Africa’s wealthiest businessman, Aliko Dangote, intends to dedicate one-third of his wealth to charitable causes as part of his long-term succession strategy, according to his daughter, Halima Dangote.
Halima, who serves as a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, disclosed the plan during an interview with Bloomberg published on Tuesday. She explained that the billionaire has already secured the support of his family for the decision to allocate 33 percent of his estate to philanthropy.
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Based on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dangote’s fortune is currently valued at approximately $35.1 billion. If that valuation remains unchanged, one-third of his wealth would amount to nearly $11.7 billion.
Halima explained that her father sees charitable giving as a defining part of the legacy he hopes to leave behind and has incorporated it into the family’s succession plans.
“He established a structure that places a strong emphasis on health and education. He had already transferred 25 percent to the foundation, but under Islamic Sharia law, a person can dedicate up to one-third of their estate to charitable purposes. In essence, he has committed 33 percent of his inheritance to the foundation,” she said.
She added that the decision reflects the importance he places on ensuring philanthropy continues across future generations.
“Giving back has always been part of who we are. We believe the success of our business is closely linked to our commitment to helping others. That is why dedicating 33 percent is so significant.
“He publicly announced the decision and requested that I, my two sisters, and his mother sign the will confirming his wish to leave that share of his estate for the benefit of humanity.”
The planned contribution builds on decades of charitable work carried out through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which was established in 1994.
According to Halima, the foundation received an endowment of $1.25 billion around ten years ago and has since been strengthened with an additional $700 million in funding.
She noted that roughly 70 percent of the foundation’s annual expenditure is invested in projects across Nigeria, while about 20 percent supports initiatives elsewhere in Africa. The remaining funds are used for humanitarian and development programs in other parts of the world.
The foundation focuses on key areas such as healthcare, education, nutrition, and emergency relief. Among its major achievements are partnerships with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and state governments in northern Nigeria, collaborations that played a significant role in eliminating wild poliovirus from Africa.
Dangote’s latest pledge comes as billionaire philanthropy continues to attract global attention. Although the planned donation is below the 50 percent commitment associated with the Giving Pledge, it would still rank among the largest charitable commitments ever made by an African billionaire.
Earlier this year, TIME magazine included Dangote in its inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy list, recognizing his humanitarian contributions through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which spends more than ₦50 billion each year on development and relief programs across the African continent.
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