Meet over 50 wealthy Nigerians and their industries

Nigeria has a number of highly successful and wealthy individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the country.

These people showcased here and others have not only created wealth for themselves but also provided employment opportunities for Nigerians thereby contributing to the growth of the economy as a whole.

Aliko Dangote

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, founded and chairs Dangote Cement Plc, the continent’s largest cement producer with about N13 trillion market capitalisation. A key player in the Manufacturing sector, Aliko Dangote owns 85 percent of publicly-traded Dangote Cement through a holding company.

Dangote Cement has the capacity to produce 48.6 million metric tons annually and has operations in 10 countries across Africa. After many years of development, Dangote’s fertilizer plant in Nigeria began operations in March 2022. Dangote Refinery began construction in 2016 and began refining operations in 2024.

Dangote’s grandfather was a successful trader of rice and oats in Kano, Nigeria’s second-largest city. In the words of Aliko Dangote, “Nigeria is one of the best-kept secrets. A lot of foreigners are not investing because they’re waiting for the right time. There is no right time”. He’s worth $ 13.9 billion according to Forbes report.

The 66-year-old Aliko Dangote, a self-made Nigerian billionaire is a graduate of Arts/Science from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt where he obtained a degree in Business Studies and Administration.

His wealth is from cement and sugar. He’s number 1 in the Forbes list of 2024 Africa’s Billionaires, while in the Forbes list of 2023 world billionaires Aliko Dangote was number 124. Dangote is from Kano State, Northern Nigeria. He is a huge employer of labour in Nigeria with over 11,000 people on his payroll. With the launch of his refinery, Dangote targets to employ more than 30,000 Nigerians in the largest refinery in Africa.

Mike Adenuga

Mike Adenuga, Nigeria’s second richest man, built his fortune in telecommunications and oil production. His mobile phone network, Globacom, is the second-largest operator in Nigeria, with more than 60 million subscribers. His oil exploration outfit, Conoil Producing, operates 6 oil blocks in the Niger Delta.

Globacom also built Glo-1, a 6,100-mile-long submarine Internet cable to the U.K. via Ghana and Portugal. Adenuga also owns 74 percent of publicly traded gasoline firm Conoil and just under 6 percent of publicly traded Nigerian bank Sterling Financial Holding.

Adenuga (70 years), from Oyo State, is also a self-made Nigerian billionaire whose wealth is from telecom and oil. He bagged a degree in Business Administration from Northwestern Alva Oklahoma State University and also a degree from Pace University, New York (Master in Business Administration (MBA). Mike Adenuga got an MBA at Pace University in New York, supporting himself as a student by working as a taxi driver. He’s worth $ 6.9 billion according to Forbes and number 5 in Forbes Africa’s Billionaires (2024) and number 418 in Forbes World’s Billionaires (2023).

Abdulsamad Rabiu

Abdulsamad Rabiu is the founder of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate active in cement production, sugar refining and real estate. In early January 2020, Rabiu merged his privately owned Obu Cement company with the listed firm Cement Co. of Northern Nigeria, which he controlled.

The combined firm, called BUA Cement Plc, trades on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX); Rabiu owns 98.2 percent of it.

He also owns 95 percent of publicly traded food conglomerate BUA Foods Plc. Rabiu, from Kano State who is the son of a businessman, inherited land from his father. He set up his own business in 1988 importing iron, steel and chemicals. Abdulsamad Rabiu is number 6 in Forbes Africa’s Billionaires (2024) and number 249 in Forbes World’s Billionaires (2023). He’s worth $5.9billion according to Forbes. The 63-year-old Nigerian billionaire’s wealth is from cement, real estate and sugar. His foundation, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative, supports education, health and social development projects across Africa.

Femi Otedola

Femi Otedola is a Nigerian billionaire who made his first fortune in commodities before selling his shares in Forte Oil to invest in the energy business. Otedola is chairman of Geregu Power, a power generation business, and owns more than 70 percent of the shares. During 2022 and 2023 Otedola sold down a Geregu stake that was once more than 95 percent to bring on institutional investors.

Investors in Geregu include the Nigerian government, the Afrexim Fund for Export Development in Africa and the State Grid Corporation of China.

Femi Otedola also owns properties in Lagos, Dubai, London and Monaco, and holds shares in Zenith Bank and FBN Holdings. Otedola, from Oyo State Nigeria, is number 19 in Forbes Africa’s Billionaires (2024) and number 1011 in Forbes World’s Billionaires (2016), though he dropped off in 2017. Forbes put his worth at $1.3billion. The First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings, whose flagship arm is First Bank recently appointed Femi Otedola as the new chairman of its board of directors. He succeeds Ahmad Abdullahi.

The 61-year-old Nigerian self-made billionaire’s wealth is from gas stations and utilities. Otedola is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He is also the president and CEO of Seaforce Shipping Company Ltd – a leading company in the shipment of petroleum products into the country and the founder and chief executive of Swift Insurance which is his investment in the corporate finance world.

Jim Ovia

Jim Ovia is the founder and chairman of Zenith Bank, one of the largest commercial banks in Africa. He is the author of Africa Rise And Shine: How a Nigerian Entrepreneur from Humble Beginnings Grew a Business to $16 Billion, published by Forbes Books in 2018.

Jim holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern University Louisiana, an MBA from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and an OPM from Harvard Business School. The 72-year-old billionaire is worth over $980 million. He made his money from the banking industry, telecommunication and property.

Ovia, from Agbor Delta State, is a billionaire philanthropist and chairman of the Jim Ovia Foundation. To date, over 1,500 students have been provided with university scholarships. The Jim Ovia Foundation also established the James Hope College at Agbor, his place of birth.

Igho Sanomi

Igho Charles Sanomi is a Nigerian billionaire businessman, geologist, public speaker and philanthropist with business interests in oil, power, logistics, telecommunications, the maritime industry, aviation and real estate. Igho Charles Sanomi II was born in Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria, the fifth child and first son of a Catholic family. Sanomi is the founder and CEO of Taleveras Group (a Nigerian energy-trading company) in 2004. Taleveras Group is one of the Nigerian companies that received oil-lifting contracts in the federal government’s bid, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Annually, the company trades in volumes of Crude oil, Gasoline, Jet fuels, LPG, Gasoil and Petrochemicals which are sold in millions.

According to Forbes, Taleveras trades over 100 million barrels of crude oil as well as several million tons of gasoline, LPG and jet fuel. In April 2012, Taleveras acquired production-sharing contracts (PSCs) for three offshore oil blocks in Ivory Coast. In June 2013, Taleveras sold a 65 percent stake in one of its Ivorian offshore upstream projects to Lukoil of Russia for an undisclosed price. Taleveras also owns a stake in a power distribution firm in Nigeria. After the successful completion of his primary and secondary school education, Igho Sanomi went to the University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria where he graduated with a BSc. in geology and mining.

Igho Sanomi began his career with a great start. Immediately after his graduation, he resumed office as the co-founder and Executive Director of Sarian Oil, an oil company with its core operations in West Africa. His tenure as Executive Director was marked by notable progress in the organization.

He was able to make trading operations more efficient by expertly negotiating for the export and delivery of fuel oil from West Africa to the United States Gulf Coast. Igbo Sanomi was also able to successfully secure a partnership with an international oil trading group in Zug, Switzerland, which resulted in the import and export of refined petroleum in and out of West Africa.

