Dangote: I don’t need a son; my three daughters have done better

Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited, has dismissed the idea that he needs a male heir to carry on his family name, saying his three daughters have already demonstrated that they can excel.

The 69-year-old billionaire made the remarks during an interview aired by Arise News on Tuesday when asked if having a son remained important to him as part of his succession plans.

Dangote said the matter was not a priority, arguing that children’s gender does not determine their ability to protect or advance a family 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. Sometimes, when God doesn’t give you something, don’t push,” he said.

He said he was satisfied with the accomplishments of Mariya, Halima and Fatima, adding that there was no guarantee that having a male child would have produced better results.

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

His comments come against the backdrop of renewed interest in his succession plans and the future of his vast business empire.

In July, Halima Dangote, a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, disclosed that the family had agreed to commit 33 per cent of Dangote’s estate to philanthropy.

Confirming the decision, Dangote said the family had formally signed an agreement providing for one-third of his wealth to go to the foundation after his death.

“It’s a paper that we’ve signed an agreement that in case anything happens, because I won’t live forever, that one-third belongs to Dangote Foundation, and the foundation should pass that money to people,” he said.

Forbes currently estimates Dangote’s net worth at $51.3 billion.

‘Work hard and don’t be in a hurry’

The business mogul also shared advice for young Nigerians and others seeking to build successful careers and businesses.

He urged them to remain disciplined and focused rather than attempting to pursue too many ventures simultaneously.

“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 looked back at his humble beginnings in business, revealing that his career started with distribution rather than importing.

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

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