Veteran policy expert to lead economic strategy amid global uncertainty and domestic market shifts
Dangote Industries Limited has appointed renowned economist and former Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mahmud Hassan, as its Group Chief Economist, in a move aimed at strengthening the company’s economic and policy advisory capacity at a time of heightened global and domestic market volatility.
The appointment was disclosed in a statement by the Group, which said Dr Hassan will serve as its principal adviser on economic strategy, market intelligence, and policy implications, reporting directly to the Group President, Aliko Dangote.
With more than three decades of experience in economic policy formulation, financial sector regulation, and central banking, Dr Hassan brings extensive expertise to the role. During his career at the CBN, he held several senior 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, roles that placed him at the centre of Nigeria’s monetary and macroeconomic decision-making processes.
Beyond his work in Nigeria, Hassan has contributed significantly to regional economic integration efforts across Africa. He previously worked as a lead consultant to the African Union Commission on initiatives related to trade integration 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, in addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School.
Hassan possesses professional certifications as a Bank Examiner and an Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (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 published extensively in the areas of macroeconomics, monetary policy, energy economics, and financial engineering. Alongside his corporate responsibilities, he remains active in academia as a visiting professor at several Nigerian universities and currently serves as President of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics.
According to the company, his appointment reflects Dangote Industries Limited’s emphasis on deep economic insight, data-driven strategy, and policy intelligence as the Group navigates evolving market dynamics across Nigeria, Africa, and the global economy.
