The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has taken its "Made in Nigeria. Built for the World" message to Times Square in New York, showcasing the Nigerian industrial project on a prominent digital advertising platform. The refinery's image was displayed on a large digital billboard in Times Square, alongside its message, featuring Dangote Group president and chief executive, Aliko Dangote, and members of the company's leadership team.
The display comes as the refinery's initial public offering (IPO) continues in Nigeria, with the company offering 4.1 billion ordinary shares at N525 per share. The offer, which opened on September 14 and closes on October 13, 2026, is capable of raising about N2.15 trillion if fully subscribed. The minimum subscription is 10 shares, valued at N5,250, making it accessible to retail investors.
The Times Square campaign provides the refinery with a global-facing marketing platform, linking its Nigerian origin with its ambitions in international energy markets. The refinery, located in the Lekki Free Zone in Lagos, was built over a decade at an estimated cost of $20 billion and has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. It has become a central part of Nigeria's efforts to reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
According to Reuters, the facility is now operating at full capacity of about 700,000 barrels per day. The company's leadership, including David Bird, chief executive officer of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, as well as Halima Aliko Dangote, Fatima Aliko Dangote, and other executives, were pictured in front of the billboard. The display carries the refinery's industrial image alongside its "Made in Nigeria. Built for the World" positioning.
The IPO is being positioned as a way of expanding participation in the Nigerian capital market, with Dangote describing the transaction as an "IPO for the people". The low minimum subscription is designed to allow retail investors to participate alongside institutional investors. Investors who receive an allotment will become shareholders in the refinery.
The Nigerian Exchange Group said the IPO is the first time a petroleum refinery has been offered to investors on the Nigerian stock market in the exchange's 66-year history. The opening of the offer was marked by an opening gong ceremony at the NGX trading floor in Lagos on September 14. Proceeds from the IPO will support plans to increase refining capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day over the next three years.
The Times Square appearance places a Nigerian-built energy facility before an international audience while its ownership structure is being opened to investors through the domestic capital market. The refinery's message reflects its dual positioning: a project developed in Nigeria, seeking to serve markets beyond the country while attracting investment from Nigerians and other eligible investors.
Key points
- The Dangote Refinery's IPO is the largest in Africa, offering 4.1 billion shares at N525 per share.
- The refinery has a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and is operating at full capacity of about 700,000 barrels per day.
- The IPO proceeds will support plans to increase refining capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day over the next three years.
