Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has stressed the importance of humility and simplicity, saying his wealth would not stop him from staying in even the worst hotel.
The Punch reported that the President of Dangote Group made the remarks at an event tagged Vision 2030 on Monday, where he also accepted an invitation from content creator Adebayo Ridwan, popularly known as Bae U Barbie, to feature on his YouTube programme, Curiosity Made Me Ask.
Dangote said people should remain humble and avoid allowing their wealth or accomplishments to make them feel superior to others.
“And also to show people that, look, in life, you have to be as simple as you can, because anybody can be anybody,” he said.
The billionaire industrialist explained that he was comfortable with basic accommodation despite his financial status, noting that material possessions should not determine how people live or relate to others.
“Today, if you take me to anywhere, if you take me to the worst hotel, I can sleep, I can have my shower, I can live,” he said.
“So because life is about simplicity, and make sure that, look, don’t take yourself up there,” he added.
To further illustrate his point, Dangote recounted an experience involving his friendship with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, whom he said had served for eight years without using a driver.
He recalled visiting Ethiopia for the launch of a fertiliser plant and asking the prime minister why he did not have a driver.
According to Dangote, the leader explained that his wife drove him around.
Dangote’s comments followed an invitation from Bae U, who argued that young Nigerians needed more opportunities to interact with prominent business leaders and learn from their experiences.
The content creator observed that many of Dangote’s previous interviews had been published on platforms that younger audiences did not typically watch, despite their interest in the billionaire’s business activities and its planned initial public offering.
Responding to the invitation, Dangote described young people as the future of Nigeria and Africa, saying older generations had a responsibility to share their experiences with them.
“Honestly, the future that we have is actually you, the youth. We, our own generation really, we have not really done very well for Nigeria and also for Africa. That’s the truth,” he said.
He added, “So we need to sit down with some of you and discuss our own experience with you.”
The businessman also said he appreciated the support and respect he received from young Nigerians, explaining that this was one of the reasons he readily agreed to take photographs with members of the public.
He recalled an experience from his younger days when he and his late grandfather met prominent personalities in Washington and asked to take pictures with them.
Dangote said the encounter influenced his decision to accommodate people who approach him for photographs, regardless of his status.
