Top 20 Most Richest Men in Nigeria

In this article I will be sharing with you the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria. These men have contributed immensely to the economy growth and development of Nigeria. They started from nowhere and today they have companies scattered all over the world with millions of staffs and generating over billions of naira annually. So therefore, after a careful study and research we present to you the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

20. Leo Stan Ekeh

Leo Stan Ekeh is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zinox Group and also the founder of Konga.com. He was born in Ubomiri Mbaitoli, Imo State to a middle-class family with three brothers and two sisters. Leo Stan Ekeh attended Holy Ghost College, Owerri for his secondary school education. After which he went to India for his university education, where he received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Economics from Punjab University in India. He is currently married with two lovely children. Leo Stan Ekeh has an estimated net worth of over $400 million and currently number 20 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

19. Tony Ezenna

Tony Ezenna is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Orange Group, a leading pharmaceutical company in Nigeria. He was born on April, 1957 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in the south southern part of Nigeria. He hails from Akokwa, Ideato Local Government Area of Imo State in the south eastern part of Nigeria. He is currently 62 years old. After 13 years of apprenticeship and tutelage under his father, Tony Ezenna went on to establish his own pharmaceutical company, Orange Drugs Limited, leveraging on leadership and managerial skills he acquired from his experience with Eastern Industrial Chemist. Tony Ezenna has an estimated net worth of over $430 million and currently number 19 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

18. Ifeanyi Ubah

Ifeanyi Ubah is a Nigerian entrepreneur, politician, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Capital Oil. He was born on 3rd September 1971 in Otolo Nnewi, Anambra State in the south eastern part of Nigeria. He is currently 47 years old. Ifeanyi Ubah was born as the first son in a family of seven children to Mr. and Mrs. Alphonsus Ubah in Abuja the capital city of Nigeria. Due to the inability of his parents to cater for the educational and material needs of their children, Ifeanyi Ubah dropped out from school to learn trade at a young age. He has attended several local and international business courses and seminars in leadership and business management. Ifeanyi Uba has an estimated net worth of over $450 million and currently number 18 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

17. Dele Fajemirokun

Dele Fajemirokun is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aiico Insurance Nigeria Plc, Xerox HS (Nigeria) Limited, Kings Guards Limited, Logic Sciences Limited, Spar Aerospace and GS Telecom amongst others. After completing his primary and secondary school education, Dele Fajemirokun graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State in the south western part of Nigeria. His Father, Henry Fajemirokun founded a business exporting hides and skins, rubber, coffee, shea nuts and a shipping company known as Nigeria Maritime Services in 1962 and also formed the Henry Stephens Group of Companies with three other shipping firms in which Dele Fajemirokun served as Chairman and a major Shareholder of the company. Dele Fajemirokun has an estimated net worth of over $500 million and currently number 17 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

16. Prince Samuel Adedoyin

Prince Samuel Adedoyin is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Doyin Group. Prince Samuel Adedoyin is a native of Agbamu in Kwara State, but was born and bred in Lagos both in the south western part of Nigeria. Prince Samuel Adedoyin is also a philanthropist and a diligent, shrewd and serious businessman, who commenced his exploits with petty trading, but has now expanded his business into manufacturing, real estate, hospitality and energy, among others. Today, he has acquired so much wealth and currently on Forbes list. Prince Samuel Adedoyin has an estimated net worth of over $540 million and currently number 16 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

15. Emeka Offor

Emeka Offor is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chrome Group, a company he founded in 1994 and which employs over 800 people and is also a leading oil and gas conglomerate based in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. He was born in 1957 in Kafanchan, a small town in Kaduna State in the northern part of Nigeria. He is currently 62 years old. He created the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) to help people in need become independent and self-sufficient. Emeka Offor is originally from Oraifite in Anambra State in the south eastern part of Nigeria. He attended Abbot secondary school and Merchant of Life School in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Emeka Offor has an estimated net worth of over $570 million and currently number 15 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

14. Alhaji Sayyu Dantata

Alhaji Sayyu Dantata is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MRS Group. He was born into an Agalawa trading family in Bebeji in present-day Kano State in the northern part of Nigeria. He is a graduate of Accountancy and had some accounting skills. Alhaji Sayyu Dantata started his career as Director of the Engineering and Transport Division of Dangote Group, considered as the Largest Nigerian conglomerate. He was the Chairman and Director of MRS Oil Nigeria Plc since 20th March 2009. He served as a Director of Hydro Alternative Energy Incorporation. Alhaji Sayyu Dantata is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MRS Group. He has been a Non-Executive Director of Nigerian Telecommunications. Alhaji Sayyu Dantata has an estimated net worth of over $580 million and currently number 14 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

