20 Nigerian Entrepreneurs That Built the Most Successful Family Business
Nigerian entrepreneurs have successfully stamped their feet in the business world globally. Entrepreneurs from Nigeria have been able to build successful family businesses that can readily compete with businesses anywhere in the globe. They have been able to prove their worth over the years little wonder in the past years we have had some Nigerian business moguls listed amongst the Forbes list for rich and influential people, THECONSCIENCEng reports.
It is no longer news that Nigeria is one of the most difficult places to build businesses according to reliable statistics. Entrepreneurs in Nigeria go beyond providing capital for starting their businesses to providing water, power and security for themselves. Despite these challenges, some diligent and die hard entrepreneurs have still gone ahead to build successful family businesses. Here is a list of 20 Nigerian entrepreneurs that have built the most successful businesses in Nigeria
Chief Peter Epete Ibru
Ibru was one of the remarkable Nigerian Entrepreneurs. He pioneered the Ibru business dynasty that started at about 1956 in Lagos Nigeria. He started his frozen fish distribution business alongside his wife Madam Janet in Lagos. The introduction of their son Michael Ibru and the rest of their children played a major role in the success they achieved in the early 1950s/1960s. Their business cut across the media, hospitality, agriculture and oil and gas, construction, Real Estate et al. Notable amongst their businesses are The Guardian Newspaper, Sheraton Hotels and Suites, Four Point Hotel, etc. Recently Oskar the first son of Michael Ibru became the leader of the next generation of the Ibru business dynasty.
Alhassan Dantata
Dantata is one of the remarkable Nigerian Entrepreneurs. People all over the world celebrate Aliko Dangote as the richest black man in the world today because of the legacy his uncle built. Alhassan Dantata was indeed an embodiment of a thorough bred businessman. Dangote derived his business DNA from his grand uncle Alhassan Dantata. Dantata started out exporting Kola nuts, beads, necklaces and later he became a major exporter of groundnut from Nigeria to Europe. He became successful as an entrepreneur and he was able to establish Alhassan Danata and Sons.
Mike Adenuga
Chief Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr GCON is a Nigerian billionaire businessman, and the third richest person in Africa. The 67 year-old billionaire worth 6.1 billion USD is one of the remarkable Nigerian Entrepreneurs. This very popular business God father has his brand known all over the world. He is the owner of Nigeria’s second-largest telecom operator, Globacom and also Conoil. He involves his children including Paddy, Bella and Eniola in the running of his business, positioning them to take over from him when he is no more.
Mulligan Murray-Bruce
He was the father of the famous Murray-Bruce Brothers. When he left UCA, he started Dominos Stores and today the business is being managed by his grandchildren. His second son- Ben and his brothers are key players in the entertainment industry in Nigeria. Their children which happens to be the third generation has also assumed some roles in the family businesses. He was one of the remarkable Nigerian Entrepreneurs.
Aliko Dangote
This very successful man just like his uncle Alhassan dantata has continued to prove his worth in Africa and the world in general. At 63, he is presently the richest black man in the world with a net worth of 11.5 billion US Dollars. He is the owner of the Dangote Group of companies that manufacture cement, noodles, salt, and sugar amongst other products. He is one of the remarkable Nigerian Entrepreneurs.
Tony O. Elumelu
Elumelu is one of the remarkable Nigerian Entrepreneurs. This name sure rings a bell especially in the financial sector. He is the chairman of Heirs Holdings. He is an astute banker, businessman, philanthropist and the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation. He has done so well for himself and is committed to raising many other business leaders across energy, banking and conglomerate.
Pascal Dozie
This dogged and tenacious 81-year old businessman is one of the remarkable Nigerian Entrepreneurs. He is the founder of Diamond bank – one of the foremost banks in Nigeria. He was the chairman of MTN Nigeria and now chairman of Pan-Atlantic University. He is a successful business man who has positioned his children in the business world.
