Mahmud Hassan, renowned economist and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Director, has been appointed by the Dangote Group, as its new Group Chief Economist.
The appointment, announced in a statement on Monday, places Hassan as the group’s principal adviser on economic strategy, market intelligence, and policy analysis. He will report directly to the president of the group, Aliko Dangote.
Dangote Group said the move reflects its focus on deepening economic insight as it navigates volatility across key sectors of the Nigerian and African economies, including oil and gas, manufacturing, and consumer goods.
Hassan brings over three decades of experience spanning economic policy formulation, financial sector regulation, and central banking. During his long career at the CBN, he held several senior roles, 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 (MPC) and as Special Assistant on Economic Policy and Research to the CBN Governor.
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Beyond Nigeria, Hassan has played a prominent role in advancing regional economic integration. He worked as a lead consultant to the African Union Commission on trade integration initiatives and contributed to efforts toward the establishment of the African Monetary Fund.
Academically, Hassan holds a PhD in Economics and an MSc in Energy Economics and Policy from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, as well as a BSc in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School and holds professional certifications as a bank examiner and an 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, Hassan has published extensively in 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 Group, Hassan’s appointment underscores Dangote Industries Limited’s commitment to robust economic intelligence and policy-driven decision-making as it positions itself for sustainable growth across Nigeria, Africa, and the global economy.
