My business is my hobby – Aliko Dangote

Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, says his decision to focus on building industries in Africa led him to sell off all his luxury properties abroad so he could fully concentrate 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 planning have been central to his success.

He explained that even at nearly 70 years old, he maintains a strict daily routine, which he believes mirrors the work ethic of 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 said.

The billionaire industrialist, who recently turned 69, noted that he does not see business as a job but as a passion that drives his daily efforts.

“My business is actually my hobby. If you take it as a job, I won’t work this hard,” he added.

Dangote disclosed that when he decided to expand his industrial investments in Nigeria, he made a major personal sacrifice by selling his properties abroad.

“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 said owning multiple properties overseas often creates distractions that can take time and attention away from building businesses.

“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 long-term planning, noting that all his business ventures are guided by clearly defined targets 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,” he said.

He explained that his investment philosophy is centered on producing essential goods locally to reduce Africa’s dependence on imports.

“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 noted.

He added that the Dangote Group focuses on products used daily by consumers, citing cement and sugar as key 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 said.

Dangote further revealed that not all business ventures have succeeded, disclosing that the group exited the flour milling sector due to foreign exchange challenges.

“Yes, we exited flour because of the foreign exchange challenges,” he stated.

His comments highlight the discipline, strategic planning and sacrifices that have shaped one of Africa’s largest industrial empires.