World Bank Appoints Aliko Dangote to Prestigious Private Sector Investment Lab
The World Bank has appointed Nigerian billionaire and President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, to its Private Sector Investment Lab, a global initiative focused on catalyzing private investment and job creation in emerging economies.
In a statement released Thursday and reported by Daily Post Nigeria, Dangote expressed gratitude for the appointment, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth through private sector-driven investments.
“I am both honoured and excited to accept my appointment to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab,” said Africa’s richest man. “This opportunity aligns with my long-standing commitment to sustainable development and unlocking the potential of developing economies.”
Dangote highlighted the transformative lessons from the Asian Tigers, which achieved rapid economic development through strategic investment and policy focus—an approach he believes can be replicated across Africa and other developing regions.
The appointment is part of a strategic expansion of the World Bank’s Lab, which now enters a new phase focused on scaling innovative financing solutions that can mobilize private capital for large-scale employment and economic transformation.
Joining Dangote in the Lab are other global business heavyweights including Bill Anderson, CEO of Bayer AG; Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chair of Bharti Enterprises; and Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga noted that the expanded Lab membership reflects the institution’s sharpened focus on the global jobs agenda. “This isn’t about altruism,” Banga said. “It’s about showing the private sector a path to investments that deliver solid returns while lifting economies and lives.”
The Lab originally drew global attention in 2023 under the co-chairmanship of Mark Carney, former Bank of England Governor and then Prime Minister of Canada. It targeted £1 trillion in sustainable investments to power energy transitions in developing economies.
Dangote’s inclusion in the elite group not only signals growing recognition of African entrepreneurial leadership but also places the continent at the heart of a critical global discussion on sustainable development, inclusive growth, and private sector empowerment.
