Aliko Dangote: Having a Son Is Not My Priority, My Three Daughters Have Done Well

Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has said having a son is not currently a priority for him, expressing confidence in the abilities and achievements of his three daughters.

Dangote, 69, made the disclosure during an interview aired by Arise News on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, while responding to a question about whether he still desired a male heir to carry on the family name.

The billionaire businessman said the decision to have a son was ultimately beyond human control and warned against assuming that having a male heir would automatically guarantee the continuation of a family’s legacy.

“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.”

Dangote said he was satisfied with his daughters, Mariya, Halima and Fatima, and rejected the idea that a son would necessarily have achieved more than they have.

“I don’t think a son would have done better than the three daughters I have.”

His comments come amid continued discussions about the future of his wealth and the succession of his extensive business interests.

The issue of succession has also been linked to the Dangote family’s philanthropic plans. In July, his daughter Halima Dangote disclosed that the family had agreed to dedicate 33 per cent of Dangote’s estate to philanthropy.

Dangote subsequently confirmed that an agreement had been signed to transfer one-third of his wealth to the Dangote Foundation after his death.

Beyond family and succession, Dangote also reflected on his business journey and offered advice to young Nigerians seeking to build successful careers and businesses.

The businessman urged young people to remain focused and consistent rather than becoming distracted while pursuing their ambitions.

“Work hard, be consistent, focused and know what you want to do.”

Dangote also recalled his early days in business, explaining that he started as a distributor rather than an importer.

“I started business only selling four trucks as a distributor and not an importer.”

The billionaire has since built the Dangote Group into one of Africa’s largest business conglomerates, with interests spanning manufacturing, cement, fertiliser, food processing and petroleum refining.