TOP 20 RICHEST PEOPLE IN NIGERIA

Top 20 RICHEST PEOPLE IN NIGERIA

   Nigeria operates a mixed economic system which makes individual enterprising legal, since economic power is equally shared among the public and private individuals. This has caused competiotion to exist among individuals, some have invested resources into the economy and have reaped much more while the little some put brings back the little to them. In Nigeria, we have the successful business men and women but it is not of doubt that some are exceedingly rich. Looking at the ranks, we'd pick the Richest 20 in Nigeria.

1. Aliko Dangote

Aliko Dangote is currently worth over $12.5 billion. He is the richest man in Nigeria and Africa. He is also the 67th richest person in the world.Dangote has investments in Nigeria as well as countries like Benin, Ethiopia, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa, Togo, Tanzania and Zambia.

Currently, Dangote owns refineries and manufacturing plants in Nigeria and several parts of Africa. He is also leading the way by a building a major refinery in the country that will eliminate the country’s dependence on oil importation. Although Dangote was born into a wealthy family, he hasn’t rested on his soars due to his family’s riches. His coming from a wealthy home must really be a good factor of his wealth.

2. Mike Adenuga

According to the recently released Forbes list in 2017, Mike Adenuga’s net worth is estimated at $5.8 billion and he is the third richest person in Africa.
Beyond Con Oil, Mike Adenuga further proved his mettle as an astute businessman when his company, Globacom was issued a conditional GSM licence in 1999. He received the second licence in 2003 and ever since then his telecoms company which is fully indigenous has grown rapidly. 
Mike Adenuga claims he got his business acumen from his mother who was also a successful businesswoman which equally emphasize the importance of good mentorship in business.

3.   Femi Otedola
Femi Otedola has real estate properties in different parts of the world. These include London, Dubai and New York City. He is also the founder of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd.
His investment isn’t just limited to oil but range across other sectors such as shipping, real estate and finance. According to the latest release by Forbes, Femi Otedola has net worth of $2.3 billion which puts him at the third position in terms of wealth in Nigeria.


4. Folorunso Alakija


From a fashion designer to oil tycoon, Folorunso Alakija is currently worth $2.1 billion making her the richest African woman. Her business interests are in fashion, oil and printing.
Her oil company, Famfa Oil Limited was founded in 1993 is said to generate Folorunso Alakija at least $10 million daily in profit. She also has investments in real estate which is said to be worth over $100 million. Her love for students has seen her sponsor many Nigerian students through the Agbami Medical and Engineering Scholarship Scheme and the Folorunso Alakija Scholarship Scheme.

 5. Theophilus Danjuma

Theophilus Danjuma is a retired general, billionaire and philanthropist. His business interest is primarily in oil and he is the chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO).He studied History at the university after which he left to enrol in the Nigerian Army in 1960. Danjuma rose through the ranks from his rookie position as a second lieutenant to become a General.

Danjuma had a very humble beginning. His father, Kuru Danjuma was a peasant farmer and metal trader. One would hardly believe Danjuma would make the top 20 on the 5th list, one's background might have just little to do with what one would finally become. 

6.  Abdusallam Rabiu. 

He is said to have an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion according to Forbes. 

Abdusalam Rabiu is also the chairman of the Nigerian Bank of Industry. Apart from his immense wealth, Abdul Samad Rabiu has been giving back to the society through the BUA Foundation. The foundation sponsored the construction of the paediatric ward at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. Abdusalam through the BUA foundation was also involved in the construction of the Centre for Islamic Studies at the Bayero University, Kano.

7. Tony Elumelu

With an estimated worth of $1.4 billion, Tony Elumelu is one of the richest men in Nigeria. He is an economist, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

His investments include Heir Holdings, the United Bank for Africa and the Transcorp. He is also the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation which has empowered thousands of entrepreneurs across Africa. Tony Elumelu has investments in financial services, energy, real estate, hospitality, agribusiness and the healthcare sectors through his investment company, Heir Holdings.

Tony Elumelu serves as an advisor to the USAID’S Private Capital Group for Africa (PCGA) Partners Forum. He also serves a Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute Dialogue Series on Global Food Security. Additionally, he is the chairman of the Ministerial Committee to establish world-class hospitals and diagnostic centres across Nigeria. He also serves as a member of the Global Advisory Board of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL).

8. Orji Uzor Kalu

Orji Uzor is the chairman of SLOK Holding and the former governor of Abia State. His other investments include the Daily Sun and the New Telegraph newspapers.

According to Forbes, he is worth $1.1 billion. He started with only $35 which he had received as a loan from his mother. At that time he traded palm oil which he bought from the South East and sold to the market in the North.