Folorunso Alakija

Folorunsho Alakija (born July 15, 1951) is a Nigerian businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the group managing director of The Rose of Sharon Group and the executive vice chairman of Famfa Oil Limited. Alakija has been listed among the Forbes World’s 100 most powerful women multiple times. On July 17, 2021, Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, bestowed on her an honorary doctorate degree in business administration.

Alakija, from Lagos State, started her 12-year banking career in 1974 as an executive secretary at Sijuade Enterprises in Lagos, Nigeria. She moved to the former First National Bank of Chicago, which later became FinBank now acquired by First City Monument Bank as the Executive Secretary to the Managing Director. She became the new Head of the Corporate Affairs Department of the International Merchant Bank of Nigeria (formerly First National Bank of Chicago) and later became the Office Assistant to the Treasury Department.

Alakija then studied fashion design at the American College in London and the Central School of Fashion. She started a fashion label known as Supreme Stitches, which was later renamed The Rose of Sharon House of Fashion in 1996. She was the president and lifelong trustee of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN).

She is involved in the fashion, oil, real estate and printing industries. She is the group managing director of The Rose of Sharon Group which consists of The Rose of Sharon Prints & Promotions Limited, Digital Reality Prints Limited and the executive vice-chairman of Famfa Oil Limited. She also has a majority stake in DaySpring Property Development Company. Alakija is ranked as the richest woman in Nigeria with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. By 1963, after her primary education, she returned back to Nigeria where she had her secondary education at the Muslim High School, Sagamu, Ogun State. Upon graduation from high school, she returned back to England where she enrolled at Pitman’s Central College, London, to study secretarial studies.

In May 1993, Alakija applied for the allocation of an oil prospecting license (OPL). The license to explore for oil on a 617,000-acre block, which is about 100km offshore of Nigeria in the Agbami Field was granted to Alakija’s company, Famfa Limited. In September 1996, Alakija entered into a joint venture agreement with Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Texaco) transferring a 40 percent stake to Star Deep. After they struck oil, the Nigerian government claimed a 40 percent stake, followed by an additional 10 percent. The government argued that if Alakija and her family were allowed to keep their block, Alakija would dispute this claim and win.

Pascal Gabriel Dozie

He is a billionaire Nigerian entrepreneur and businessman. He is the founder of Diamond Bank and the chairman of Pan-Atlantic University. Dozie was born in 1939 in the Egbu village of Owerri, Imo State Nigeria. After obtaining his high school certificate, he travelled to London where he studied economics at the London School of Economics and obtained a BSc in economics. Subsequently, he attended City University in London where he studied operational research and industrial engineering and obtained a master’s degree in Administrative Science. Pascal Dozie began his career as an economist at the National Economic Development Office in the United Kingdom. He was also a part-time lecturer at the North Western Polytechnic, London. Between 1970 and 1971 he served as a consulting economist at the African States Consulting Organisation in Uganda.

In 1971 after he left his job in Uganda, he relocated to Nigeria at the request of his mother. In 1971 after his return to Nigeria, with his experience in Econometrics and Industrial Engineering, he launched his first company, the African Development Consulting Group (ADCG). ADCG has worked with companies such as Nestle and Pfizer. He was subsequently hired by Clement Isong, then Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, to conduct some studies on the Co-operative and Commerce Bank.

In 1985, he was appointed Chairman of Progress Bank, which is now defunct. Later that same year Dozie applied for a banking licence in order to help traders in South-Eastern Nigeria who were faced with banking problems. This brought about the birth of Diamond Bank. At its inception, the share capital of the bank was N10 million ($28,000) with only 21 interested shareholders.

In 1990, he satisfied the requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria to operate a standard bank and in 1991 the Diamond Bank began operations. He was CEO of Diamond Bank from 1991 to 2006 when he handed over to his son Uzoma Dozie. Dozie was also at one time President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. He currently owns shares in MTN Group and was chairman of the company. He later resigned as the chairman and was succeeded by the former NCC boss Ernest Ndukwe.

Jimoh Ibrahim

Jimoh Ibrahim (born 24 February 1967) is a Nigerian lawyer, politician, businessman and philanthropist who is the senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District since 2023. The billionaire is the chairman and chief executive officer of Global Fleet Group, a diversified conglomerate based in Nigeria, with business interests and subsidiaries in neighbouring West African countries. In July 2022, he was awarded a professional Business Doctorate (BusD) by the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Born in Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria, Jimoh Ibrahim studied law at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LLB). Subsequently, he obtained the degree of Master of Public Administration (MPA), also from Obafemi Awolowo University. Later, he attended Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, graduating with a combined Master of Laws (LLM) and Master’s in International Taxation degree. His investments include the following sectors, among others: oil & gas distribution, hotels, resorts, airlines, banking, real estate, insurance, publishing and investments.

Danjuma Theophilus

Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (born 9 December 1938) is a Nigerian politician and retired lieutenant general who played a key role in post-independence military and political events in Nigeria. Danjuma amassed an enormous fortune through shipping and petroleum. The Taraba State-born billionaire was Chief of Army Staff from July 1975 to October 1978. He was also Minister of Defence under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

Theophilus Danjuma started his education at St Bartholomew’s Primary School in Wusasa and moved on to the Benue Provincial Secondary School in Katsina-Ala where he was the captain of the school cricket 1st XI team; he received his Higher School Certificate in 1958. In 1959, Danjuma enrolled at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science, and Technology in Zaria (Ahmadu Bello University) to study history on a Northern Nigeria Scholarship.

However, by the end of 1960, Danjuma had left the university to enrol in the Nigerian Army.

For instance, Nigeria American Line (NAL) formed in 1979 by General TY Danjuma (Rtd) began business and initially leased a ship called ‘Hannatu’ which traded between Lagos and Santos in Brazil when Nigeria’s bilateral trade agreement had opened the sea routes to economies in the South American markets. NAL went on to win patronage from Nigeria’s National Supply Company (NNSC) to bring in government goods.

NAL’s list of growing clients included DICON Salt (Nigeria), project cargoes for Iwopin Paper Mill, ANNAMCO and Volkswagen Nigeria. NAL became a member of AWAFC (American West African Freight Conference), the Brazil-Nigeria Freight Conference and the Mediterranean Line (MEWAC). With the formation of the National Maritime Authority (NMA) in 1987/88, the profile of NAL increased as NMA encouraged indigenous operators to claim their share of internationally traded cargo involving Nigeria.

NAL began with a core indigenous staff of about 12 in 1979. In 2009, staff in NAL-COMET were closer to 250 including approximately 12 expatriate staff members. From the Lagos office, the NAL-COMET Group has opened branch offices in Port Harcourt which serves Onne, Warri and Calabar seaports. COMET Shipping Agencies Nigeria Limited was established in 1984 by Danjuma, primarily to act as an agent for Nigeria American Line (NAL). COMET has grown and by the late nineties became one of the largest independent agents operating in Nigeria with experience in handling many types of vessels and cargo. In 2009, Comet handled over 200 vessels at the ports of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri. In 2005, NAL-COMET acquired a roll-in-roll-out port (RORO) in Lagos which makes it the largest independent port operator in Africa.

