Nigerian billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote has accepted an invitation from popular content creator Adebayo Ridwan, widely known as Isbae U, to appear on his YouTube show, Curiosity Made Me Ask, in a move that could bring one of Africa’s most influential business figures closer to younger audiences.
Dangote made the commitment during an interaction in Lagos on Monday, October 19, 2026, after Isbae U challenged him to engage more directly with young Nigerians who are interested in his business journey and the opportunities surrounding his company.
The comedian explained that many of Dangote’s previous interviews had appeared on platforms that younger audiences did not typically follow, despite their growing interest in the billionaire’s business activities and investment opportunities.
“Most of the interviews we’ve seen you have been on platforms that my generation don’t watch,” Isbae U told the industrialist, making a case for his show as a channel through which Dangote could reach a different audience.
He clarified that he was not asking the billionaire to abandon his existing media engagements but wanted him to consider appearing on a programme that has attracted attention for its unconventional conversations with prominent Nigerian personalities.
Dangote welcomed the suggestion, acknowledging that young people represented the future and deserved opportunities to learn directly from the experiences of older generations.
“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.
The businessman stressed the importance of creating opportunities for younger Nigerians to interact with experienced individuals, understand the decisions that shaped their careers and learn from the successes and failures of previous generations.
He also observed that many young people had limited knowledge of Nigeria’s political history and some of the prominent figures who shaped the country, highlighting the need for conversations that connect different generations.
During the exchange, Isbae U referenced his previous interview with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, jokingly taking credit for providing the former leader with a platform to connect with his audience.
“Thanks to me. I gave him the platform, sir,” the content creator said.
The lighthearted exchange reinforced his argument that unconventional digital platforms could help prominent Nigerians connect with audiences who might not ordinarily watch traditional interviews.
Dangote agreed that content creators could provide an effective channel for reaching younger people, adding that he was willing to embrace such opportunities going forward.
“So really, you are right. Going forward, this sort of audience is the audience that we, somebody like me, should actually face,” he said.
He also spoke about his experiences with members of the public, explaining that he appreciated the support and respect he continued to receive from Nigerians, including when travelling abroad.
According to Dangote, people accompanying him sometimes tried to discourage members of the public from approaching him for photographs. However, he prefers to accommodate such requests because he remembers how he and his grandfather once approached prominent personalities in Washington to take photographs with them.
That experience, he explained, influenced his willingness to make time for ordinary people despite his current position.
The billionaire also clarified the meaning behind a photograph shared on social media in which he appeared to express gratitude to God for his blessings.
“I wasn’t begging for anything. What I was saying, I was just saying that, God, you have overblessed me,” he said.
Beyond the immediate invitation, Dangote indicated that he was prepared to participate in a more open conversation with younger Nigerians, giving them the opportunity to ask questions about how he built his business empire and achieved his success.
“We will come,” he said in response to Isbae U’s invitation.
Although he did not announce a specific date for the appearance, his acceptance has raised the prospect of a conversation that could introduce his experiences to an audience beyond conventional business and television platforms.
For Isbae U, the invitation represents another opportunity to bring influential Nigerians into a digital space where humour, curiosity and informal questioning help make conversations with prominent personalities accessible to a younger generation.
For Dangote, the proposed appearance could provide an opportunity to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, industrial development and the lessons he has gathered throughout his business career.
Whether the conversation focuses on his rise in business, his investments or the challenges of building major industries in Africa, the prospect of seeing the billionaire in the show’s distinctive format is likely to attract considerable public interest.
