Clemence Nhliziyo

Something very significant happened in Africa today. Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote launched a public offer for shares in his 700,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery, creating what is set to become the largest initial public offering in African history. Dangote is offering approximately 3.3% of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals to the public in a deal expected to raise about ₦2.15 trillion, approximately US$1.6 billion or R25.5 billion. The refinery has been valued at roughly US$47 billion, approximately R730 billion, making the offering one of the most significant events ever recorded in Africa’s capital markets. The Dangote Refinery is the world’s largest single-train oil refinery, it has the largest refining capacity in the world built around one crude-distillation unit. It is currently designed to process about 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Shares are being offered at ₦525 each, approximately US$0.40 or R6.20, with a minimum investment of 10 shares costing ₦5,250, approximately US$4 or R62, designed to allow ordinary Nigerians to participate. Dangote said he does not want to be referred to as the richest African, but as the wealthiest, because he wants to create wealth for other ordinary Africans. The public offering transforms Dangote’s flagship refinery from a privately controlled industrial project into a company partly owned by Nigerian citizens and eligible investors. It also signals a major shift in how African businesses can raise capital, expand production and give local people a stake in the continent’s industrial future. Built at a cost of US$20 billion, about R310 billion, the refinery began operating in 2024 and is now producing at full capacity. Its output has helped Nigeria move away from dependence on imported refined petroleum products and towards becoming a regional exporter of fuel. Dangote plans to use the proceeds from the offering to expand the refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day over the next three years. The public offer also forms part of Dangote’s wider ambition to build African companies capable of competing on a global scale, something that is still a pipe dream in many African countries. His group of companies already operates across cement, sugar, salt, fertiliser, petrochemicals, logistics, power generation and shipping in more than a dozen African countries. This is why Dangote’s achievement matters beyond Nigeria. Africa has spent decades exporting raw materials, importing finished products and sending its capital abroad. Dangote’s refinery represents an attempt to reverse that pattern by building large-scale manufacturing capacity on African soil, creating jobs, supplying regional markets and keeping more value within the continent. The offering has been marketed as a “people’s IPO”, and demand from retail investors has reportedly been strong, with some digital investment platforms struggling to cope with the interest. The refinery’s eventual expansion could make it one of the largest in the world and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a major energy hub. There are also important lessons here for countries such as Zimbabwe. Dangote’s success was not built on political slogans or investment summit announcements. It required long-term capital, industrial planning, infrastructure, technical expertise, policy support and a market large enough to sustain production. In May, Dangote named 10 African countries he considered promising investment destinations, but Zimbabwe was absent despite his recent visit to the country. That omission should prompt serious reflection on whether our leaders are serious at all about the country’s growth. A visit by a wealthy investor, a photograph with government officials or a public promise of cooperation does not amount to investor confidence. Investors look for consistent policies, reliable infrastructure, political stability, transparency, enforceable contracts, functional institutions and the rule of law. Dangote’s refinery shows what African capital can achieve when it is directed towards production rather than speculation and conspicuous consumption. It also demonstrates that ordinary Nigerians and other eligible investors can become shareholders in major national enterprises when governments and business leaders create credible public markets. The larger message is that Africa’s future will not be secured by exporting raw materials and begging foreign companies to build everything for us. It will be secured by African entrepreneurs building serious industries, African governments creating conditions that attract and retain capital, and African citizens acquiring a meaningful stake in the wealth produced on their own continent. Well done to Dangote. He gives hope to African entrepreneurs and to ordinary citizens. It is truly inspiring and deeply emotional to see the wealthiest Black man in the world, an African, reaching out to fellow Africans and giving ordinary Black Africans an opportunity to own a stake in his wealth. This is the direction Africa must take: building African-owned industries, expanding public participation and ensuring that ordinary citizens can share in the continent’s economic success. It has always been embarrassing that Nigeria and many African oil-rich countries export crude oil and import petrol and diesel. It was even more embarrassing for me as an African, when I was in Nigeria, to see fuel queues due to shortages in an oil-producing country. Thanks to Dangote, Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined fuel has been reduced, and the country now has the capacity to supply its domestic market and export refined products.

