Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited, has said having a male heir is not a priority for him, stressing that he is content with the achievements of his three daughters.
The 69-year-old billionaire made the disclosure in an interview aired by Arise News on Tuesday while responding to a question about whether he still wanted a son to carry on the family name.
Dangote said the decision to have a male child was ultimately beyond his control, noting that he would not force what he believed should be left to God.
“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.
The businessman said he had no reason to believe a son would have performed better than his daughters, Mariya, Halima and Fatima.
“I don’t think a son would have done better than the three daughters I have,” he said.
His remarks come amid renewed interest in the succession of his business empire and the future management of his vast wealth.
In July, Dangote’s daughter, 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.
Dangote confirmed the arrangement during the interview, saying a formal agreement had been signed to ensure that one-third of his wealth would 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.
Reflecting on the principles behind his success, Dangote advised young people to remain disciplined, focused and patient in pursuing their ambitions.
“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 recalled the modest beginnings of his business career, saying he started out as a distributor rather than an importer.
“I started business only selling four trucks as a distributor and not an importer,” he said.
