Inspiring CEOs
‘Trendsetting Olakunle Alake started his career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a firm of Chartered Accountants, in September 1984 and resigned in 1990 to join Liberty Merchant Bank Limited, a financial institution of the Dangote Group, as the Financial Controller.’
Siaka MOMOH
Olakunle Alake, an old hand in pacesetting Dangote Group, was made Vice President, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), on March 1, 2024. Under this newly created executive position, he is responsible for all the businesses in DIL excluding the Oil & Gas business. He will also continue to be responsible for the Group Finance and audit functions.
Prior to this position, highflying Alake was the Group Managing Director of DIL, a position he has held since 2018. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (1983) and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
Trendsetting Olakunle Alake started his career with PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a firm of Chartered Accountants, in September 1984 and resigned in 1990 to join Liberty Merchant Bank Limited, a financial institution of the Dangote Group, as the Financial Controller.
In August 1993, he was appointed Managing Director/Chief Executive of Liberty Merchant Securities Limited. He was the Management Consultant and part of the team that provided turnaround services for a smooth take-over of International Trust Bank Plc by the Dangote Group in August 1996.
In July 1997, he moved to the Group Corporate office as the Financial Controller and Head of Strategic Services. He was appointed to the Board as Executive Director and given the responsibility for the Group strategy in 2001. In January 2007, he was appointed the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Group.
Innovating Alake has been the Chief Operating Officer of Dangote Industries Limited since 2007. He serves on the board of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, NASCON Allied Industries PLC, Dangote Cement PLC and Dangote Flour Mills PLC. Alake’s experience spans 34 years which covers banking, management consultancy and manufacturing industries.
Olakunle Alake, who can easily pass as one of the pillars of Dangote Group’s think tank, joined the Group in July 1997 and served as its Financial Controller and Head of Strategic Services till 2001 when he was appointed to the board of Dangote Industries Limited as Executive Director/Group Strategist.
He started his working career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, a firm of Chartered Accountants in September 1984 and left in 1990 to join Liberty Merchant Bank Limited as the Financial Controller for three years.
Between August 1993 and July 1997, Soft-speaking Alake served as the Managing Director/CEO of Liberty Merchant Securities Limited and was part of the team that provided consultancy services for the smooth take-over of the International Trust Bank Plc., by Dangote Group in August 1996.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Alake holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1983.
