Do you know about the family of Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, including his wives? While some may think his story is pretty straightforward, he has an interesting family history. However, that has never stopped him from involving his children in his empire, as he did on February 17, 2026.

Let’s break down who his wives and children are:

Dangote’s (Ex) Wives

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In 1977, Dangote married his first wife, Zainab, who was reportedly chosen by his parents. With her, he had two daughters, Maria and Halima. They later divorced, though the date remains unspecified.

Subsequently, he entered into a second marriage with Mariya Muhammad Rufai, the daughter of a former Bauchi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Human Services; they had one daughter, Fatima. This marriage ended in divorce in 2017.

Both of his ex-wives are highly private and hold no position in his company. Dangote is currently single, though he has been linked to several women, none of which he publicly claimed.

Dangote’s Children

From board positions to executive roles, here is how Aliko Dangote’s children are involved in the family business.

1. Mariya Aliko Dangote

Mariya Aliko Dangote is his first-born and a senior executive in the Dangote business empire. She is the Executive Director of Operations at Dangote Sugar Refinery and a board member at Dangote Cement. She also sits on the board of Dangote-Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN).

Mariya studied Law at Bayero University, Kano, and obtained an MBA from Coventry University. She joined Dangote Industries Limited in 2016, where she started working in business strategy and corporate risk management.

Later, she moved into operations and strategic planning in the sugar business. She currently leads digital transformation and large-scale agricultural integration projects within the company.

ALSO READ: Dangote Hands Key Executive Roles to His 3 Daughters

2. Halima Aliko Dangote

Halima currently holds the position of Group Executive and International Business Manager. She is also the Group Executive Director at Dangote Industries Limited and sits on the board at Dangote Cement. She formerly served as Executive Director at Dangote Flour Mills and as an executive at NASCON Allied Industries.

In addition to these roles, she founded and heads the Dangote Family Office in Dubai and is a trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation. Halima began her career as an analyst at KPMG. She later joined the family conglomerate and led turnaround efforts at Dangote Flour Mills, which was eventually sold to Olam Group.

She oversees international investments and the family’s global assets. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from American InterContinental University and an MBA from Webster University.

3. Fatima Aliko Dangote

Fatima, who has a striking resemblance to her father, is the Group Executive Director for Commercial Operations at Dangote Industries Limited. She previously worked at NASCON Allied Industries but she currently oversees communications, procurement, and commercial strategy across the group.

Last-borns tend to do things differently, and Fatima is no exception. She founded a confectionery business called Cupcake Factory in Lagos and is also involved in real estate ventures. Fatima studied Law at the University of Surrey and is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association.

4. Abdulrahman Fasasi

Abdulrahman is known as the business mogul’s adopted and only son. He has since led a private life, and there is only limited public information about him. What is known includes his degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and his residency in London.

Unlike his sisters, there is no public record of his involvement in the Dangote business empire or any other business.

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