Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has opened up about his family background, early struggles, and how he built his vast business empire without relying on inherited wealth.

In a recent interview, Dangote explained that although he hails from a wealthy lineage, his accomplishments were born out of his own efforts and determination.

He said:

“I came from a wealthy family. My late great-grandfather in the 1940s was actually the richest West African. My late grandfather was also one of the wealthiest Nigerians. The family name is Dentata, from my maternal side. My father too was fairly rich, both in business and politics.

But one thing I’m very proud of is that I did not inherit any money from my father. I built everything from scratch to where I am today. Whatever I inherited in assets, I gave to charity.

I started working briefly with my uncle, then moved to Lagos to begin my own business. I started small—buying and selling cement. Cement is the backbone of infrastructure, and with Nigeria facing a huge housing deficit—about 17,000 in need—it became clear we had to close that gap. Most of the cement was imported at the time, so we ventured into local production. That was how the journey began.”

Watch the video below …