Billionaire Dangote speaks on ‘having male child’

President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has said having a male child is not currently a priority for him, stressing that he is satisfied with the achievements of his three daughters.

Dangote, 69, made the disclosure in an interview aired by Arise News on Tuesday while responding to a question about whether he still desired a son to carry on the family name.

The billionaire businessman said he believes that children are ultimately a matter controlled by God and that people should not force what they have not been given.

‘My daughters have done well’

Dangote explained that although people may pray for a son, having a male child does not automatically guarantee the continuation or success of a family name.

“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 billionaire said he was content with his three daughters, Mariya, Halima and Fatima, adding that he did not believe 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,” Dangote said.

His comments come amid discussions about succession and the future of his vast business empire and wealth. Dangote is one of Africa’s most prominent businessmen, with interests spanning industries including cement, sugar, fertiliser and petroleum refining.

Dangote confirms 33% philanthropy plan

The businessman also confirmed that an agreement had been reached to dedicate one-third of his wealth to philanthropy after his death.

The disclosure follows comments made in July by his daughter, Halima Dangote, a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, who revealed that the family had agreed to commit 33 per cent of Dangote’s estate to philanthropic activities.

Dangote confirmed the arrangement during the interview, saying the agreement had been formally documented to ensure that the portion of his wealth would go to the foundation.

“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.

‘Work hard and don’t be in a hurry’

Dangote, who has built one of Africa’s largest business empires, also shared advice for young people aspiring to achieve success in business and other areas of life.

He urged them to work hard, remain consistent and focused, and concentrate on a particular area instead of attempting 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.

Reflecting on his early days in business, Dangote said he began his career as a distributor rather than an importer.

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

According to Forbes, Dangote has an estimated net worth of $51.3bn, making him one of the wealthiest individuals in Africa.