13. Pascal Dozie

Pascal Dozie is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Diamond Bank PLC. He is a native of Egbu in Owerri, Imo State in the south eastern part of Nigeria. He was born on 9th April 1939 in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria to a Catholic Catechist. He is currently 80 years old. He is a Nigerian banker, investor, economist and also advocate of technology. Pascal Dozie is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank PLC, a leading retail financial institution in Nigeria and also served as Executive Director of Corporate Banking and Executive Director of Regional Business Lagos and West Regions. Pascal Dozie is also the Chairman at MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. He was previously employed as Chairman by The Nigerian Economic Summit Group. Pascal Dozie has an estimated net worth of over $600 million and currently number 13 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

12. Jimoh Ibrahim

Jimoh Ibrahim is a Nigerian entrepreneur, Lawyer, politician, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nicon Insurance. He was born 24th February 1967 in Ondo State in the south western part of Nigeria. He is currently 52 years old. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of Nico Insurance and Global Fleet Group, a diversified conglomerate based in Nigeria, with business interests and subsidiaries in neighboring West African countries. Jimoh Ibrahim is originally from Ondo State in south western part of Nigeria. He studied law at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile Efe, Osun State, Nigeria and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. After which he attended Harvard University and obtained a Doctorate Degree in Masters of Law and Master in International Taxation. Jimoh Ibrahim has an estimated net worth of over $650 million and currently number 12 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

11. Cosmas Maduka

Cosmas Maduka is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coscharis Group. He was born on 24th December 1958 in Jos, Plateau State in the northern part of Nigeria to Mr. and Mrs. Peter and Rose Maduka both from Nnewi, Anambra State in the south eastern part of Nigeria. He is currently 60 years old. Cosmas Maduka began his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 6 years old, which was 2 years after the demise of his father. He dropped out of primary school and started hawking Akara (beans cake), a popular food staple in Nigeria made from beans to support his single mother. Cosmas Maduka is famous for Cocharis Motors, a leading automobile sales and servicing company. In addition to other brands of cars such as Range Rover, Ford and Jaguar, he is the sole distributor of BMW in Nigeria. Cosmas Maduka has an estimated net worth of over $670 million and currently number 11 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

10. Arthur Eze

Arthur Eze is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, an international energy company. Arthur Eze is reportedly one of the wealthiest men in Africa. As a descendant of the tribe of royalty, Arthur Eze is usually referred to as Prince Arthur Eze. In 1970, Arthur Eze completed his secondary school education in Nkwere, a small town in River State in the south southern part of Nigeria. He studied Chemical and Mechanical Engineering at California State University in the United States of America from 1974 to 1978. In 1999, Arthur Eze founded Atlas Oranto Petroleum. The company owns assets in Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea, Gambia and the United Kingdom. Arthur Eze been a smart business mogul, he made sure that Oranto was in the list of first companies to bid in Uganda’s first competitive oil exploration licenses. Arthur Eze has an estimated net worth of over $730 million and currently number 10 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

9. Oba Otudeko

Oba Otudeko is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Honeywell Group. He also serves as chairman of FBN Holdings and also founder of the Oba Otudeko Foundation. He was born on 18th August 1943 in Ibadan, Oyo State in the south western part of Nigeria to a royal family, thus making him an Omoba of the Yoruba people. Oba Otudeko studied Accountancy at the Leeds College of Commerce in the United Kingdom. Professionally, Oba Otudeko is a Chartered Banker, Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Corporate Secretary. He has also attended executive management training programmes at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland, Boston, United States, amongst others. Oba Otudeko is the founder and Chairman of the Honeywell Group. The Honeywell Group is today a diversified industrial, trading and investment conglomerate. Oba Otudeko has an estimated net worth of over $850 million and currently number 9 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

8. Jim Ovia

Jim Ovia is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zenith Bank. He was born on 4th November 1951 in Agbor, Delta State in the south southern part of Nigeria. He is currently 67 years old. He founded Zenith Bank in 1990. Jim Ovia holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana in the United States of America and Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Southern University in the United States of America. He is also an Alumnus of Harvard Business School. He is the founder of Zenith Bank Plc, one of the most profitable financial institutions in Nigeria. He is also the founder of Visafone Communications Limited and the chairman of both the Nigerian Software Development Initiative (NSDI) and the National Information Technology Advisory Council (NITAC). Jim Ovia has an estimated net worth of over $1.2 billion and currently number 8 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

7. Tony Elumelu

Tony Elumelu is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of United Bank of Africa (UBA). He was born on 22nd March 1963 in Jos, Plateau State in the northern part of Nigeria. He is currently 56 years old. He is the chairman of Heirs Holding, United Bank for Africa, Transcorp and the founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation. He was recognized as one of Africa’s 20 Most Powerful People in 2012 by Forbes Magazine. Tony Elumelu hails from Onicha-Ukwu in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State in the south southern part of Nigeria. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma and a Master’s Degree from the University of Lagos. Tony Elumelu is married with seven lovely children together. He has four siblings, one of whom is Ndudi Elumelu, a former member of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives. He is the cousin of legendary Nigerian reggae artiste, Ras Kimono who died on 10th June 2018. Tony Elumelu has an estimated net worth of over $1.4 billion and currently number 7 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

