Advertisement
My daughters are better: Aliko Dangote speaks on why he is not chasing a male heir
16th September, 2026 12:51 PM
Nigerian billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote has said having a son is not a priority for him, noting that he is satisfied with the achievements of his three daughters.
Dangote, who is 69 years old, made the remarks during an interview on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, while responding to a question about whether he still wanted a male child to carry on the family name.
The founder and president of Dangote Industries Limited said children are ultimately a matter controlled by God and that people should not force what they have not been given.
Dangote praises his daughters
Dangote said having a son does not automatically mean that a family’s name or legacy will be protected. He explained that while people may pray for a male child, there is no guarantee that a son would do more for a family than a daughter.
“That is not my priority because God controls everything. You can pray for God to give you a son, but he might be the one to take down the name of the family. Sometimes, when God doesn’t give you something, don’t push,” Dangote said.
He went on to say that he was content with his three daughters, Mariya, Halima and Fatima. “I don’t think a son would have done better than the three daughters I have,” he said.
The comments come as the future of Dangote’s business empire continues to attract attention, with his daughters already holding positions within different parts of the group.
Who are Dangote’s daughters?
Dangote’s three daughters have built careers in business and have taken up different responsibilities within companies linked to the family.
Mariya Aliko-Dangote serves as Executive Director of Operations at Dangote Sugar Refinery. She previously worked in strategy and risk management at Dangote Industries Limited and holds a law degree from Bayero University, Kano, as well as an MBA from Coventry University in the United Kingdom.
Halima Aliko-Dangote is a Group Executive Director at Dangote Industries Limited. She has previously served as an executive director at Dangote Flour Mills and NASCON Allied Industries. She began her career as an analyst at KPMG and holds a degree in marketing and an MBA.
Fatima Aliko-Dangote is Group Executive Director, Commercial Operations at Dangote Industries Limited. She is involved in the commercial side of the group’s energy businesses and previously served as Executive Director, Commercial at NASCON. She studied law at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom.
Their positions have also placed them in discussions about the future leadership and succession of the family business. As of January 2026, the three daughters hold key roles across the group and have been involved in areas including strategy, operations and governance.
Dangote shares advice with young people
During the interview, Dangote also spoke about what young people need to do to build successful careers and businesses. He urged them to work hard, remain focused and avoid trying to do everything at once.
“Work hard, be consistent, focused, and know what you want to do. You can’t be a jack of all trades; concentrate, you will get there, and don’t be too much in a hurry,” he said.
Dangote also reflected on how his own business journey started, saying he began as a distributor before moving into larger business ventures. “I started business only selling four trucks as a distributor and not an importer,” he said.
Dangote’s business empire
Dangote has built one of Africa’s largest business groups, with interests across sectors including cement, sugar, fertiliser, refining, logistics and other industries. Reuters reported in September 2026 that the group had grown from Dangote’s early trading activities into a large industrial conglomerate operating across several African markets.
According to the information provided for the interview, Forbes estimates Dangote’s net worth at Ksh 6.65 trillion, placing him among Africa’s wealthiest individuals.
For Dangote, however, his latest comments suggest that his view of family legacy is not tied to having a male heir, with his three daughters already playing roles in the business empire he has built.
