Dangote appoints another Zimbabwean Ralph Mupita

Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote has appointed Zimbabwean executive Ralph Mupita, the chief executive officer of MTN Group, to the board of Dangote Fertiliser, as the company prepares for a planned stock market listing.

Dangote Fertiliser is expected to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange later this year, in what is anticipated to be one of the most significant capital market transactions in Nigeria in recent years.

Mupita's appointment brings high-level telecommunications and capital markets expertise to the fertiliser giant's board. He previously played a central role in the 2019 listing of MTN Nigeria, one of the largest initial public offerings in the country's history.

Since the MTN Nigeria listing, the company's revenues have more than quadrupled, a period marked by rapid subscriber growth, expansion of digital services and strengthened corporate governance — credentials that are likely to be critical as Dangote Fertiliser transitions into a publicly listed company.

Dangote Fertiliser, a flagship subsidiary of the Dangote Group, operates one of Africa's largest fertiliser plants at the Lekki Free Trade Zone near Lagos. The company is a key player in Nigeria's industrialisation drive and a major exporter to regional and global markets.

Mupita's inclusion on the board is widely seen as a strategic move to bolster investor confidence ahead of the listing, given his track record in navigating complex regulatory environments and delivering shareholder value in a listed African multinational.

The appointment also marks another high-profile international recognition for Zimbabwean corporate leadership, with Mupita joining a growing list of Zimbabwean executives occupying influential positions in major African and global companies.