“Having a son isn’t my priority” — Dangote speaks on male heir, praises his three daughters

Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that having a son is not currently a priority for him, saying he is content with the 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 wanted a male heir to carry on the family name.

Dangote said, “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 speaks on his daughters and succession

The billionaire businessman said people should not force what they believe should happen, adding that he did not think having a son would have produced better results than his daughters, Mariya, Halima and Fatima.

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

His comments come amid discussions about succession and how his wealth and business empire will be managed in the future.

In July, his daughter Halima disclosed that the family had agreed to dedicate 33 per cent of Dangote’s estate to philanthropy. Dangote confirmed that an agreement had been signed to transfer one-third of his wealth to the Dangote Foundation after his death.

Dangote shares advice for young Nigerians

The businessman also reflected on his journey and advised young people to remain focused and patient while pursuing their goals.

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

He recalled starting his business as a distributor, saying, “I started business only selling four trucks as a distributor and not an importer.”