I’ve Lived In My Current Home For 36 Years- Dangote

Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has revealed that he has lived in his current home for 36 years, saying he has no plans to relocate because he remains comfortable there.

Dangote disclosed this in an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, where he spoke about his lifestyle, wealth, business interests and investment in Africa.

The billionaire said he had remained in the same home for more than three decades despite his wealth and status.

“You know how long I’ve been here? Thirty-six years. I don’t plan on leaving. I’m very comfortable here,” Dangote said.

He said he preferred the comfort of his home to constantly seeking new luxuries, adding that he often found it difficult to leave his residence once he returned in the evening.

“Once I come in in the evening, it’s difficult to take me out of my house,” he said.

Dangote also criticised what he described as the spending habits of some wealthy Africans who acquire private jets and other luxury assets without investing in productive ventures.

“What I see is people now owning aircraft all over the place, flying all over, and they don’t have one single factory,” he said.

“So it means that they’re not actually helping in growing the economy, and that has to change.”

According to him, his priority has been to deploy his wealth and business interests towards Africa’s industrialisation, stressing that his biggest legacy would be helping to build productive capacity on the continent.

The businessman said foreign investors were increasingly interested in Africa but needed large-scale investment opportunities capable of attracting substantial capital.

“Foreigners are very interested now; they want to invest in Africa, but they don’t have big-ticket items,” he said.

“So right now, they have started seeing big-ticket stuff, and they will join. And we will join to develop our own continent, Africa.”

Dangote said Africa’s economic development required a shift in private capital from luxury and symbols of personal wealth towards factories and other productive assets.

He said investments in productive ventures would help create jobs, expand manufacturing capacity and drive broader economic growth across the continent.