum products, we now have the capacity to meet all of Nigeria’s refined fuel needs, with surplus supplies of jet A1, petrol, and diesel for export. Other refinery outputs include polypropylene, carbon black feedstock, and sulphur,” he explained.
Devakumar also detailed the massive investments required for the project, such as: Dredging 65 million cubic metres of sand to elevate the site by 1.5 metres to guard against rising sea levels; Procuring 330 cranes and lifting equipment, addressing a shortage of local capacity; Building the world’s largest granite quarry to provide raw materials, including stone columns and aggregates; Constructing the refinery on 250,000 piles, possibly the highest number ever used for a single project.
The scholars, who toured the state-of-the-art complexes, were in awe of the scale and ambition behind the refinery. They hailed Dangote as an inspirational figure whose entrepreneurial drive is shaping the economic landscape of Nigeria and Africa.
Sheffy Kolade, leader of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Nigeria-Ghana Trek and a global advisor for the Women for Prosperity project at the Atlantic Council’s Freedom and Prosperity Center, described the Dangote Group as a symbol of Nigeria’s resilience and economic evolution.
“Dangote Group is not just a business; it is a testament to Nigeria’s determination. It symbolises the extraordinary accomplishments that can be achieved through vision and hard work. Witnessing the world’s largest single-train refinery and a fertiliser plant exporting to South America and the US is truly inspiring,” she stated.
A social entrepreneur and a Forbes Business Council member, Kolade further remarked: “From where we stand, thousands of people earn their livelihoods. This enterprise has created countless jobs, ensured energy security, reduced Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products, and increased our foreign reserves. We are incredibly grateful for this remarkable contribution to Africa’s development.”
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Kolade introduced her team as a diverse group of individuals from Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School, Harvard Public Health, Stanford, and MIT, all sharing a passion for impact, sustainability, and economic progress.
Another scholar, Darrow Merton, a Foreign Service Officer with the United States, commended Dangote’s ability to break barriers, demonstrating unparalleled resilience in executing projects of global significance.
He praised Dangote for delivering innovative solutions despite formidable obstacles, solidifying his position as a trailblazer in African industrial development.
