Aliko Dangote has warned that the rise of artificial intelligence could significantly disrupt traditional engineering systems, potentially replacing designs historically handled by human engineers.
He made this known during his induction as an Honorary Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering in Lagos on Friday, where he urged professionals to take an active role in shaping the future of the field.
He said, “Today, we are witnessing the impact of artificial intelligence in virtually all spheres of life. It is gradually replacing human capability and hard-thinking characteristics of real human beings.
“It is possible that AI will soon phase out engineering designs usually undertaken by human engineers.”
Dangote called for innovation to sustain human relevance, adding, “I call on engineers to step in and lend their voice on the ramifications of AI to their profession on how it is being taught and practised.”
He stressed that engineers must take ownership of the evolving landscape by influencing how AI is integrated into both education and real-world applications, while reaffirming the importance of engineering in national development and industrialisation.
He said, “Engineering is more than a profession. It is a language of progress. Every bridge that connects a community, every heater that lights a home, and every drop of fuel that powers our economy began as a calculation by an engineer.
“In my decades of building businesses across this continent, I have come to a singular and unshakable conclusion: No nation can industrialise without the ingenuity of engineers. We are the silent architects of our national development.”
Highlighting engineering’s role in the growth of the Dangote Group, he noted that its industrial achievements were built on technical expertise and innovation, while expressing appreciation for the honour.
He said, “I accept this honorary fellowship with deep appreciation, mindful that the Dangote Group, the nation’s foremost manufacturing conglomerate, has been built on the foundation of engineering excellence and technological innovation across all its business units. To tell you how important engineering is, it is the same engineering that we used to build a refinery with a capacity of more than 50 per cent of any that has been built in this world.”
Dangote added that thousands of engineers drive operations across the company’s refinery, fertiliser, and other industrial projects, making it the country’s largest employer of engineering and technology graduates.
He said, “We have come to fully appreciate the central role of engineering in driving economic transformation and sustainable industrial growth. Today, we are proud to be Nigeria’s largest employer of engineering and technology graduates. Our engineers are central to our operations, making up to over 15 per cent of our workforce across Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, Dangote Fertiliser, and all the other Dangote businesses.”
On capacity development, he revealed that the company has heavily invested in training local engineers and exposing them to global best practices.
He said, “Recognising the need to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industrial application, we established Dangote Academy, where young engineers undergo rigorous hands-on training before being integrated into our workforce. Hundreds of young engineers have been trained in Europe in the use of advanced technologies in large-scale complex industries.”
He, however, warned that Nigeria must deepen its engineering talent pool to remain competitive globally, citing China’s investment in engineering education as a model.
President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Rahamon Bello, said Dangote’s induction recognises his contributions to engineering-driven industrialisation.
Bello said, “Through strategic foresight and bold investments anchored by the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has championed large-scale industrialisation in Nigeria and across Africa, investing in sectors that are foundational to engineering practice and which form the backbone of economic growth.
“The establishment of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals stands today as a landmark achievement, representing one of the most ambitious industrial projects ever undertaken in Africa.”
He added that Dangote becomes the sixth honorary fellow since the academy’s inception in 1970, reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to engineering, science, and technology.
Also speaking, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Adekunle Olayinka, described the Dangote Refinery as a symbol of engineering excellence.
Olayinka said, “The Dangote Refinery situated in Lagos stands as one of the most complex engineering undertakings ever executed on African soil, a monument to what is possible when ambition is matched by execution.”
He added that such investments have created jobs and stimulated industrial growth across the continent, while reaffirming the state government’s commitment to supporting development in engineering and industry.
