Dangote Group has appointed former Central Bank of Nigeria director Hassan Mahmud as its group chief economist, the conglomerate said on Monday.
The appointment positions Mahmud as the group’s principal adviser on economic strategy, macroeconomic trends and policy implications, with direct reporting responsibility to group president Aliko Dangote.
His role is expected to play a critical part in shaping strategic decisions across Dangote Industries Limited’s operations spanning cement, sugar, fertiliser, petrochemicals and energy.
The group said the appointment reflects its growing emphasis on rigorous economic analysis and policy intelligence as it navigates volatile commodity markets, exchange rate pressures and shifting monetary conditions in Nigeria and across Africa.
With major capital-intensive investments including the $20 billion Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals complex, the group’s leadership is increasingly reliant on forward-looking economic insights to manage risks and align long-term strategy with evolving policy environments.
Mahmud brings more than 30 years of experience in economic policy formulation, central banking and financial sector regulation.
During his career at the CBN, he held several senior positions including director of the Trade and Exchange Department and director of the Monetary Policy Department.
He served as secretary to the Monetary Policy Committee, placing him at the centre of Nigeria’s interest rate and monetary policy decisions for years.
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He also worked as special assistant on economic policy and research to the CBN governor, deepening his exposure to high-level macroeconomic management and policy coordination.
Beyond Nigeria, Mahmud has contributed significantly to regional economic integration efforts across Africa.
He worked as a lead consultant to the African Union Commission on trade integration initiatives and played a role in the establishment of the African Monetary Fund.
This continental experience is expected to support Dangote Group’s pan-African expansion strategy as the company continues to scale its footprint across multiple African markets amid implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Mahmud holds a PhD in Economics and an MSc in Energy Economics and Policy from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, as well as a BSc in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He is an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School and holds professional certifications as a bank examiner and Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism analyst.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies including the Nigerian Statistical Association, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Compliance Institute of Nigeria.
Mahmud has published extensively in macroeconomics, monetary policy, energy economics and financial engineering.
He remains active in academia as a visiting professor at several Nigerian universities and currently serves as president of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics.