The O Level was never designed as a universal school-leaving qualification. In Britain, where it originated, it was intended for roughly the top 20% of pupils on the academic grammar school track. The remaining 80% followed vocational and technical pathways. Yet Zimbabwe persists with the fiction that every child should clear an examination never meant for everyone. The predictable result is that fewer than a third “pass”, while the majority are casually branded failures. Rural industrialisation begins by abandoning this absurdity. Every province should define its own labour absorption strategy around its comparative advantages, whether agriculture, mining, fishing or manufacturing. A minority should pursue the academic route. The majority should graduate with recognised certificates of vocational or technical competence, developed and championed by industry itself. That is how productive labour is created and productive labour is how economies grow. Share your thoughts

Today, I am pleased to announce the official launch of the Jiti ICT Hub in Shamva, a transformative milestone in our ongoing efforts to integrate digital technology into Zimbabwe’s Education system.This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with my esteemed colleague Honourable Tatenda Mavetera, Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, marks a significant step toward bridging the digital divide in rural communities. The Jiti ICT Hub is not just a building it is a gateway to opportunity. It will empower learners, educators, and the broader Shamva community with access to digital tools, internet connectivity, and 21st-century skills that are essential for success in today’s knowledge-based economy. As the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, we remain committed to ensuring that no learner is left behind. Through partnerships like this, we are building a future where every child, regardless of their location, has access to quality, technology-enabled Education.

Tsamba kuvanin'ina who just received 'A' level results and parents: 1)Go to the university and degree you always wished for, not what your friends are going for, from now, you are starting a new life, your friends for life will likely be those you meet at University, not to say you discard homeboys/homegirls but their choices don't matter now. 2) If you have fewer points, avoid applying for degree for sake of it, quickly accept you failed A level but life - you haven't failed, go to poly, apprenticeship, nursing and such like diplomas, trust me you would have made a great, bold choice. 2 years wasted isn't much in that case, some lose more in trying to fit in to what society expects- a degree, and they lose the whole life years. Repeating A level may not work. 3) Using this example, Maths A, Biology A, Chemistry C, Further Mathematics A. This is not 18 points but 13 points when applying for a degree, only main subjects matters, in this case MBC, F. Maths won't matter. Be guided accordingly. 4) If you don't get straight As, in sciences, essentially any traditional degree you choose you will be successful, in health science be it radiology, pharmacy, nursing degree, medical laboratory, getting a job is easy, very easy locally. What i have seen as very important is to choose what you love and enjoy. Not what your friends or family love. 5) Parents, my encouragement is let the child go for what he or she loves, not what you love probably because you know a successful Pharmacist it doesn’t mean your child will also be that successful in that area or because you failed to get same degree so you want your child to fulfill your wishes. You lived your life, allow him to live his freely and fully support her or him. 6) If you choose to study outside the country, research and make sure: i) the university is competitive ii)you can use the degree in any country, i know mufana who only became aware the degree only works in that country after starting the degree. Don't be excited about going outside the country for sake of it, no it has to be a good institution. Parents, your ego that your child is studying outside the country won't help the child, it has to be a good degree, at a good institution. 7)If you have straight As, apply to the best Universities, in the case of medicine in 🇿🇼, UZ, NUST, MSU in that order 8) Avoid degrees that every university has been mass producing for years with chances of getting a Job in Zimbabwe close to none, using that degree. Political science for example. I won't call them useless degrees. Rather go for point 2) above. You see, world is moving fast, don't be stuck on, " i need a degree ", then what?. 9) Avoid modern, fancy degrees. 10) Does the university you go to matters, unfortunately yes it does, in reality people will judge you accordingly. If you hardworking, exceptional, respectful, quick and willing to learn however - the Uni won't matter, it may take more time to prove yourself but eventually you will win. 11) Zambian Universities? Yes your entry requirements are 'O' level results, they don't consider A level results because they themselves didn't have it. They are now having their 2nd group of A level students. Specifically for medicine, I think its tricky, i wouldn't encourage, avoid if you can You are free to add your guidance from your area of specialty for benefit of vanin'ina. Ndini wenyu Dr Misheck Ruwende.

Also discussed was the declared candidacy of Kenya's former Prime Minister @RailaOdinga for the Africa Union Commission chairmanship.

I had the honour of chairing the end-of-year meeting of the Education Coordination Group (ECG) alongside our valued development partners. Together, we reviewed the 2025 education activities and reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening partnerships that advance our shared goals. Key highlights of the meeting included robust discussions on improving access to quality and inclusive education for every learner in Zimbabwe.We remain steadfast in our pursuit of an equitable and resilient education system that leaves no child behind.