Also, South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO) is a Nigerian oil exploration and production company that was created in 1995 by General T. Y. Danjuma. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Nigeria awarded the Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 246 to SAPETRO in February 1998. The block covers a total area of 2,590 square kilometres (1,000 sq mi). SAPETRO partnered with Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd (TUPNI) and Brasoil Oil Services Company Nigeria Ltd (Petrobras) to start prospecting on OPL246. Akpo, a condensate field was discovered in April 2000 with the drilling of the first exploration well (Akpo 1) on the block. Other discoveries made on OPL 246 include the Egina Main, Egina South, Preowei and Kuro (Kuro was suspended as a dry gas/minor oil discovery).

In 2004, SAPETRO’s subsidiary in Benin won through a competitive tender process an oil exploration contract covering 550 square kilometres offshore from the Republic of Benn. In February 2005, SAPETRO was granted Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130 and thereafter the Federal government backed in through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). In June 2006, SAPETRO divested part of its contractor rights and obligations to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC). SAPETRO produced its “first oil” (condensate) on 4 March 20 9. In December 2,009 SAPETRO donated a new state-of-the-art medical centre to the Nasarawa State University. The medical centre, to be known as South Atlantic Petroleum Medical Centre would be available to serve the University and the local and neighbouring communities.

NatCom Development & Investment Limited Nigerian business tycoon, Gen. TY Danjuma, was named Board Chairman by the NatCom Development & Investment Limited “NatCom”, trading as ntel. The announcement was made on Wednesday, July, 2016 following General Danjuma’s inaugural board meeting. ntel commenced commercial operations of its 4G/LTE-Advanced network on 08-04-16 in Lagos and Abuja. ntel is Nigeria’s most advanced mobile 4G/LTE network providing superfast Internet Access that enables high-definition voice, data and video services. ntel’s network is built on the 900/1800 MHz frequency bands which are the best propagation frequencies for the deployment of 4G/LTE technology. ntel’s bouquet of services includes National Bandwidth; International Voice Termination, International Bandwidth; Mobile and Fixed Communications services.

The company made its first on-net test data call in Lagos on Monday, January 18, 2016, and followed this with its first on-net Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) call in Lagos on Thursday, February 25, 2016. Commercial operations commenced on Friday, April 8, 2016. In December 2008, the TY Danjuma Foundation was created in Nigeria. The Foundation’s principal aim is to provide durable advantages through the implementation of development programs. The Foundation plans to operate more as a philanthropic organisation rather than simply as a charity. This would allow for the foundation to seek out other deserving causes and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to partner with and make grants available

Leo Stan Ekeh
Leonard Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh (born February 22, 1956, in Imo State, Nigeria) is a Nigerian businessman. He is the founder and chairman of Zinox Group. He is also the chairman of Konga.com. The billionaire Ekeh, born in Ubomiri Mbaitoli, Imo State, Nigeria attended Holy Ghost College, Owerri for his secondary education. He later went to India for his university education, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Punjab University. Ekeh believes that studying in India was “a great turning point in my life because I found the economy of India a realistic economy”.

Ekeh also earned an MSc in Risk Management from the University of Nottingham. Leo Stan Ekeh started Zinox Technologies Limited in 2001 to manufacture computers. He ensured that at launch Zinox Computers already had the WHQL certification, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, consolidated 5 years later with the attainment of the NIS ISO 2000: 9001 QMS Certification. In October 2013, the company announced the production of its computer tablet line named Zipad. In February 2018, Ekeh’s company Zinox acquired Konga.com from its owners buying 99 percent of the total company shares.

ABC Orjiako

Ambrose Bryant Chukwuemeka Orjiako was born in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, on the 2nd of October 1960 to an Igbo family of late Mr Daniel Obiesie Orjiako and late Mrs Rebecca Orjiako from Umuchima, Uli Anambra State. He had his primary education in Uli and completed his secondary education as a science student in 1978, in the same location — Anambra State, Nigeria.

Dr ABC Orijako gained admission into the University of Calabar to study Medicine and also graduated in 1985 as one of the best students. As a student, he was the Director of the International Federation of Medical Students, African Region and also a chairman of the Standing Committee of the African Medical Students Association. He was further trained as an orthopaedic surgeon; a specialist in trauma management. After years of practice, he was recognised as a fellow at the West African College of Medicine and also the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College.

Dr ABC Orjiako’s company, called Shebah Exploration and Production Company, co-founded SEPLAT with Platform Petroleum Limited. Since the formation of SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company in 2009, Dr ABC Orjiako has been the chairman, thanks to his excellent leadership and management strategies. Since then, the company has recorded massive growth in oil and gas production which has earned her global recognition, including the fact that SEPLAT produces over 8,000 barrels of crude oil per day and owns up to 40 percent of the offshore block.

Under the leadership of Dr ABC Orjiako, SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company made significant impacts on the global oil industry. In 2014, the company established a listing on the Nigerian and London stock exchanges. She also won the Best Africa Listing that same year. SEPLAT was also awarded the Mid-Cap Company of the Year in 2014 by the Oil and Gas Council and won the award of the Global Growth Company award by the World Economic Forum.

A businessman par excellence, Dr ABC Orjiako holds multiple positions and stakes in different companies today. In addition to being the chairman of SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company, he is also the chairman of Zebbra Energy Limited, the CEO of Ordec Group, Helko Marine Services and Shebah Exploration and Production Co. Ltd. Dr ABC Orjiako also has investments in other sectors like real estate, banking, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Alafaa Kariboye Igbo

Born in Buguma, Rivers State, South-south Nigeria on May 21 1981, Alafaa Kariboye Igbo did not think of anything less than to become a successful businessman in life. That was the reason he set out his life from childhood knowing fully well that he must work hard to fulfil his heart’s desire, and it is not surprising to see him ranking among the Nigerian billionaires today. Kariboye-Igbo, popularly known as ‘Oil Money’ is No. 3 among the richest Nigerians in 2021 and has also featured prominently on Wikipedia’s Nigerian billionaires list for 2020 and 2021. To get to this height, Alafaa Kariboye Igbo diversified his business interests in many fields which include real estate, oil and gas, auto dealer, entertainment and philanthropism.

The 40-year-old Kariboye Igbo is one of the Nigerians in the diaspora, who have come through thick and thin to become successful and accomplished through hard work and perseverance. From a very humble beginning, he has been able to develop himself into a result-oriented entrepreneur with a clear and defined mindset to actualize his dreams.

Prince Arthur

Prince Arthur Eze is the Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Oranto Petroleum; he is also a Philanthropist and a Politician. Though we can’t find out his total assets, he is worth billions. His traditional title bestowed upon him is ‘Ozoigbondu’ of Ndi Igbo. He was born on the 27th of November 1948 in Ukpo, Dunukofia LGA, in Anambra State. He is not only the owner of the largest privately-held oil exploration and production companies in Nigeria, but he is also a Prince born into a traditional Royal Family. The Anambra-born billionaire Arthur Eze attended St. Augustin Secondary School in Nkwere, Imo State in 1970. After completing his Secondary School education, he proceeded to California State University to pursue a degree in Mechanical and Chemical Engineering from 1974 to 1978.

