In this article
- Davido and Dangote make a statement in Times Square
- Why is Dangote Refinery on a Times Square billboard?
- Davido adds a celebrity touch to the IPO campaign
- What exactly is being offered to investors?
- Why the Times Square moment matters
- Davido asks Dangote about the IPO
- What Nigerians should know before buying the shares
- Nigeria’s refinery story takes centre stage
- QUICK FACTS
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido has joined billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote in New York’s Times Square as the ongoing Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals IPO received a major global advertising spotlight.
Davido and Dangote were seen together beneath a giant digital billboard carrying the message “Made in Nigeria. Built for the World.” The moment was captured on video and shared by Davido on his Instagram Story, quickly generating reactions across Nigerian social media.
The appearance comes as Dangote Refinery’s public share offer enters its second week, putting one of Nigeria’s biggest industrial projects at the centre of international attention.
Davido and Dangote make a statement in Times Square
In footage shared online, Davido stood alongside Dangote in Times Square as the refinery’s promotional message appeared on a massive digital display.
The singer, dressed in a black suit and sunglasses, was seen gesturing towards the billboard alongside Dangote, while members of the public stopped to capture the moment.
The display featured the refinery and the message “Made in Nigeria. Built for the World.”
The appearance has attracted attention not only because of Davido’s celebrity status, but also because it brings together two highly recognisable Nigerian figures from entertainment and business on one of the world’s most visible commercial stages.
Why is Dangote Refinery on a Times Square billboard?
The Times Square appearance is connected to the ongoing public offering of shares in Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.
The refinery’s IPO opened on September 14, 2026, following regulatory approval, and is scheduled to close on October 13, 2026.
The offer comprises 4.1 billion ordinary shares at ₦525 per share, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares, or ₦5,250. The Nigerian Exchange Group confirmed that the offer is open to retail, institutional and eligible African investors.
If fully subscribed, the offer is expected to raise about ₦2.15 trillion.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has advised prospective investors to use only officially approved subscription channels and to carefully review the prospectus and risks before investing.
Davido adds a celebrity touch to the IPO campaign
Davido’s appearance has given the refinery’s share offering an additional entertainment and social-media dimension.
The singer has a huge following in Nigeria and internationally, meaning the Times Square moment quickly travelled beyond conventional business and investment audiences.
Entertainment publication Legit.ng reported that the video generated strong reactions online, with Nigerians celebrating the sight of two prominent Nigerians appearing together in front of the global advertisement.
However, there is no indication from the reports reviewed that Davido is an official investment adviser or spokesperson for the IPO. His appearance should therefore be reported as a public moment alongside Dangote, rather than as an endorsement of the financial merits of buying the shares.
What exactly is being offered to investors?
According to the Nigerian Exchange, Dangote Petroleum Refinery is offering 4.1 billion ordinary shares at ₦525 each.
The minimum subscription is 10 shares, meaning an investor can apply for shares worth ₦5,250, subject to the terms of the approved offer.
Dangote has described the offering as a “People’s IPO”, arguing that the relatively low minimum subscription is intended to allow more Nigerians and eligible African investors to participate.
The IPO is also significant for Nigeria’s capital market because the Nigerian Exchange described it as the first petroleum refinery to be offered to investors through the Exchange in its 66-year history.
Why the Times Square moment matters
The billboard campaign comes at a time when the Dangote Refinery IPO has already become a major talking point in Nigeria.
Reuters recently reported that the share offering had generated a wave of humorous memes, with small investors joking online that they had suddenly become Dangote’s business partners, board members and refinery co-owners.
The Times Square display adds another layer to the story.
Instead of being promoted solely as a Nigerian financial-market event, the refinery is being presented against the backdrop of one of the world’s most recognisable commercial districts.
The message — “Made in Nigeria. Built for the World.” — also reinforces Dangote’s broader positioning of the refinery as an industrial project with ambitions beyond Nigeria.
Davido asks Dangote about the IPO
A follow-up interaction between Davido and Dangote has also attracted attention.
According to Gistreel, Davido asked Dangote why it was important for Nigerians to buy shares in the refinery.
Dangote reportedly responded that wider ownership was important for spreading prosperity and wealth across Africa, while indicating that the current refinery offer was part of a broader plan for public ownership of other businesses within the group.
The comments have added a celebrity-driven conversation to what would otherwise be a largely financial-market story.
What Nigerians should know before buying the shares
Despite the excitement surrounding the IPO, prospective investors should distinguish the celebrity buzz from the investment decision itself.
The SEC has specifically warned investors to obtain information from official channels, use approved receiving agents and subscription platforms, verify investment platforms and carefully read the approved prospectus before committing money.
The fact that Davido appeared alongside Dangote in Times Square does not itself establish whether the shares are suitable for a particular investor.
Nigeria’s refinery story takes centre stage
The Times Square appearance comes at an interesting moment for Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Dangote Refinery has become one of the country’s most prominent industrial projects, while its IPO is now bringing the refinery into the Nigerian public capital market.
With Davido’s global entertainment profile and Dangote’s business reputation converging beneath a massive international billboard, Tuesday’s scene created a powerful image of Nigerian entertainment and industry meeting on a global stage.
QUICK FACTS
Who: Davido and Aliko Dangote
Where: Times Square, New York
What: Promotion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO
Billboard message: “Made in Nigeria. Built for the World.”
IPO opened: September 14, 2026
IPO closes: October 13, 2026
Shares offered: 4.1 billion
Offer price: ₦525 per share
Minimum subscription: 10 shares / ₦5,250
Expected proceeds if fully subscribed: About ₦2.15 trillion
