Two founders left corporate roles at BASF and Dow to start Alliance Chemicals Global in 2022. The company grew rapidly, reached eight-figure revenue by 2026, and is moving into local blending and manufacturing.
Alliance Chemicals Global was founded in 2022 by childhood friends Taiwo Ilesanmi and Gbenga Akanmu and reached eight-figure annual revenue by 2026.
The founders invested more than $200,000 of their own money, raised friends-and-family capital, and later secured institutional funding including Oui Capital.
Alliance focuses on end-to-end chemical supply chain services—sourcing, quality assurance, inventory, storage, and delivery—rather than acting as a simple trader.
Taiwo Ilesanmi and Gbenga Akanmu grew up on the same street in Ibadan, Nigeria. Each pursued corporate careers abroad that exposed them to global chemical markets and supply-chain practices. Ilesanmi worked in management consulting at KPMG before joining BASF. Akanmu worked in technology and financial services in the United States and went through Dow Chemical's finance leadership development program.
They returned to the same sector with a different objective: build a business tailored to the needs of African manufacturers. In 2022 they founded Alliance Chemicals Global to supply commodity and specialty chemicals to manufacturers across the continent.
Alliance positions itself as a chemical supply chain company rather than a typical distributor or trader. The company handles sourcing, quality assurance, inventory, storage, and delivery—services intended to address gaps the founders identified while working in large chemical firms.
That operational focus means Alliance integrates logistics and quality controls into the commercial proposition. The company says this difference matters when serving manufacturers that need reliable product specifications, consistent inventory, and dependable delivery timelines.
Revenue results were rapid. The company's income rose roughly fivefold in its first year and expanded 1,400% between the first and fourth years. By 2026 Alliance reached eight-figure annual revenue.
Alliance plans to reduce reliance on imports by increasing local production. The company intends to start blending products and expand into manufacturing at the Lagos Free Zone. Two product lines are expected to begin operations in January 2027.
The founders frame this as a long-term effort: building local capacity for chemical inputs will take time and capital, and they are preparing for outcomes that may accrue beyond the current decade.
Why this matters for manufacturers and supply chains in Africa
Imported chemical inputs add cost and supply risk for African manufacturers. A supplier that can manage sourcing, quality, storage, and delivery in a coordinated way reduces friction for downstream producers. Alliance's move into local blending and manufacturing aims to shorten supply chains, keep more of the value chain on the continent, and provide steadier access to inputs.
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