In 1991, Arthur Eze founded Atlas Oranto Petroleum and it is now Nigeria’s largest privately held company that specializes in oil production and exploration. Atlas Oranto currently has up to 22 oil and gas licenses in various parts of Africa. Apart from being the largest privately-held oil company in Nigeria, Atlas Oranto is also the largest holder of oil exploration blocks in Africa.

Atlas Oranto by Arthur Eze has its regional offices situated around top countries in West Africa, and its primary technical location is situated in Lagos, Nigeria, with a headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. A year after setting up Atlas Oranto, the business mogul founded Triax Airlines in 1992 following the deregulation of airlines in Nigeria. Before its folding up in 2000, Triax Airlines operated from Enugu Airport and has three Boeing 727s under its operations. In addition to being a businessman, Arthur Eze also has his feet set on politics in Nigeria.

Tony Elumelu

Anthony Onyemaechi Elumelu CFR (born 22 March 1963) is a Nigerian economist and philanthropist. He chairs Heirs Holdings, Transcorp, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and is the founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation. In 2020, Elumelu was named on Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

The billionaire studied Economics at Bendel State University (now Ambrose Alli University) obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree. Afterwards, he studied and received a Master of Science degree in Economics at the University of Lagos. Tony Elumelu hails from Onicha-Ukwu in Aniocha North Local government area of Delta State. Tony Elumelu is one of the wealthiest men in Nigeria and Africa and is said to be worth billions. He made his wealth from investments in financial services, real estate, hospitality, healthcare, power, oil, and gas, etc.

Benedict Peters

Benedict Peters is a Nigerian billionaire businessman with extensive assets in the oil and gas and mining industries. He is the founder and CEO of Aiteo, Africa’s largest indigenous oil producer, and Bravura Holdings, a vertically integrated mining company developing platinum, lithium, steel, copper, and gold assets in countries throughout Africa, including Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Libya, Tanzania, and South Africa.

Peters graduated from the University of Benin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning, majoring in Geomorphology.
In November 2023, Aiteo recorded a historic milestone in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector when it launched a new grade of crude called Nembe through a joint venture with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The Nembe crude oil grade has a low sulphur content and low carbon footprint due to flare gas elimination, which meets the required specifications of major buyers in Europe.

The Nembe crude stream will be managed and marketed by a joint venture between NNPC and Aiteo Eastern E&P Co. Ltd. It is the first such crude marketing project solely run by Nigerian entities. In December 2023, Aiteo expanded its global energy presence by acquiring a substantial stake in Mozambique’s Mazenga gas block, which is the largest onshore gas reserve in Africa. The acquisition, achieved through agreements with Mozambique’s state oil firm Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH), grants Aiteo operational control over the block that spans around 23,000 square kilometres and contains 19 trillion cubic feet of gas. Aiteo has already initiated an extensive development program encompassing aeromagnetic and gravitational studies, field surveys, and data reprocessing.

Peters has rapidly diversified Aiteo by founding Aiteo Power, where he serves as chairman. He also leads the Aiteo Consortium and EMA Consortium, which have won separate bids to acquire three power-generating companies. Ventures Africa ranked Peters as the 17th richest person in Africa and the seventh richest in Nigeria

Emeka Offor

Emeka Offor (born February 10, 1959) is a Nigerian oil magnate, philanthropist and entrepreneur. He is the former chairman of Erhc Energy Inc., the CEO of Chrome Group, one of the leading West African oil and gas conglomerates, and the founder of the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation. Offor hails from Irefi Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Chrome Oil Services Limited transformed into The Chrome Group in 1994. Emeka Offor set up The Chrome Group in 1994 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The organization right now utilizes more than 800 individuals and it’s a main multi-million dollar aggregate with interests in oil and gas, power, coordination, protection, broadcasting, and media communications. The organisation has a solid presence in Nigeria, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The organizations worldwide and nearby accomplices incorporate China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, Cameron, Divikom, USA, Enikkom Investment Services Nigeria Ltd, Yokogawa Europe, Rohde and Schwarz International, Liaoyang Steel Tube Co. Ltd, Huawei International, Dextron Group, Kaduna Consult Brazil, Construction and Mining Service Inc. Chrome Group has a few auxiliary organizations and they incorporate Kaztec Engineering Ltd, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Chrome Oil Services, Global Scan frameworks Technology Limited (GSTL), Inland Containers Nigeria Ltd, Nimek Investment Ltd, Blaze 91.5 FM, Kiss 99.9 FM, Starcrest Nigeria, Kingsbury Trading Ltd, Global Scan frameworks Limited (GSL), and Interstate Electrics Ltd.

Razaq Okoya

Chief Razak Akanni Okoya (born in Lagos on 12 January 1940) is a billionaire industrialist and the Aare of Lagos. He is the owner and founder of the Eleganza group of companies, which has a market spanning Western Africa. Razak Okoya is a Yoruba man from the southwestern part of Nigeria. He was born to the family of Tiamiyu Ayinde Okoya in Lagos. Today, under his Chairmanship, Eleganza Industries produces a wide range of household goods and utensils including cutlery, collieries, food warmers, ice chests, electric fans, cosmetics and ballpoint pens.

His factory locations include Oregun-Ikeja, Isolo, Alaba and Iganmu, the Company now directly employs over five thousand Nigerians and non-Nigerians including those working in his RAO Property Investment Company. Okoya’s Eleganza Group is one of the biggest homegrown conglomerates in Nigeria today, with over six factories, and its products are household names in Nigeria’s neighbouring African markets.

Ibrahim Babangida

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida GCFR (born 17 August 1941) is a Nigerian retired general and statesman who served as military president of Nigeria from 1985 until his resignation in 1993. He rose through the ranks to serve from 1984 to 1985 as Chief of Army Staff, going on to orchestrate his seizure of power in a coup d’état against Muhammadu Buhari.

He rose through the ranks of the Nigerian Army fighting in the Nigerian Civil War and at various times being involved in almost all the military coups in Nigeria, before advancing to the full rank of a General and ultimately as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces; and as an unelected President and military dictator from 1985 to 1993, ruling for an uninterrupted period of eight years.

Babangida is rumoured to be worth over $5 billion. He is believed to secretly possess a multi-billion dollar fortune via successive ownership of stakes in a number of Nigerian companies. Forbes assumed in 2011 that shortly before the Second Gulf War Babangida channelled $12 billion of unplanned profits (“oil windfall”) into his own pocket (the oil price jumped from $15 /barrel to $41.15/barrel within weeks in 1990 and then crashed almost as quickly to the old value).

The Babangida regime oversaw the establishment of a state security apparatus; survived two coup d’ètat attempts and the subsequent execution of Mamman Vatsa (1985) and Gideon Orkar (1991) alongside the trial of hundreds of soldiers; assassination in Lagos of Dele Giwa (1986).[4] The regime also faced a series of ethnic and religious outbreaks related to the fallout of Babangida’s decision to increase cooperation with the Muslim world and the rise in extremist tendencies. On the continent, his rule projected the country as a regional power with diplomatic successes including the Abuja Treaty and the military engagement of Nigerian troops in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Umaru Abdul Mutallab
Umaru Abdul Mutallab (born 15 December 1939) is a Nigerian businessman and financier, who served under the military government of General Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo. Mutallab was described by The New York Times as “among Nigeria’s richest and most prominent men”, by The Telegraph as being “one of Nigeria’s most prominent bankers”, and by The Guardian as being “one of the country’s most respected businessmen”.

