Mariya Dangote, eldest daughter of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, rises in the Dangote Group with roles in Dangote Sugar, Cement board, and more
Mariya Dangote: The Strategic Powerhouse Guiding Aliko Dangote’s Vast Empire into the Future
As Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, accelerates plans to scale his conglomerate toward a $100 billion valuation, his eldest daughter Mariya Dangote has quietly emerged as a pivotal force in the family’s long-term succession strategy.
Mariya, the first of Aliko Dangote’s three daughters, joined Dangote Industries Limited (DIL)—the group’s holding company—in 2016, shortly after earning her MBA from Coventry University in the United Kingdom. She started as a business strategy and risk specialist, quickly building expertise in strategic planning, corporate governance, and digital transformation.
By 2022, Mariya stepped into a high-profile leadership role as Executive Director of Operations at Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, one of the group’s flagship subsidiaries. There, she has driven operational excellence, championed backward integration projects to boost local sugar production, and spearheaded technology-led efficiency gains—aligning perfectly with the group’s push for self-sufficiency and reduced import reliance.
Her influence reached new heights in July 2025 when she was appointed to the board of Dangote Cement Plc, Africa’s largest listed industrial company. The move, following her father’s retirement as chairman, is widely seen as a deliberate step to ensure strategic continuity and long-term value creation.
Mariya also serves on the board of Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria (DPAN), underscoring her broad involvement across the group’s manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Recent developments have further elevated her profile: she now oversees commercial strategy for cement and food operations as Group Executive Director, focusing on market expansion, integration, and operational excellence.
Within corporate circles, Mariya is respected for her sharp strategic insights and low-key yet effective leadership style. As the Dangote Group positions itself for multi-generational success, her growing responsibilities signal confidence in her ability to help steer one of Africa’s most powerful business empires forward.
