Aliko Dangote’s three daughters have assumed new active and senior roles in various companies under his conglomerate. This comes as the 68-year-old billionaire begins withdrawing from the daily operations of his business empire.
As of mid-2025, Dangote, Africa’s richest person, has stepped down from key board positions, including retiring from the chairmanship of the Dangote Sugar Refinery in June, a position he had held for two decades. The following month, Dangote stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Dangote Cement Plc to focus on his refinery, petrochemical, and fertilizer projects.
While Dangote, who is also the world’s richest Black person, takes a step back, he is preparing his daughters to take over frontline executive roles to ensure that the next generation of Dangote leadership is empowered to continue the family legacy. This also comes amid plans to build his conglomerate into a $100 billion business within four years, Bloomberg reported.
Get to know his daughters:
Fatima Dangote
Fatima Dangote, the youngest of the three daughters, will take over a commercial leadership role at the group’s energy business, which includes the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals. She will assume this role while still overseeing Dangote Group’s corporate communications and administration. A member of the Nigerian Bar, Fatima also holds a Law degree (LL.B) from the University of Surrey, UK. She has also completed executive leadership programs at Columbia University, the Wharton School, and Cambridge University. She has previously run her own independent confectionery business and real estate company.
Halima Dangote
Halima, the middle daughter, has been in charge of the family office in Dubai. Her responsibilities will now expand as she has been appointed to run the company’s London operations as well, while supporting the company’s activities internationally.
Halima was previously Executive Director of Dangote Flour Mills and NASCON Allied Industries before being appointed to the board of Dangote Cement Plc, making her one of the youngest members of the company’s leadership team in 2022.
Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from American Intercontinental University (London) and an MBA from Webster Business School, Halima started off her career as an Analyst at KPMG. She became Board President of The Africa Centre in New York and a member of Women Corporate Directors. Additionally, she is a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, a non-profit organisation under the Dangote Industries.
Mariya Dangote
The oldest of the three daughters, Mariya became the Executive Director of Operations at Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc in 2023.
She began handling business strategy while digitising major operations under this role. Before this, Mariya worked at Dangote Industries Limited as a business strategy and corporate risk specialist.
Joining the boards of several Dangote Group companies, she was appointed to the board of Dangote Cement when her father retired in 2025. She will now lead commercial strategy for that business as well as the Dangote Group’s food operations across all markets.
Mariya received a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from Bayero University in Kano and became a Barrister-at-Law. She also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Coventry University in the United Kingdom.
