Meanwhile, Forbes Magazine has released the 2015 Africa’s 50 richest with 16 South Africans to Nigeria’s 10.
Combined, the continent’s 50 richest are worth $95.6 billion, a decline of $15 billion from last year.
The regulars – Dangote, Adenuga, Alakija, Otedola – all made the list and were joined by the likes of Abdulsamad Rabiu, Jim Ovia, Mohammed Indimi, Orji Uzor Kalu, Theophilus Danjuma and Tony Elumelu.
We take a peep into their lives:
- ALIKO DANGOTE
Net worth: $16.7 billion
Though the businessman’s net worth is down nearly $5 billion due to the country’s weaker currency and drop in Dangote cement’s stock price, he remained unmoved as Africa’s richest for the fifth year running.
- MIKE ADENUGA
Net worth: $3.5 billion
The tycoon remains one of Nigeria’s second richest persons. His company, Globacom is one of Nigeria’s largest telecom operators, with presence in Ghana and Benin Republic. He also owns stakes in the
Sterling Bank and the oil exploration firm Conoil.
- FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA
Net worth: $1.7 billion
The second of only two women on the list, she was beaten to the title of Africa’s richest woman by Angola’s Isabel Dos Santos. The mother of four sons is the vice chair of Famfa Oil, an oil exploration
company with 60 percent participating interest in block OML 127.
- FEMI OTEDOLA
Net worth: $1.6 billion
Son of Lagos’ former governor, Michael Otedola, Femi, is the controlling shareholder of publicly-traded Forte Oil, Africa’s largest oil marketing company measured by retail network with more than 500
gas stations across the country.
- ABDULSAMAD RABIU
Net worth: $1 billion
Dubbed “the new Dangote” by some due to his interest in cement, flour milling, sugar, much like Dangote himself. Abdulsamad Rabiu is the founder of BUA Group, a conglomerate active in flour milling, pasta manufacturing, ports and terminals management, sugar refining and cement production.
- THEOPHILUS DANJUMA
Net worth: $750 million
Theophilus Danjuma, the former defense minister, owns South Atlantic Petroleum, an oil exploration company. He serves as the company’s chairman with his wife and socialite, Daisy, as vice chairman.
- TONY ELUMELU
Net worth: $700 million
Entrepreneur and investor, Tony Elumelu (chairman of UBA) owns a controlling interest in Transcorp, a publicly traded conglomerate with interests in hospitality, agriculture, oil production and power generation.
- JIM OVIA
Net worth: $550 million
Jim Ovia is the founder of Zenith Bank, one of the largest commercial banks in Nigeria. He is both chairman and largest individual shareholder with a stake of slightly more than 9 percent stake. He
also owns prime real estate across Nigeria, and mobile telecom operator, Visafone, which has 3 million subscribers.
- MOHAMMED INDIMI
Net worth: $500 million
Mohammed Indimi is the chairman and leading shareholder of Oriental Energy Resources. His net worth dropped from an estimated $670 million a year ago due to ongoing low oil prices.
- ORJI UZOR KALU
Net worth: $330 million
Orji Uzor Kalu is the founder of Slok Holding, a business empire with interests in shipping, banking, oil trading, manufacturing and the media.
- MICHAEL NWOKIKE