Dangote Group Appoints Former CBN Director, Dr Hassan Mahmud, as Group Chief Economist

Dangote Group has appointed renowned economist and former Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Hassan Mahmud, as its Group Chief Economist, in a move aimed at strengthening the conglomerate’s economic advisory and policy intelligence capacity.

The appointment comes at a time of heightened global and domestic economic volatility, with Dangote Group expanding its footprint across key sectors in Nigeria, Africa, and international markets.

In his new role, Dr Mahmud will serve as the Group’s principal adviser on economic strategy, macroeconomic trends, and policy implications, reporting directly to the President of the Group, Aliko Dangote.

Dr Mahmud brings more than three decades of experience in economic policy formulation, financial sector regulation, and central banking. During his long career at the CBN, he held several strategic leadership positions, including Director of the Trade and Exchange Department and Director of the Monetary Policy Department.

He also served as Secretary to the Monetary Policy Committee and as Special Assistant on Economic Policy and Research to the Governor of the Central Bank.

Beyond Nigeria, Dr Mahmud has contributed significantly to regional economic integration efforts, serving as a lead consultant to the African Union Commission on trade integration initiatives and the establishment of the African Monetary Fund.

Academically, he holds a PhD in Economics and a Master’s degree in Energy Economics and Policy from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School.

Dr Mahmud holds professional certifications as a Bank Examiner and Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CFT) Analyst. He is a Fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Statistical Association, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and the Compliance Institute of Nigeria.

A prolific researcher, he has authored numerous publications in macroeconomics, monetary policy, energy economics, and financial engineering. He also serves as a visiting professor at several Nigerian universities and is currently President of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics.

The appointment underscores Dangote Industries Limited’s emphasis on deep economic insight and evidence-based decision-making as it navigates evolving market dynamics.