Mariya Dangote, the eldest of Aliko Dangote’s three daughters, has emerged as a central figure in the family’s business succession plan, with key leadership roles in the conglomerate.

Mariya joined the Dangote Group in 2016 after completing an MBA at Coventry University in the United Kingdom, beginning her career at the group’s holding company, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), as a business strategy and risk specialist. Over time, she has built deep operational expertise, particularly in strategic planning, corporate governance and digital transformation.

In 2022, she was appointed Executive Director of Operations at Dangote Sugar Refinery, one of the group’s major subsidiaries, where she has been responsible for operational excellence, backward integration initiatives and technology – driven performance improvements.

Her leadership in this role coincided with the group’s broader push to increase self-sufficiency in sugar production and reduce dependency on imports.

Mariya’s influence expanded further when she joined the board of Dangote Cement in 2025, a move designed to strengthen the conglomerate’s strategic continuity in Africa’s largest listed industrial company.

She also serves on the board of Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria (DPAN), showing her cross-sector involvement in manufacturing and industrial operations.

Mariya is widely regarded as a key architect of the group’s future and known within corporate circles for her strategic insights. (BusinessDay)