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Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria is one of the highest private employers of labour in Nigeria. He is the co-founder of Intels, Adama Beverages Limited and the American University of Nigeria, Yola. He involves his family members in the running of his business. He is one of those business men who know the importance of grooming family members for posterity.
Rasaq Okoya
This name sure rings a bell in the Nigerian business world as a foremost industrialist. He is the founder of the popular Eleganza group of companies and RAO Property investment. His children are currently running his business empire as he has left them very good legacies to fly with.
Femi Otedola
He is the son of the former governor of Lagos state in Nigeria. He is the owner of Forte Oil a major player in the downstream sector. He is currently positioning his own children to be able to manage his businesses in the future.
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Cosmos Maduka
He has pure rags to riches story. He started his automobile business at a very early stage in life and today he is recognized as the founder of Coscharis Group of companies. By all standards, he is a successful businessman that has positioned his family members to continue when he retires.
Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony
Have you ever heard of the popular Mobolaji Bank Anthony way in Lagos Nigeria? Well, if you didn’t know, then it is important that you know that that popular road was named after this great business man. In his life time, he was a successful businessman whose business cut across general trading, transportation and construction.
Chief (Dr.) Abdulwahab Folawiyo
He was the founder of Yinka Folawiyo and Sons. As one one of the key Nigerian entrepreneurs, his business cuts across Banking, Construction, Shipping, Oil and Gas, Agriculture and Energy. His children are currently managing his business empire after his demise.
Tony Ezenna
When it comes to the pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria, then the name Tony Ezenna sure rings a resounding bell. He is the founder of Orange Drugs; He is a successful entrepreneur and has been able to position his family members to play major roles in his business.
Prince Samuel Adedoyin
Yet another very successful business man is Price Samuel Adedoyin. He is the founder of the Doyin Group of Companies Limited. He is one of the most successful Nigerian entrepreneurs who has succeeded in inducting his children into his family business.
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Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu
This businessman and politician’s name rang a bell in the eighties and nineties. he is one of the old prominent Nigerian entrepreneurs. He studied civil engineering at the University of Nigeria and thereafter worked at the Hardel and Enic Construction Company, later acquiring it from the foreign operators. His business grew into a conglomerate of over 20 companies. He groomed his family members so well that today, they have taken up the baton and are key players in the running of his numerous companies.
Otunba Subomi Balogun
He is one of the one of the remarkable Nigerian entrepreneurs and banker who founded the First City Monument Bank, one of the high flying banks in Nigeria. Currently his Son, Ladi is managing his bank and his other children are managing his other businesses.
Raymond Dokpesi
Dokpesi is a top media icon when it comes to the list of prominent Nigerian Entrepreneurs. He is the owner of DAAR Communications (Raypower and African Independent Television – AIT), who has successfully built a family business for his children and currently his family members are involved in the running of his company.
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Chief Gabriel Igbinedion
He is one of the remarkable Nigerian Entrepreneurs and traditional aristocrat from Okada Town in Edo State. He holds the revered chieftaincy title of the Esama of Benin Kingdom. He is the brain behind the Igbinedion business dynasty and founder of defunct Okada Airline. His other businesses include an international property portfolio, a private TV and radio station. He also owns a private bank, oil refinery, diamond, gold, marble mines over Africa, a private university (Igbinedion University, the first private university in Nigeria) and a large number of hotels. Four of his children are frontline political leaders and successful business people. He is retired and his children and grandchildren are involved in running his numerous companies.
Oba Otudeko
This very successful business merchant is the owner of Honeywell Group and many other companies. His success in business as an entrepreneur is indeed obvious for all to see and he has stopped at nothing to tutor his children on the good succession plans they should follow. He is indeed one of the remarkable Nigerian Entrepreneurs. His son, Obafemi is a chartered accountant and successful business leader. He is the Managing Director of Honeywell Group Limited (HGL), providing strategic direction and oversight of the Group’s portfolio companies and investments, smoothly driving the family business following his father’s path.
