NIGERIA : Ralph Mupita, MTN Group CEO, joins the Board of Dangote Fertiliser Ltd
La voix des entreprises 
Ralph Mupita, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group
(LVDE) — On January 28, 2026, Ralph Mupita, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Group, was officially appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of Dangote Fertiliser Limited, the leading fertiliser subsidiary of Nigerian conglomerate Dangote Industries. This strategic move comes as the company prepares for a highly anticipated initial public offering on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) later this year, further strengthening ties between major African corporations and the local financial market.
Amid accelerating growth in Africa’s agricultural sector—driven by rising food demand and persistent logistical challenges—the appointment of Ralph Mupita to the Dangote Fertiliser board underscores the company’s determination to enhance its governance framework and investor appeal ahead of its planned listing on the Nigerian Exchange.
Originally from Southern Africa, Mupita has led MTN Group, the continent’s largest telecommunications operator by subscriber base, for several years. He is widely credited with steering the landmark listing of MTN Nigeria in 2019, one of the country’s largest IPOs, which resulted in a significant surge in revenues and market capitalisation following the transaction.
A flagship subsidiary of the Dangote Group, Dangote Fertiliser currently produces around 3 million tonnes of granular urea annually—an essential input for agricultural productivity—and has set its sights on becoming the world’s leading fertiliser producer by 2028. To achieve this ambition, the company plans to expand its industrial facilities in Lagos and begin construction of a new production plant in Ethiopia before the end of 2026.
Mupita’s addition to the board forms part of a broader strategy aimed at bolstering investor confidence, particularly among institutional investors, by showcasing strong corporate governance and proven expertise in managing publicly listed companies. Market observers in Nigeria expect this enhanced leadership profile to support the success of the upcoming IPO, which is likely to rank Dangote Fertiliser among the most closely watched stocks on the NGX.
Beyond his tenure at MTN—where he joined in 2017 as Chief Financial Officer before being appointed Group CEO—Mupita is also praised for his strategic vision and deep experience in African capital markets. His expertise is considered especially valuable for a fertiliser industry undergoing rapid transformation, fuelled by projections that Africa’s agricultural market could exceed one trillion dollars by the end of the decade.
The appointment was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Fertiliser, who noted that Mupita’s selection reflects the company’s ambition to blend local expertise with international perspectives in order to navigate structural challenges and maximise financial opportunities at both continental and global levels.
Raphael Mforlem
À propos de l'auteur
