President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that his commitment to building industries in Africa led him to sell all his luxury properties abroad in order to concentrate fully on his business operations in Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview in a video shared on Facebook by Swahili Nation Network, the African business magnate said discipline, focus and long-term vision have been key drivers of his success over the years.

According to him, despite approaching 70, he maintains a demanding daily routine and continues to work with the same intensity as his employees.

"I go to bed maybe around 11 or 12 at night, but I wake up around 5 in the morning. I go to the gym, and by 7:30 or 8:00, I'm done and heading to the office. I work as hard as any staff member," he stated.

Dangote, who recently turned 69, said he does not view business as a job but rather as a passion that keeps him motivated.

"My business is actually my hobby. If you take it as a job, I won't work this hard," he remarked.

The billionaire industrialist further disclosed that when he decided to deepen his investment in Nigeria's industrial sector, he made a significant personal sacrifice by disposing of his overseas properties.

"When I decided to go into industry, I sold all my properties in the United States. I had two big mansions in the U.S. and a house in the United Kingdom because I wanted to sit in Nigeria and concentrate," he explained.

He noted that owning multiple homes abroad often creates distractions and demands time and attention that could otherwise be directed toward business development.

"Now my life is very simple. Wherever I go, I stay in hotels. I pay and leave. Nobody calls me to say there is a burst pipe or that something is wrong with a property. I am committed to what I do," he said.

Dangote also stressed the importance of planning and setting clear targets, revealing that all his ventures are guided by specific goals rather than short-term opportunities.

"I don't do things offhand. I always create a vision. Right now, we have created a Vision 2030 because I need to know the target I am working towards. I don't do business on a normal basis; all my businesses are targeted," he stated.

Explaining the philosophy behind his investments, the businessman said his focus has always been on reducing Africa's dependence on imports by producing goods that are essential to everyday life.

"I first look at what we need as people and what we are importing that we should be producing ourselves. We use backward integration to produce what we need locally," he said.

He added that the Dangote Group deliberately invests in products that people use regularly, citing cement and sugar as examples.

"We are producing things that when you wake up every morning, you must use part of what we produce. That is why we are in cement and sugar," he noted.

Dangote acknowledged that not all ventures have succeeded, revealing that the group exited the flour milling business due to foreign exchange difficulties.

"Yes, we exited flour because of the foreign exchange challenges," he explained.

The Nigerian billionaire's remarks offer insight into the discipline, strategic planning and personal sacrifices that have shaped one of Africa's largest business empires.



ANAS/SEA