Dangote Industries has appointed MTN Group Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, to the board of its fertiliser business, as the company prepares for a major expansion and a planned listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) later this year.
Dangote Fertiliser, a leading producer of granulated urea in Nigeria, plans an initial public offering (IPO) in 2026, aiming to attract both institutional and retail investors.
Mupita brings extensive experience in capital markets, having led the listing of MTN Nigeria in 2019, a move that significantly boosted the company’s profile and revenue.
“We are delighted to welcome Ralph Mupita to our board,” Dangote Fertiliser Managing Director Vishwajit Sinha confirmed in an email response to inquiries.
Currently, Dangote Fertiliser produces around 3 million tons of granulated urea annually.
The company has announced plans to expand its $2.5 billion complex in Lagos and construct a new facility in Ethiopia, aiming to become the largest urea producer globally by 2028.
The move comes as Africa’s agricultural sector experiences rising demand due to rapid population growth, urbanisation, and expanding regional trade.
According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), agriculture on the continent could exceed $1 trillion by 2030, presenting significant opportunities for fertiliser companies, despite challenges such as limited farmer access to finance, infrastructure, and markets.
Mupita, who has led MTN Group for over five years, initially joined the telecommunications giant as Chief Financial Officer in 2017.
Before MTN, he held senior roles at South African financial services firm Old Mutual Ltd., and he is trained as an engineer.
His appointment is widely seen as a strategic move to strengthen Dangote Fertiliser’s governance and listing readiness, drawing on his experience with public listings and investor relations.
MTN Nigeria, which Mupita helped list, now has a market value of $8.6 billion, making it the second-largest company on the NSE after BUA Foods Ltd.
The fertiliser IPO is part of a broader strategy by Dangote Industries to open up its key assets to institutional investors and raise capital for expansion.
The conglomerate’s founder, Aliko Dangote, has also indicated plans to list the group’s refinery business in 2026, reinforcing a drive to tap public markets and attract foreign investment.