Orji Uzor Kalu

Orji Uzor Kalu (born 21 April 1960) is a Nigerian politician and businessman who is the senator representing Abia North Senatorial District. He served as governor of Abia State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. Kalu is the chairman of SLOK Holding and the Daily Sun and New Telegraph newspapers in Nigeria.

Prior to his election, he served as the chairman of the Borno Water Board and the chairman of the Cooperative and Commerce Bank Limited. Kalu was also a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and the chairman of the PPA Board of Trustees.
He was the party’s presidential candidate in the April 2007 general election. He is currently a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) after he officially announced his resignation as the PPA BOT chair.

Orji Uzor Kalu contested in the 2019 Nigerian general election to represent the people of Abia North in the senate, running under the banner of All Progressives Congress. The billionaire attended Christ the King School Aba and Government College Umuahia. After studying at Barewa College, Zaria, he enrolled in the University of Maiduguri where he studied political science.

With only $35 to his name that he had borrowed from his mother, Kalu began trading palm oil, first buying the oil from Nigeria’s eastern regions and then selling it in the country’s northern regions. He then began buying and reselling furniture on a large scale.

Kalu eventually established SLOK Holding, a conglomerate that would consist of a number of successful companies, including the 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.

Kalu became the youngest Nigerian to receive the National Merit Award from President Ibrahim Babangida, at the age of 26 in 1986. He was selected as the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce’s Industrialist of the Year and awarded the Humanitarian Award of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s Humanitarian Club, the Volunteer Award of the International Association of Volunteers, the National Merit Award, the EU Special Award in Brussels, and the World Bank Leon Sullivan Award.

Aminu Dantata

Aminu Dantata (born 19 May 1931) is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist who is one of the promoters of Kano State Foundation, an endowment fund that supports educational initiatives and provides grants to small-scale entrepreneurs in Kano. The billionaire is the head of a group of companies that manages his real estate and other business ventures.

Dantata is the founder of Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd and one of the organizers of Jaiz Bank in Nigeria. In 1978, he was a member of the National Movement, an organization that later transformed into the National Party of Nigeria. Dantata assumed executive leadership of Alhassan Dantata and Sons in 1960. Established by his father as a commodity firm trading in groundnut, kola nut and a few other commodities,

Dantata later invested in some foreign enterprises operating in Nigeria. Between 1960 and 1980, it operated the following divisions: The building and construction division whose contracts included the Defense Academy in Kaduna, an extension to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria and a civil aviation training school in Zaria. A Merchandise division that was founded in the middle of the 1970s traded in building materials primarily in Northern Nigeria. Northern Amalgamated and Marketing Company Limited, this unit has two main parts, a fertilizer division generally supplying governments and a technical division trading in WARD generators and Barford construction equipment. The firm maintained a division that held a Mercedes Benz dealership and another that maintained a terminal at Warri Port. By the 1990s, the group had changed its identity to become the Dantata Organization with additional investment in oil exploration through Express Petroleum.

Abdulsalami Abubakar

Abdulsalami Abubakar, born 13 June 1942 is a Nigerian statesman and retired Nigerian army general who served as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1998 to 1999. He was also Chief of Defence Staff from 1997 to 1998. He succeeded General Sani Abacha upon the latter’s death. During his leadership, Nigeria adopted a modified version of the 1979 constitution, which provided for multiparty elections. He transferred power to President-elect Olusegun Obasanjo on 29 May 1999. He is the current Chairman of the National Peace Committee.

Cletus Ibeto

Cletus Madubugwu Ibeto (born November 6, 1952) is a Nigerian billionaire businessman from the industrial city of Nnewi. He is head of The Ibeto Group, the largest business enterprise from Nnewi, a city unique for its entrepreneurial spirit. In the early 1980s, when the oil crash and a controversial import licensing system was making a dent in the Nigerian manufacturing environment, Nnewi went through a growth period.

The Ibeto Group under the Ibeto’s leadership was a pacesetter in the region and nation’s trading and later manufacturing development. Cletus Ibeto started out as a spare parts import dealer, after spending some time as an apprentice in the motor parts business, a gradual step taken by many eastern traders. In March 1988 he stopped the direct importation of lead-acid automotive batteries and plastic motor accessories, after completing his factory in Nnewi. By 1995 The Ibeto Group had become one of the largest auto spare parts manufacturing outfits in the country.

On October 2, 1996, he established Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Ltd. which is engaged in the blending of oil lubricants as well as the production of various types of petroleum products for local and international markets. The Company owns one of the largest liquid storage facilities for petroleum products in Nigeria with a capacity of over 60,000 metric tonnes located at Apapa Wharf and the Ibru Port Complex, Lagos.

In May 2018, Ibeto Cement Company Limited announced a reverse merger with Century Petroleum Corporation, a United States publicly traded petroleum exploration and production company in a move to enter global markets and bypass the complex process of listing. Ibeto acquired a 70 percent controlling stake of the company and Cletus Ibeto was subsequently made the Chairman of the Board of Directors. He graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with a degree in Accountancy.

Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma

Chief Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma CON (born 1 October 1961) is a Nigerian business magnate and investor. Innocent Chukwuma was born in 1961 at Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra State.

He is the last of six children born to Mr and Mrs Chukwuma Mojekwu of Uru-Umudim Nnewi, Anambra State. He is the founder and CEO of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Nigeria’s first indigenous automobile manufacturing company.
He also worked as a computer science teacher at Haydon School, Pinner, UK. In 1981, after his education, Innocent began trading in spare parts, a very lucrative business in South East Nigeria. He then founded the company Innoson Group with Innoson Manufacturing and Innoson Tech. & Industries Co. Ltd as its subsidiaries.

Obinna “Obi” Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana)

Obinna “Obi” Iyiegbu (born 12 April 1975), best known as Obi Cubana, is a Nigerian businessman, socialist, entertainer and philanthropist. He currently chairs the Cubana Group. Iyiegbu is the Chairman/Founder of the Cubana Group. Iyiegbu’s career as an entrepreneur started in 2006 when he founded a nightclub called Ibiza Club in Abuja. In 2009, he established a hospitality club called Cubana in Owerri, Imo State.

Other establishments under the Cubana Group include: Opium By Cubana, Owerri, The Grind by Cubana, Lagos, Montana by Cubana, Lagos, Pablo by Cubana, Lagos, Cubana Signature, Abuja, Puzzo by Cubana, Abuja, Caledonian Suites, Abuja, Crave by Cubana, Abuja, Hustle and Bustle, Abuja, Grand Cubana Hotels, Abuja, and Cubana Gustavo, Enugu.

He is now one of the most influential and successful businessmen in Nigeria, with a significant presence in the hospitality, entertainment, and real estate industries. The success of the Cubana Group has made Obi Cubana a billionaire, with an estimated net worth of over $500 million.

As the chairman of Cubana Trading and Investment Company Ltd, Obinna Iyiegbu also ventured into another line of business with Odogwu Bitters. Odogwu Bitters (an herbal alcoholic drink with an energy booster) is sold both locally and internationally. Others in addition to Odogwu Bitters are Odogwu Hammer, Odogwu Hush and Odogwu Malay.

