Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, the Chairman of Slok Holding and Oba Otudeko, the Chairman and founder of the Honeywell Group, are among the 10 richest Nigerians in 2017 just unveiled by Forbes, a website renowned for ranking of richest people in the world.
In the latest release, nine Nigerians made the billionaires club with some, just few million dollars away from reaching the benchmark.
Aliko Dangote, the African richest man still retains that title, apart from being the richest black man in the world he is also the richest man in Nigeria. In 2014, he ranked as the 24th richest man in the world but has since then fallen to positions below 100 due to the poor naira run and depreciation against other convertible currencies. His net worth is put at $12.5 billion.
Kalu, the former Governor of Abia State and also the founder and Chairman of Slok Holding, a conglomerate with interest in shipping, banking, oil, trading, manufacturing and the media, became a real businessman at the age of 19. His net worth is currently put at $1.1 billion by Forbes.
The club also parades the likes of Jim Ovia, Zenith Bank Chairman; Theophilus Danjuma, former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff; Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, an oil tycoon; Tony Elumelu, a philanthropist and founder of the Transcorp and Heirs Holdings, as well as Mr. Femi Otedola, the CEO of Zenon Oil & Gas and Forte Oil Plc, among others.
Below are the top 10 richest men in Nigeria, according to Forbes 2017 ranking, ranging from the least to the top.
Oba Otudeko, the Chairman and founder of the Honeywell Group, occupied 10th position. He was also the Chairman of FBN Holdings Plc. His operations spread across oil and gas, flour milling, real estate, and marine transportation. His net worth is put at $650 million.
Jim Ovia, the founder of Zenith Bank where he holds sway as the Chairman and the largest shareholder with a stake of almost 10 per cent. Forbes says his net worth is $1 billion.
Tony Elumelu, a philanthropist and founder of the Transcorp and Heirs Holdings and also the Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), was estimated to worth $1.4 billion.
Abdusalam Rabiu, the founder of the famous BUA Group, a conglomerate active in sugar refining, cement production, real estate and port operations, was ranked fourth in the billionnaires’ club with $1.5 billion as his net worth. In September 2015, his group signed a $600 million deal with a Chinese cement equipment service provider, Sinoma International Engineering, to construct a second production line located in Edo State, Niger Delta, Nigeria.
Former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Theophilus Danjuma, who is the current Chairman of Atlantic Petroleum has a net worth of $1.7 billion.
The only woman in the list, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, a business tycoon who has interest in fashion, oil and printing industries, is reputed to be the richest woman in Nigeria and the richest woman of African descent in the world. She is said to have $2.1 billion in her kitty.
Femi Otedola, the CEO of Zenon Oil & Gas and Forte Oil Plc.,who also has interest in real estates, among other sectors, is ranked third richest in the country with $2.3 billion as his net worth.
Mike Adenuga is ranked as the second richest man in Nigeria with interest in oil and gas and telecoms. He is the owner of Globacom, the second biggest telecom operator in the country, and the Chairman of Conoil. He has a net worth of $10.5 billion.
Aliko Dangote still retains the title of the richest man in Nigeria, Africa and, of course, the richest black man in the world. In 2014, he ranked as the 24th richest man in the world but has since then fallen to positions below 100 due to the poor naira. His net worth is put at $12.5 billion.
