Six Nigerians have claimed their place among the elite 23 Black billionaires globally
Six Nigerians Shine on Forbes’ 2025 List of the World’s Black Billionaires
Forbes Magazine has once again spotlighted the world’s wealthiest individuals in its 2025 World’s Billionaires list, and six Nigerians have claimed their place among the elite 23 Black billionaires globally.
With a combined fortune of $96.2 billion, this small but mighty group—representing just 0.8% of the 3,028 billionaires worldwide—dominates industries like finance, energy, and tech. For Nigeria, it’s a proud moment as familiar names and rising stars alike make the cut.
DANGOTE
Leading the pack is Aliko Dangote, Africa’s undisputed richest man and chairman of the Dangote Group. His net worth has soared to $23.9 billion, a jaw-dropping $10.5 billion jump from last year, thanks to the long-awaited launch of the Dangote refinery in early 2024. Forbes ranks him at the top of the Black billionaires list, cementing his status as a global heavyweight.
ADENUGA
Next up is Mike Adenuga, the telecom tycoon behind Globacom, clocking in at fifth place with a cool $6.8 billion. He’s followed closely by
RABIU
Abdulsamad Rabiu, the BUA Group founder, who lands at sixth with $5.1 billion. Both men continue to wield influence in Nigeria’s business landscape, proving the country’s knack for producing powerhouse entrepreneurs.
OGUNLESI
Adebayo Ogunlesi, the mastermind behind Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), secures the 11th spot with a $2.2 billion fortune. His wealth got a massive boost in October 2024 when he sold GIP to BlackRock for a hefty $12.5 billion in cash and shares—a deal that’s still making waves in the financial world.
OTEDOLA
Femi Otedola, the energy mogul and chairman of Geregu Power, takes 12th place with $1.5 billion. Forbes notes his journey from commodities to energy, where he now holds a majority stake in Geregu Power alongside investors like the Nigerian government and China’s State Grid Corporation.
AWOTONA
Rounding out the Nigerian contingent is Tope Awotona, the tech visionary who founded Calendly. At 14th place with $1.4 billion, Awotona’s scheduling software startup—valued at $3 billion by private investors in 2021—marks him as a standout in the global tech scene.
These 23 Black billionaires are a wealthy and impressive bunch,” Forbes remarked in its report, highlighting the outsized impact of this tiny fraction of the world’s richest. For Nigeria, having six names on the list underscores the nation’s growing clout in the billionaire club—and their stories of grit, innovation, and deal-making are far from over. Read More
