‘Why We Keep Low Profile Despite Our Wealth’, Halima Dangote Speaks

Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting

Halima Dangote, Group Executive Director at the Dangote Family Office and International Offices, has explained why she and her sisters, Mariya and Fatima, have maintained a relatively low public profile despite growing up in one of Africa’s most prominent business families.

Truth Live News Media reports that she disclosed this while speaking during a Bloomberg Next Africa interview alongside her sisters, Halima.

She said the three women have deliberately chosen not to draw attention to their family background, wealth, possessions or positions.

She explained that they prefer to let their professional achievements and business results speak for themselves rather than rely on the Dangote name to define their identities or accomplishments.

“Anytime we meet with our co-peers, like the kids of our dad’s friends… everyone has his own job. We’re quiet in the sense that we don’t say who we are,” Halima said.

She said remaining private was easier when the sisters were not widely recognised, adding that their achievements had always been more important to them than public attention.

“I don’t know if it’s fortunate or unfortunate now people recognise us, but it was easier when we’re not recognised, you know, our results speak for itself,” she said.

Halima noted that people differ in how comfortable they are with publicity and social media, but said she and her sisters were not particularly interested in showcasing their wealth or personal activities.

“Some people are really comfortable with the social media, with being known, with being expressive,” she said.

“I don’t think we are, all three of us were not expressive of what we have, what we own, what we’re doing.”

The Dangote executive said the sisters instead focus on the performance of the businesses and organisations in which they hold senior positions.

She said business growth, profits, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) and other measurable outcomes provide a more meaningful indication of their contribution.

“I think like Fatima and Mariya said, the results are just the ones speaking for itself,” Halima said.

“The sale of this business, the profit of this, the EBITDA, our growth, us growing 200 billion dollars, we are all in those key positions and I mean numbers don’t lie,” she added.

Halima, Mariya and Fatima hold senior positions within the Dangote business group, with their responsibilities covering different areas of the family-owned conglomerate.