Obi Cubana attended Dennis Memorial Grammar School for his secondary education. After his secondary education, he proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1998.

Emmanuel Nnamdi Uba (Andy Uba)
Uba was born on 14 December 1958 in Enugu and attended the Boys High School in Awkunanaw. His parents originated from Uga in the Aguata LGA of Anambra State. Andy Uba is a Nigerian politician who served as Senator for the Anambra South Senatorial District of Anambra State from 2011 to 2019. Uba also won the 2007 Anambra State gubernatorial election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party but was declared unduly elected by the Supreme Court of Nigeria a month later. He defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in February 2017, the leadership crises engulfing the former ruling party PDP may have motivated his decision.

David Adedeji Adeleke (Davido)

David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), who is known professionally as Davido, is a Nigerian-American singer, songwriter and record producer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important Afrobeats artists of the 21st century and is credited alongside Burna Boy and Wizkid for popularizing the genre globally. Davido, the son of Nigeria’s wealthy politician, Chief Adeleke, claims the spot as the third-richest musician in Nigeria in 2023, boasting an impressive average of 20 million YouTube views per video. Davido was born in Atlanta, United States, and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He made his music debut as a member of the group KB International. Davido studied business administration at Oakwood University before dropping out to make beats and record vocal references. He rose to fame after releasing [Dami Duro], the second single from his debut studio album Omo Baba Olowo (2012), from which six additional singles—”Back When”, “Ekuro”, “Overseas”, “All of You”, “Gbon Gbon” and “Feel Alright”—were taken. In 2012, Davido won the Next Rated award at The Headies. Between 2013 and 2015, he released the hit singles “Gobe”, “One of a Kind”, “Skelewu”, “Aye”, “Tchelete (Goodlife)”, “Naughty”, “Owo Ni Koko”, “The Sound” and “The Money”.

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (Wizkid)
Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun (born 16 July 1990), known professionally as Wizkid, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. A prominent figure in the modern-day Afrobeats music scene, he is regarded as one of the most commercially successful and influential artists of the genre.

As of 2023, Wizkid’s net worth stands at an impressive $45 million, solidifying his status as one of Nigeria’s wealthiest musicians. In terms of ranking among Nigerian musicians, Wizkid consistently remains at the top of the charts, both in terms of popularity and earnings.

Wizkid began recording music at the age of 11 and released a collaborative album with the Glorious Five (5), a group he and a couple of his church friends formed. In 2009, Wizkid signed a record deal with Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment (E.M.E). He later rose to the limelight after releasing “Holla at Your Boy”, the lead single from his debut studio album, Superstar (2011), which also spawned the singles “Tease Me/Bad Guys” and “Don’t Dull”.

In September 2014, he released the self-titled second studio album, Ayo. The album was supported by six singles, including the song “Jaiye Jaiye”. Wizkid left E.M.E. after his contract expired. In 2016, Wizkid achieved international recognition following his collaboration with Drake on the hit single “One Dance”, which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in 14 additional countries.

The song broke multiple records, making Wizkid the first Afrobeats artist to appear in the Guinness World Records. In March 2017, he signed a multi-album deal with RCA Records and released his third studio album Sounds from the Other Side, later that year. The album was supported by five singles, including “Come Closer” featuring Drake.

In 2018, he was featured on the song “Checklist” by Normani and Calvin Harris, which reached number one on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart. The following year, he was featured on Beyoncé’s project The Lion King: The Gift on the single “Brown Skin Girl”, which also reached number-one on the World Digital Song Sales chart, and won him a Grammy Award for Best Music Video. In October 2020, he released his fourth album, Made in Lagos, which received commercial success and acclaim, reaching number one on the Billboard World Album Chart. The album includes the single “Essence” featuring Tems, which became the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top ten following a remix released by Justin Bieber. Wizkid’s fifth album More Love, Less Ego was released on 11 November 2022.

Ifeanyi Ubah

Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah (born 3 September 1971), is a Nigerian Politician, entrepreneur and businessman currently serving as Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate. The billionaire is the CEO of Capital Oil (CCO), which he founded in 2001. Capital oil facilities and outlets are domiciled mostly in Southeast and Southwest Nigeria with one of the largest Tank farms for petroleum products storage and distribution in Lagos.

Ifeanyi was born as the first son of seven children to Mr. & Mrs. Alphonsus Ubah in Otolo, one of the four quarters of Nnewi in Anambra State, Nigeria. Due to the inability of his parents to cater for the educational and material needs of their children, Ifeanyi dropped out of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja to learn trade at a young age. He has attended several local and international business courses and seminars in leadership and business management.

Ifeanyi became an exporter of motor tyres and spare parts majorly in West Africa including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and DR Congo before he expanded his business ventures in some countries in Europe including Belgium and the United Kingdom. In 2001, he founded Capital Oil and Gas Limited. He is the founder of The Authority Newspaper, a Nigerian daily newspaper and also the owner of Ifeanyi Ubah F.C., a football club in the Nigeria Premier League, following its purchase as Gabros International Football Club.

Mohammed Indimi

Mohammed Indimi (born 12 August 1947) is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder and chairman of Oriental Energy Resources (OER), a privately held Nigerian oil exploration and production company. As of October 2023, his net worth was estimated at $500 million by Forbes.

However, his net worth plummeted due to crashing oil prices as well as the floating of the Naira. The billionaire is from Maiduguri the capital of Borno State. He could not attend formal school because his father could not afford to sponsor his formal Western education but still managed to learn how to speak, read and write.

At the age of 10, Indimi followed his father to local markets around Borno to trade animal hides and skins. In 1963, he became independent and started his own business after he collected a 100-pound loan from his friend Alhaji Umar Tela which he used as a start-up. Eventually, he decided to expand into selling clothes which were imported from Chad and Cameroon. In 1990, Indimi got oil prospecting license granted by the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida regime. He established an oil and gas firm named Oriental Energy Resources (OER). Indimi served as chairman and board member of several companies including Jaiz Bank.

Oba Otudeko

Oba Otudeko is a Nigerian businessman who serves as the founder and chairman of the Honeywell Group. He was a former chairman of FBN Holdings and founder of the Oba Otudeko Foundation. As of June 2017, his estimated net worth was $550 million.

Ayoola Oba Otudeko was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, South-West Nigeria on 18 August 1943 to a royal family, thus making him an Omoba of the Yoruba people. He studied at St. John’s School, Oke Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State, and Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo. Later, he studied Accountancy at the Leeds College of Commerce in Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom (which is now part of Leeds Beckett University).

Professionally, Oba Otudeko is a Chartered Banker, Chartered Accountant and Chartered Corporate Secretary. Oba Otudeko has also attended executive management training programmes at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), Harvard Business School and Hult International Business School (then known as Arthur D. Little School of Management). Oba Otudeko was in bank employment for 23 years, rising to become General Manager and acting Chief Executive Officer of the Cooperative Bank, Ibadan.

He retired from the bank in 1983. The Federal government of Nigeria appointed him a Director to the Board of the Central Bank of Nigeria. In the 1970s, Oba Otudeko founded Honeywell Enterprises. The trading enterprise company later grew into Honeywell Group, a diversified industrial, trading and investment conglomerate.

