Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has clarified that his fortune was not inherited but self-made, despite being born into a wealthy family.
Speaking in a recent interview, Dangote explained that while his lineage — including his great-grandfather and grandfather — was notable for affluence, he personally did not depend on family wealth to establish his empire.
“I came from a wealthy family… My great-grandfather was the richest man in West Africa in the 1940s, and my grandfather was one of the wealthiest Nigerians. My father too was fairly rich, involved in both business and politics. But one thing I am very proud of is that I did not inherit any money from my father. I built everything from scratch,” he said.
Dangote revealed that whatever assets he inherited were donated to charity, insisting his success was born out of determination and entrepreneurship.
Recounting his humble beginnings, the billionaire said he started by working briefly with his uncle before moving to Lagos, where he began a modest business in cement trading.
“I started my own business by just buying and selling cement. It was very low-key. But cement builds infrastructure, and Africa has a huge housing deficit. At the time, most of Nigeria’s cement was imported, so we saw the opportunity and went into it. That’s how the journey began,” Dangote added.
He emphasized that his growth story underscores the importance of vision, persistence, and solving Africa’s infrastructural challenges through indigenous industries.
