Windhoek: President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Thursday impressed upon African entrepreneurs that they should take the initiative in driving the continent's development. The president did so during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian businessman, Aliko Dangote, and his delegation to State House.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized the importance of African-led initiatives for economic liberation, asserting that only Africans can effectively address the continent's developmental challenges. She stated, "We believe in Africa for Africans, particularly when it comes to our developmental agenda. We are saying no one else can liberate us economically but ourselves, and African entrepreneurs are the ones we are looking at as citizens of this continent."

Dangote, the CEO of Dangote Group, echoed the president's sentiment, underlining the necessity for African entrepreneurs to spearhead the continent's economic progress. He highlighted the Dangote Group's investments in multiple African countries as a testament to this belief. "The continent can only be developed by Africans, and that is why a company like ours has actually invested in almost 12 other African countries, not only Nigeria," Dangote said.

Dangote Group has interests in sectors such as cement, sugar, oil, and gas, with operations spanning West, East, and Southern Africa. The group boasts a significant presence in Southern Africa, having invested over N.dollars 12 billion in countries like Zambia and Tanzania. Additionally, it operates one of the world's largest oil refineries in Lagos, Nigeria, with a production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and a fertilizer plant with a capacity of about three million tonnes.

Although Dangote did not specify the purpose of his visit to Namibia, where he also toured the national port in Walvis Bay, he expressed interest in expanding operations in other African countries, particularly those with phosphate reserves.