‘Having a son isn’t my priority; my daughters have done better’ – Dangote

n n

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

n

Dangote, 69, made the disclosure in an interview aired by Arise News on Tuesday, when he was asked whether he still desired a male heir to carry on the family name.

n

“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.

n

The billionaire added that he did not believe having a son would have produced better results than his three daughters, Mariya, Halima and Fatima.

n

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

n

Dangote’s comments came amid discussions about his succession plans and the future of his wealth. In July, his daughter, Halima Dangote, a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, disclosed that the family had agreed to dedicate 33 per cent of his estate to philanthropy.

n

Confirming the arrangement during the interview, Dangote said an agreement had been signed to ensure that one-third of his wealth would go to the Dangote Foundation after his death.

n

“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.

n

According to Forbes, Dangote has an estimated net worth of $51.3bn.

n

Speaking about the lessons he would offer young people seeking to succeed, the businessman advised them to work hard, remain consistent and focused, and avoid rushing the process.

n

“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.

n

Dangote also reflected on the beginnings of his business career, recalling that he started out as a distributor rather than an importer.

n

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

n n