Nigeria, Oct. 1 -- Africa's development debate often pits traditional industrialisation through factories, refineries and ports against leapfrogging to a digital, technology-led future. The careers of two very different businessmen suggest this is a false choice. Aliko Dangote and Elon Musk represent distinct forms of entrepreneurship, and Africa needs many more of both to achieve sustained structural transformation.

For decades, Nigeria lived with a costly paradox. Africa's largest oil producer exported crude while importing much of the refined fuel it consumed, exposing the country to foreign-exchange pressures, supply disruptions and enormous subsidy bills. Dangote set out to break that cycle.

Building a refinery capable of processin...