Olusegun Obasanjo

Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo (born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian retired military General and statesman who served as Nigeria’s head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its president from 1999 to 2007. Ideologically a Nigerian nationalist, he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1998 to 2015, and since 2018. In December 2017, Obasanjo defended his PhD thesis at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). He now holds a Ph.D. in theology. That was about two years after he completed his master’s degree in the same course.

He’s into agriculture (Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited), garment business, hospitality and real estate, etc. His Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library is a library is historic, tourist and academic centre.

Atiku Abubakar

Atiku Abubakar (born 25 November 1956) is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. He ran as governor of Adamawa State in 1990, 1996, and 1998, when he was finally elected before he became Obasanjo’s running mate during the 1999 presidential election and was re-elected in 2003. Atiku Abubakar ran unsuccessfully for President of Nigeria six times, in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.

Abubakar worked in the Nigeria Customs Service for twenty years, rising to become the Deputy Director, the second highest position in the Service was then known; he retired in April 1989 and took up full-time business and politics.

He started out in the real estate business during his early days as a Customs Officer. He’s into real estate, transportation, etc. “My first foray into agriculture, in the 1980s, ended in failure,” he wrote in an April 2014 blog. He then ventured into trading, buying and selling truckloads of rice, flour and sugar.

Conflict of interest accusations have since trailed him on account of his involvement in business while a civil servant, who exercised supervisory authority. On his part, Abubakar has defended the decision, saying his involvement was limited to the ownership of shares (which government rules permitted), and that he was not involved in the day-to-day running of the business.

His company NICOTES would later be rebranded into INTELS. He is also the founder of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa.

It was founded in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State as the American University of Nigeria (AUN) by Abubakar in 2005.

Cosmos Maduka

Cosmas Maduka (born December 24, 1958) is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, the founder, president, and chairman of the Coscharis Group.

In 2015, Maduka was featured in the Forbes Africa TV Series “Worst Day with Peace Hyde” and was estimated to be worth $500million. Maduka, an Igbo Christian from Nnewi, Anambra State was born into the family of Mr. Peter and Mrs. Rose Maduka in the City of Jos. Maduka began his entrepreneurial journey at the age of six, two years after his father died. He dropped out of primary school and started hawking Akara, a popular Nigerian food staple made from beans to support his mother.

Maduka formally ventured into business at the age of 17 after being wrongly dismissed with the sum of N200.00 by his uncle who had earlier engaged him as an automobile apprentice. He co-founded a spare parts company known as CosDave with his friend named Dave. The startup also failed sooner than expected and Maduka went on to found Coscharis Motor with the sum of N300 which focused on sales of automobile spare parts in 1977.

The name of the company according to him is a combination of his first name, Cosmos, and his wife, Charity, whom he married at age 21. Maduka’s business breakthrough started in 1982 when the Nigerian government granted ten (10) motor companies import licenses, for which Coscharis was selected.

Today, the Coscharis Group is a conglomerate with a net worth of $500 million with several subsidiaries including Manufacturing, ICT, Petrochemical, Auto care and Auto Components, Automobile Sales and Services, Agric, and Agro Allied business sectors. Coscharis Motors is a leading distributor of several brands of luxury cars including Range Rover, Ford, and Jaguar.

Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi

Ernest Nnaemeka Azudialu Obiejesi (born April 17, 1960) is a Nigerian business magnate and philanthropist. He is the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Nestoil and the founder of the Obijackson Foundation. Born in Okija, Anambra (Nigeria), Azudialu Obiejesi first joined his father’s family business in 1978 before setting up his first company, Obijackson West Africa Limited, that traded goods across West Africa. Azudialu Obiejesi’s flagship company Nestoil is a Nigerian Engineering, Procurement, Construction & Commissioning (EPCC) company servicing the oil and gas industry. Obiejesi is also the founder and chairman of the Obijackson Foundation, a private charity foundation based in Anambra, Southeast Nigeria. The primary goal of the foundation is to improve socio-economic well-being through better access to good quality education, empowerment, skill acquisition, infrastructural development and healthcare. Cultural enrichment, particularly in the Igbo culture, is also a major focus for the Foundation through its Face of Okija Cultural Festival.

Alhaji Sayyu Dantata

Alhaji Sayyu Idris Dantata is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MRS Holdings Ltd, formerly known as the MRS Group. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Morris Brown College Atlanta- Georgia, USA. Dantata is also a Non-Executive Director of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited since 2008. The billionaire business magnate also served as a Director at MRS Holdings Ltd and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc. He was the board chairman of MRS Nigeria Plc (08/2012–07/2017), Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc (03/2009–08/2012), and Mobil Nigeria Plc. He started his career as the transport director with the Dangote group, one of Nigeria’s leading conglomerates and rose through the organisation.

Peter Odili

Peter Otunuya Odili (born 15 August 1948) is a Nigerian politician who was the third governor of Rivers State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. Odili is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. Peter Odili born in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State graduated from the Medical School of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and pursued post-graduate work in Tropical Medicine at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. Dr. Peter Odili is married to Justice Mary Ukaego Odili. In 1988/89, Odili was elected member and leader of Rivers State Delegates to the Constituent Assembly. In 1992, he was elected as the Deputy Governor of Rivers State. After the Nigerian Third Republic ended, he was again elected to the National Constitutional Conference and became the Conference Committee Chairman on State Creation. Odili thereafter became the National Secretary of the defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN). Odili was elected governor of Rivers State during the 1999 Rivers State gubernatorial election and was re-elected in April 2003.

Stanley Uzochukwu(Stanel)

Stanley Uzochukwu is a Nigerian politician, philanthropist and business tycoon. He is the founder and chairman of Stanel Group of companies. He was described by Babajide Sanwo-Olu as a Nigerian role model. In 2021, Stanley was appointed as a member of the Governing Council and Boards of Directors of Igbinedion University and the UNIZIK Business School.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (born 29 March 1952) is a Nigerian politician who is the 16th and current president of Nigeria. He was the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, and senator for Lagos West in the Third Republic. Tinubu spent his early life in southwestern Nigeria and later moved to the United States where he studied accounting at Chicago State University. He returned to Nigeria in the early 1990s and was employed by Mobil Nigeria as an accountant, before entering politics as a Lagos West senatorial candidate in 1992 under the banner of the Social Democratic Party. After the military head of state Sani Abacha dissolved the Senate in 1993, Tinubu became an activist campaigning for the return of democracy as a part of the National Democratic Coalition movement.

Peter Obi

Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi (born 19 July 1961) is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as governor of Anambra from March to November 2006, February to May 2007, and June 2007 to March 2014. In May 2022, he became the Labour Party candidate for President of Nigeria in the 2023 presidential election, after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party. Born in Onitsha in 1961, Obi graduated from the University of Nigeria in 1984. Afterwards, he entered business and banking, eventually holding several executive positions in several banks. Obi was a businessman before he ventured into politics. He held leadership positions in some private establishments. Some of the companies he served include Next International Nigeria Ltd, Chairman and Director of Guardian Express Mortgage Bank Ltd, Guardian Express Bank Plc, Future View Securities Ltd, Paymaster Nigeria Ltd, Chams Nigeria Ltd, Data Corp Ltd and Card Centre Ltd. He was the youngest chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc.

