True success is not always in the limelight. Sometimes, it is inconspicuous and subtle. Some billionaires find comfort in staying off the limelight for modesty or other personal reasons.
They live their lives far from the roving eyes of the public to make themselves relatively unknown.
Some ultra-wealthy Nigerian business tycoons and entrepreneurs who fall into this category are Kola Aluko, Eddy Martins Egwuenu, ABC Orjiakor, Sam Iwuajoku, Gbenga Oyebode, Aderemi Makanjuola and Dele Fajemirokun.
Kola Aluko is the Nigerian energy and aviation tycoon who founded oil trading firm Fossil Resources in 2001 and went on to become the CEO of Exoro Energy- an indigenous oil exploration and production firm. In 2007, the company merged with Seven Energy, a leading independent oil exploration company. Aluko is now the Deputy CEO and leading shareholder of Seven Energy, which has operations and key interests in four onshore fields in the Niger Delta.
Eddy Martins Egwuenu is a former bank chief and the second largest individual shareholder of the Zenith Bank Group. His 1.5% stake in Zenith Bank alone is said to worth about $60 million.
ABC Orjiakor no doubt makes the list of Nigeria’s silent billionaires. He is the Chairman and CEO of Shebah E&P Company Limited, an oil exploration firm which has 40% stake in the offshore block OML 108 which produces over 8,000 barrels per day. Orjiakor is also chairman of Zebbra Energy Limited which owns the deepwater concession OPL 248 offshore Nigeria.
Also on the list is Sam Iwuajoku who made his fortune importing rice and steel rods while leveraging his extensive political connections to obtain a series of generous import duty waivers from the Nigerian government. Among other ventures, he reinvested in private aviation services. His company, Quits Aviation Services, is one of the few fixed-base operators in the country.
Gbenga Oyebode is one of Nigeria’s most renowned commercial lawyers. He is a founder and Managing Partner of Aluko & Oyebode- a successful corporate and commercial law firm in Nigeria. He owns minority shareholding in MTN Nigeria, and sits on the company’s board. Oyebode also serves as chairman of Access Bank PLC, Okomu Oil and Crusade Insurance. The value of his shareholding in these companies is worth tens of millions of dollars.
Also gracing the list of Nigeria’s inconspicuous business tycoons is Aderemi Makanjuola. The reclusive business tycoon is the founder and Executive chairman of the Caverton Offshore Support Group, Africa’s first integrated offshore support service provider. The company provides marine, aviation and logistics support services to oil exploration and production firms based in West Africa.
Dele Fajemirokun is also a Nigerian entrepreneur worth noticing. His father, Henry Fajemirokun, was a renowned shipping magnate and one of Africa’s most successful businessmen after Nigeria’s independence.
Dele Fajemirokun, his 62-year-old son, is now in charge.
A prominent boardroom guru, Fajemirokun also owns key stakes and sits on the board of several Nigerian blue-chips, including American International Insurance Company and oil explorer First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited. – The Nation.