6. Abdulsalam Rabiu

Abdulsalam Rabiu is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BUA Group. He was born 4th August 1960 in Kano State in the northern part of Nigeria, where he completed his early education. He is currently 58 years old. After his primary and secondary school education, Abdulsalam Rabiu attended Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and returned to Nigeria at the age of 24 years old to oversee the family business. This was the time his father was detained by the administration of General Muhammadu Buhari on allegation of duty aversion on rice imports. Abdulsalam Rabiu is the founder and chairman of BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with interests in manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture. He is also the chairman of Nigerian Bank of Industry (BOI). Abdulsalam Rabiu has an estimated net worth of over $1.5 billion and currently number 6 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

5. Orji Uzor Kalu

Orji Uzor Kalu is a Nigerian entrepreneur, politician, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Slok Group. He was born on 21st April 1960 to the family of Mr. Johnson Uzor Kalu and Mrs. Eunice Uzor Kalu. He is the chairman of SLOK Holding, Daily Sun Newspaper and New Telegraph Newspapers. He once served as the governor of Abia State in the south eastern part of Nigeria from 29th May 1999 to 29th May 2007. 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 People’s 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 party All Progressive Congress (APC) after he officially announced his resignation as a PPA Board of Trustees. Orji Uzor Kalu has an estimated net worth of over $2 billion and currently number 5 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

4. Theophilus Danjuma

Theophilus Danjuma is a Nigerian entrepreneur, politician, retired military general, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atlantic Petroleum. He was born on 9th December 1938 in Takum, Taraba, Nigeria. He is currently 80 years old. He was Nigerian Chief of Army Staff from July 1975 to October 1979. He was also Nigerian Minister of Defence under President Olusegun Obasanjo administration and today he is the chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum, a leading oil and gas conglomerate. 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 team. He received his Higher School Certificate in 1958. In 1959 Theophilus Danjuma got admitted into Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria to study History on a Northern Nigeria Scholarship. Theophilus Danjuma has an estimated net worth of over $2.4 billion and currently number 4 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

3. Femi Otedola

Femi Otedola is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Forte Oil PLC, an importer of fuel products. He is also the founder of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, and the owner of many other businesses which include shipping, real estate and finance. He has recently invested in power generation as part of the liberalization of the sector in Nigeria. He is currently the third richest man in Nigeria. He was born on 4th November 1962 in Ibadan, Oyo State in the south western part of Nigeria. He is currently 55 years old. Femi Otedola is currently the proud father of Nigerian famous female DJ and musician, DJ Cuppy. He is the son to late Sir Michael Otedola, the former Governor of Lagos State from 1992 to 1993 during the military regime. Femi Otedola has an estimated net worth of over $3 billion and currently number 3 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

2. Mike Adenuga

Mike Adenuga is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Globacom Telecommunication Network popularly known as GLO. He is currently the second richest man in Nigeria. His company Globacom is the second-largest telecom operator in Nigeria and has a presence in Ghana and Republic of Benin. He was born on 29th April 1953 in Ibadan, Oyo State in the south western part of Nigeria. He is currently 65 years old. Mike Adenuga is originally from Ibadan, Oyo State in the south western part of Nigeria. He completed his primary school education at Ibadan Grammar School and his secondary school education at Comprehensive High School both in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. After completing his primary and secondary school education, Mike Adenuga proceeded to Northwestern Oklahoma State University in New York, United States of America and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. After which he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Pace University in New York, United States of America. Mike Adenuga has an estimated net worth of over $5.8 billion and currently number 2 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.

1. Aliko Dangote

Aliko Dangote is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investor and a business magnate. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dangote Groups. His company specializes in the production and exportation of cement and food commodities in Nigeria and other African countries. He is currently the richest man in Africa. He was born on 10th April 1957 into a wealthy Muslim family in Kano State in the northern part of Nigeria. He is currently 62 years old. His father’s name is Mohammed Dangote while his mother’s name is Hajia Mariya Sanusi Dantata. Aliko Dangote is the great-grandson of Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, who happens to be the richest man in African at the time of his death in 1955. He has been ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the 100th-richest person in the world and also the richest man in Africa. After completing his primary and secondary school education, Aliko Dangote proceeded to Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Studies and Administration. Aliko Dangote has an estimated net worth of over $12.5 billion and currently number 1 on our list of the top 20 most richest men in Nigeria.