Tunde Folawiyo

Tunde Folawiyo is the MD of Yinka Folawiyo Group. He is a Nigerian billionaire businessman born on 12th April 1960. The Yinka Folawiyo Group is a company with other subsidiaries that explore the energy industry, shipping, agriculture and real estate. The company was founded by him after and he took over after his father’s demise. Tunde Folawiyo also explored the field of banking which earned his service as the chairman of Coronation Merchant Bank. He is currently a director of MTN Nigeria Tunde is also a lawyer called to bar in England and he practiced for a while before he ventured into business proper.

Rochas Okorocha

Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha (born 22 September 1962) is a Nigerian politician of Igbo extraction, from Imo State. From 2011 to 2019 he served as Governor of Imo State. He represented Imo West senatorial district at the 9th Nigerian Senate. He attended Juladaco High School in Jos from 1976 to 1981, and from 1990 to 1991 he studied at the University of Jos, obtaining a diploma in Public Administration.

He returned to the university from 1993 to 1994, to obtain an advanced diploma in Public Administration. His career positions include President, of Nigeria Red Cross Society, President/Founder, Rochas Foundation Inc, President, Rochas Group of Companies Limited, Pro-Chancellor, African Business School and Former Chairman, Board of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

Samuel Adedoyin

Prince Samuel Adedoyin is a renowned and well-celebrated Nigerian billionaire industrialist and philanthropist. He is the chairman of the Doyin Group. Samuel Adedoyin was not born lucky; he was not from a rich home. He struggled from scratch to achieve his wealth. He began with small businesses and from where he started importation. He ventured into the production of leather bags and shoes, soaps, detergents, beverages, food, agricultural produce and pharmaceuticals. He is also into the real estate business.

Dele Fajemirokun

The billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Oladele Fajemirokun is one of the richest Yoruba men in Nigeria and one of the richest people in Nigeria. He was born in 1949 and hails from Ondo State. He is a venture capitalist, an investor and an entrepreneur. Dele owes shares in numerous businesses. He is the face behind the popular Chicken Republic, one of the largest eatery in Nigeria today. He is also the chairman of AIICO Insurance Company Plc.

Chief Michael Ade Ojo
Michael Ade Ojo is a Nigerian business mogul, an entrepreneur and a philanthropist. He was born on 14th June 1938. He hails from Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State. He is the founder of Elizade Group of Companies, a subsidiary of which Elizade Motors specializes in the distribution of various brands automobiles of automobiles until the company particularized on the distribution of Toyota. He founded Elizade University, Ondo State. He serves on a number of boards such as Toyota Nigeria Ltd, Nigeria and Crown Drinks Ltd, FCMB, Eco bank, Custodian and Allied Insurance Plc, Moore Sofitel Company Limited and so on.

Allen Onyema

Allen Ifechukwu Onyema (born 1964) is a Nigerian lawyer and entrepreneur. He is the chief executive officer of Air Peace, which he established in 2013. He was born in March 1964 in Benin City to Michael and Helen Onyema as the first of nine children. He hails from Mbosi in Ihiala Local Government Area Anambra State, Nigeria. Allen studied law at the University of Ibadan and graduated in 1987. He attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 1989. He attended several Schools including Government College, Ughelli, Delta State. He left Government College in 1984 having obtained his Higher School Certificate and was directly offered admission to read law at Nigeria’s Premier University, The University of Ibadan in the same year.

Tony Ezenna

Tony Ifeanyichukwu Ezenna (born 21 April 1957) is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He founded Orange Drugs Nigeria Limited, a company that specializes in the distribution of pharmaceutical and beauty products from Indonesia, Germany, Italy, and the United States to Nigeria. Ezenna was born in Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria, where he grew up before moving to Onitsha. He attended St. David primary school in Owerre Akokwa, followed by Christ the King College, Onitsha for his high school education. He later paused his education due to financial hardship and joined his father’s business. He has investments in real estate, hospitality, and oil and gas.

Ned Nwoko

Prince Chinedu Munir Nwoko (born 21 December 1960) popularly known as Ned Nwoko is a Nigerian lawyer, philanthropist and politician. Prince Chinedu (Ned) Munir Nwoko was born into the Nwoko Royal Family, Idumuje Ugboko Kingdom in Aniocha North Local Government Area. He is currently a senator representing Delta North Senatorial District.

He had primary and secondary education in Nigeria before moving to the United Kingdom where he got his first degree in Law and History at the University of Keele, Staffordshire UK. He also attended King’s College London, where he obtained an LLM in maritime and commercial law. Ned

Nwoko was subsequently called to the English bar, at Lincoln’s Inn.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree in Letters (D.Litt) by Commonwealth University College, Belize, North America. Nwoko began his legal career with a brief start at the crown prosecution service and qualified as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He worked at Kumars Solicitors and Pascaldiers & Co Solicitors before establishing Ned Nwoko & Co Solicitors in London.

Nwoko was secretary general, of Nigerian Legal Practitioners UK, a Member of the Law Society, England and Wales and a visiting adviser to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, based in London. At the peak of his legal sojourn in the UK, he had the biggest black law firm in England and was recognized as the best black lawyer of African descent in England in 1995.

He was a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Delta State. In January 2020, he undertook a symbolic expedition to Antarctica to flag off a Malaria Eradication Project.

Gabriel Igbinedion

Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion (born 11 September 1934) is a Nigerian businessman, philanthropist, and founder of Igbinedion University, a private university in Nigeria. He is renowned for his contributions to education, business, and philanthropy in Nigeria. He is a traditional aristocrat from Okada town in Edo State and holds the chieftaincy title of the Esama of the Benin Kingdom. The title Esama traditionally means the “Son of the People”, with responsibilities including assisting the poor in many forms. The Esama of Benin’s business empire includes an international property portfolio and a private TV and radio station, called Independent Radio (92.3 FM) and Television. He owns a private bank, oil refinery, diamond, gold, and marble mines all over Africa, a private university (Igbinedion University, the first private university in Nigeria, located at Okada town) and a large number of hotels. He previously owned the now-defunct private airline, Okada Air, of over 40 aircraft (planes and helicopters).

Nyesom Wike

Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON (born 13 December 1967) is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who has served as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory since 2023. He is the current FCT Minister who previously served as the governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023.
He is an igbo-Ikwerre from Umuepirikom in Obio-Akpor, Rivers State. He is a member of the People’s Democratic Party and was educated at Rivers State University of Science and Technology.

Wike was elected as a two-term Executive Chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Area from 1999 to 2007. He was appointed Minister of State for Education on 14 July 2011. Wike was later appointed the Acting Minister of Education after Ruqayyah Ahmed Rufa’i was sacked but resigned before finishing his term to campaign for governor of Rivers State. He was replaced by Viola Onwuliri. In 2014, he won the Rivers State People’s Democratic Party primary and chose former Secretary to the State Government Ipalibo Banigo as his running mate for deputy governor.

Akanimo Asuquo Udofia

Akanimo Asuquo Udofia, from Akwa Ibom State, is the MD/Chief Executive Officer of Desicon Engineering Ltd. He specializes in oil and gas, construction, electrical utility, and other sectors in Nigeria, Chad, and Ghana. The billionaire from Akwa Ibom holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Uyo. Forbes magazine declared him a billionaire in 2014. He is a philanthropist as well as an entrepreneur. He has $900 million in contracts under his belt.