Following the success of his palm oil business, Orji Uzor Kalu moved to another line of business which was selling furniture on a large scale. Eventually, he established the SLOK Holding which is conglomerate comprising Ojialex Furniture Company, SLOK Nigeria Limited, SLOK United Kingdom Limited, Adamawa Publishers Limited, SLOK Vegetable Oil, Aba, SLOK Paper Factory, Aba, SLOK United States Incorporated, SLOK Ghana, Togo, Cotonou, Guinea, South Africa, Liberia, Botswana, SLOK Korea, Supreme Oil Limited, SLOK Airlines, Sun Publishing Limited, and First International Bank Limited.

9. Jim Ovia

Jim Ovia is the man behind the success story of one of Nigeria’s top banks, Zenith Bank. He has an estimated net worth of $1 billion.

He is alumnus of Harvard Business School and is well known to have introduced many innovations to the banking industry. He was responsible for leading Zenith Bank to become one of the largest and most profitable banks in the country. He’s currently the chairman of the bank. Jim Ovia is also the chairman of the Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI), Cyberspace Network Limited and the National Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC). Additionally, he is a member of the Honorary International Investor Council as well as the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI).

10. Oba Otudeko

Oba Otudeko has an estimated worth of $650 million. He is the founder of the Honeywell Group. He is also the chairman of FBN Holding Plc.
Over the years, he has attended executive management programmes in Switzerland and U.S.A, one of which is at the Harvard Business School.
Oba Otudeko has investments spread across different sectors which include oil and gas, trading, financial services, real estate and marine transportation.

11. Arthur Eze

Arthur Eze is one of the wealthiest men in Africa. He is the founder and Chairman of Atlas Oranto Petroleum a reputable company with assets in Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea and the Gambia. The company was founded in 1991.
Arthur studied chemical and mechanical Engineering at the California State University.

12. Cletus Ibeto

Cletus is the head of the Ibeto Group. The group is one of the largest conglomerates in Africa with interests in automobile parts, cement production, energy, petrochemical and the real estate industry.
The popular Ibeto Hotels is one of his business interests.

13. Benedict Peters

Benedict Peters is the founder of Aiteo Group, a conglomerate with primary interest in energy. Benedict began his career with Ocean and Oil now known as Oando Plc before moving to MRS Oil Nigeria Plc to become the Group Executive Director.

Eventually, Benedict founded Aiteo Group which is currently reputed to own one of the largest petroleum tank farms in the country.

14. Igho Sanomi

Igho has been involved in telecommunications, shipping, aviation, engineering, construction and real estate investments.
Igho is the chairman of several companies and he is the Executive Director of Cosmos oil AG and the founder/chairman of Taleveras, an energy trading company.

15. ABC Orjiako

Bryant Orjiako popularly known as ABC Orjiako had an interesting career path prior to becoming a billionaire. He trained as a surgeon but after a while, he left the healthcare sector to pursue his business interests.
Orjiako’s business interest is primarily in oil and gas. He is the co-founder and chairman of Seplat Petroleum. Prior to establishing Seplat, Orjiako founded and ran several companies in the upstream, downstream and service sector of the oil and gas industry. Orjiako is also a Harvard trained businessman.


16. Bode Akindele

Bode Akindele is an octogenarian billionaire. He is the chairman of the Mondola Group. This group is one of the largest conglomerates in Nigeria with interests in Agriculture, Food processing, Maritime, Real Estate and the Transport industry.


17. Emmanuel Ojei

Emmanuel Ojei is the chairman of Nuel Ojei Holding Limited. His business interests include construction, banking, importation, sales and service of motor vehicle and oil.

18. Mohammed Indimi

Mohammed Indimi is the founder of Oriental Energy, a company he founded in 1990. He is reportedly worth over $400 million.

19. Tunde Folawiyo

With an estimated worth of over $400 million according to Forbes, Tunde Folawiyo is one of the richest men in the country.
He is the chairman of the Yinka Folawiyo Group, a large conglomerate with interest in energy, agriculture, shipping and real estate. He took over the company from his father, Wahab Folawiyo when he passed away in 2008.
Tunde is also the director of MTN Nigeria Ltd


20. Hakeem Belo-Osagie

Trained as a lawyer, Hakeem Belo-Osagie is also a graduate of the prestigious Harvard Business School.
Belo-Osagie has been involved in oil, finance and telecommunications industry. He was the chairman of the United Bank of Africa between 1998 and 2004. He was also involved with the Federal Government particularly in the Energy sector when he initially returned to the country.