Dangote Industries Limited has once again emerged as Africa’s Most Admired African Brand, extending its dominance in the prestigious Brand Africa rankings for an eighth consecutive year.
The recognition was announced at the 16th edition of the Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands awards ceremony held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the conglomerate also retained its position as Africa’s Most Admired Industrial Brand and was named the leading African brand contributing to a better Africa.
The annual survey, regarded as the continent’s most comprehensive consumer-led brand study, covered 30 African countries representing more than 85 per cent of Africa’s population and economic output.
According to the rankings, Dangote Industries emerged as the most admired African brand in the aided recall category, ahead of MTN and Vodacom. In the spontaneous recall category, the company ranked second among African brands, behind MTN and ahead of Trade Kings.
The latest recognition further cements Dangote’s reputation as one of Africa’s most influential indigenous brands, driven by investments across cement, fertiliser, petrochemicals, energy, sugar, salt, packaging and logistics.
The company was also ranked as the number one African brand contributing to a better Africa, ahead of MTN, DStv, Shoprite/Checkers and Trade Kings, reflecting its impact on industrialisation, job creation, economic growth and sustainable development across the continent.
Speaking on the significance of supporting homegrown brands, Brand Africa Founder and Chairman, Thebe Ikalafeng, said Africa must translate its belief in the continent into support for indigenous products and enterprises.
“Converting goodwill towards African contribution into admiration for African brands is the most urgent commercial opportunity for the continent. It is not enough for Africans to believe in Africa, they must buy Made-in-Africa,” Ikalafeng said.
The survey revealed that African brands accounted for only 15 per cent of the continent’s 100 most admired brands, while European brands accounted for 38 per cent, North American brands 28 per cent and Asian brands 19 per cent.
Despite the dominance of foreign brands, Dangote Industries, MTN and Ethiopian Airlines emerged as the highest-ranked African brands in the 2026 rankings, standing alongside global giants such as Nike, Adidas, Samsung, Apple and Coca-Cola.
The company also performed strongly in sustainability and corporate responsibility, placing second among brands recognised for making positive contributions to society, people and the environment.
In another major recognition, Dangote Industries’ Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, was named among Africa’s 100 Most Influential Chief Marketing Officers under the inaugural Africa CMO 100 (ACMO100) initiative.
The ACMO100 programme was launched by Brand Africa in partnership with African Business magazine, MIPAD and the African Media Agency to honour marketing and communications leaders whose work is shaping Africa’s business landscape and strengthening the reputation of African brands.
Chiejina was among only 20 executives selected from West Africa and one of 17 Nigerians recognised for excellence in brand management, strategic communications and corporate reputation building.
According to Brand Africa, honourees were selected through an independent process that assessed industry impact, leadership influence and contributions to building brands that shape consumer perceptions and drive economic growth across Africa.
The latest accolades add to a growing list of honours for Dangote Industries. In 2025, the company was inducted into the Brand Africa Hall of Fame in recognition of its consistent performance and enduring presence among the continent’s most admired brands for more than a decade.
The company’s founder and President, Aliko Dangote, was also honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to industrialisation and for building one of Africa’s most successful indigenous business enterprises.
Industry observers say the latest rankings reinforce Dangote Industries’ status as a leading African corporate brand and highlight the increasing role of indigenous companies in shaping the continent’s economic future.
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