Halima Dangote, Group Executive Director at Dangote Family Office and International Offices, says she and her sisters have deliberately maintained a low-key public profile despite their privileged upbringing.
Speaking in a Bloomberg Next Africa interview with her sisters, Mariya and Fatima, Halima explained that the three women preferred not to draw attention to their family background or possessions, choosing instead to let their work and professional results speak for them.
“Anytime we meet with our co-peers, like the kids of our dad’s friends…I mean everyone has his own job… we’re quiet in the sense that we don’t say who we are,” she said.
Halima said the sisters had found it easier to remain private before they became more widely recognised.
“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.
She also distinguished the sisters’ approach from people who are more comfortable with social media and public attention.
“Some people are really comfortable with the social media, with being known, with being expressive,” Halima 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.”
According to Halima, the sisters measure their contribution through the performance and growth of the businesses they are involved in, rather than through public recognition.
“I think like Fatima and Mariya said, the results are just the ones speaking for itself,” she said, pointing to business performance, profits, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), and growth.
“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 said.
The comments come as Halima, Mariya and Fatima hold senior positions within the Dangote business group, with their responsibilities spanning different areas of the conglomerate.
The sisters have also spoken about the expectations that come with working within a family-owned business and the need to establish themselves through their roles and responsibilities.
In the Bloomberg interview, the discussion touched on the sisters’ work, their public profile and the future of the family business.
Ademide Adebayo
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