Aliko Dangote is recognized as the richest Black man in the world. His empire spans cement, oil, sugar, and industrial manufacturing across the continent. His financial rise has been steady and historic.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, his net worth reached $30.3 billion in October, making him the first African to hit this milestone, fueled by expansion in cement and growth in oil production, as noted by Business Insider Africa and previously reported by AFROTECH™. His oil refinery, which began operations in 2024 producing 370,000 barrels of diesel and jet fuel per day, now produces roughly 650,000 barrels, significantly reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported petroleum products. It is also reportedly the largest refinery on the continent.
Additionally, the recent expansion of Dangote Cement is considered a major contributor to the billionaire’s recent financial growth, per the outlet. A $160 million cement factory was just built in Attingué, Côte d’Ivoire, 30 kilometers north of Abidjan, Nigeria. It is expected to produce 3 million metric tons of cement per year.
This scale of influence sets the stage for a new chapter in the Dangote story. As Aliko steps back from key boardroom roles, a new generation is rising. His daughters, Mariya, Halima, and Fatima, are not only stepping into leadership but shaping the future of the conglomerate in ways that reflect both legacy and modern strategy. Their growing roles signal intentional succession planning and a commitment to preserve and expand one of Africa’s most powerful family enterprises. According to The Africa Report, Dangote himself has affirmed that all three daughters are senior executives at the group and are critical to the business’s success.
Mariya Dangote
Mariya, the eldest, has taken on significant responsibilities across the group. As The Africa Report outlines, she recently joined the board of Dangote Cement, Nigeria’s third-largest listed company. She also became executive director of operations at Dangote Sugar Refinery in 2022 after years of shaping strategic planning, backward integration projects, and digital transformation efforts. She previously worked as a business strategy and risk specialist at Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) after completing her MBA. She serves on the board of Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria.
Her trajectory reflects deep operational experience and a commitment to modernization. The company describes her role as essential to helping Dangote Cement remain “agile and well-positioned for long-term value creation.” Her expertise signals a future where the family’s legacy is rooted in both tradition and innovation.
Halima Dangote
Halima’s influence is equally notable. Appointed to the Dangote Cement board in 2022, she has long been a central figure within the Dangote ecosystem. She has served as a group executive director at DIL and led a significant turnaround at Dangote Flour Mills, positioning it for sale to Singapore’s Olam Group. She has also held executive roles at NASCON Allied Industries and continues to serve on its board.
In 2023, Halima was tasked with creating and managing the Dangote Family Office in Dubai. According to The Africa Report, this move reflects both the family’s global positioning and its long-term stewardship of its assets. Her leadership extends to philanthropy as a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, reinforcing the family’s commitment to social impact.
Fatima Dangote
Fatima, the youngest, has carved out her influence through commercial strategy. As The Africa Report notes, she is the group executive director for commercial operations at DIL, overseeing communications, procurement, and administration across the conglomerate. Her work has focused on domesticizing sugar production and reducing import dependency through aggressive implementation of the Backward Integration Programme.
She has served on the NASCON Allied Industries board since 2023 and previously led its commercial sales, logistics, and branding initiatives as executive director. She also works closely with the Aliko Dangote Foundation. Her public presence, including interviews in which she describes her father as “extremely hardworking” and deeply demanding, offers a window into the family’s culture of excellence and discipline.
afrotech.com
Leave a Reply