Dangote Hails Burna Boy as Nigerian Ambassador After Recalling Grenada Visit

Nigerian billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote has praised Grammy-winning singer Burna Boy for promoting Nigeria’s image internationally, recounting how the artiste’s billboard caught his attention during his first visit to Grenada. Dangote made the remarks on Monday, October 19, 2026, while speaking at a Dangote Vision 2030 event focused on accelerating industrialisation across Africa. Recalling his experience on the Caribbean island, the industrialist said the first billboard he noticed featured the Nigerian music star. “The first time I went to Grenada, the first billboard that I saw was Burna Boy,” Dangote said. He described Burna Boy and other Nigerian entertainers with international recognition as ambassadors whose achievements deserve greater attention. “These are our ambassadors, and this is what we need to be talking about,” he stated. Dangote argued that public discussions about Nigeria should give greater recognition to citizens who positively represent the country abroad rather than allowing negative reports to dominate the narrative. He made the point while referring to reports about Nigerians arrested for drug-related offences in foreign countries. “We should not be talking about somebody in Nigeria who was caught with drugs elsewhere, we are not the only ones, other countries have these issues, but some of us over blow these issues to demarket ourselves,” he said. His comments highlighted the international reach of Nigerian entertainment, particularly Afrobeats, which has attracted audiences across Europe, the Americas and other parts of the world. Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, has become one of Nigeria’s most internationally recognised music artistes. His Grammy win for Best Global Music Album in 2021 further strengthened his position in the global music industry. The singer has also performed at major international venues and festivals, contributing to the growing visibility of Nigerian music and culture. Dangote’s recollection of the Grenada billboard offered a personal example of that reach, showing how Nigerian entertainers can be recognised far from home. The billionaire’s visit to Grenada was previously documented in February 2025, when he attended the Caribbean country’s 51st Independence anniversary celebrations. During the visit, he was expected to engage with government officials and business leaders on economic cooperation and investment opportunities. His latest remarks have renewed attention on the role of entertainment in shaping Nigeria’s international image and the value of celebrating citizens whose work attracts global audiences. By citing Burna Boy as an example, Dangote called for greater focus on Nigerians whose achievements project the country positively to the rest of the world.