Nigeria is home to some of Africa’s most important investors and entrepreneurs. These business entrepreneurs have amassed huge fortunes in sectors like manufacturing, telecommunications, banking, oil and gas, infrastructure, energy and finance. Their businesses employ hundreds of thousands of people, make meaningful contributions to Nigeria’s GDP and drive investment throughout the continent.
Nigeria has four dollar billionaires on the 2026 Forbes Africa Billionaires List, and several additional wealthy entrepreneurs have privately estimated multi-billion dollar fortunes since their enterprises are not entirely publicly listed.
Top 10 Richest People in Nigeria in 2026 and Their Net Worth
Below is a look at the top 10 richest people in Nigeria in 2026, their estimated net worth, and the businesses behind their wealth.
| Rank | Name | Estimated Net Worth |
| 1 | Aliko Dangote | $28.5 Billion |
| 2 | Abdulsamad Rabiu | $11.2 Billion |
| 3 | Mike Adenuga | $6.5 Billion |
| 4 | Femi Otedola | $2.5 Billion |
| 5 | Folorunsho Alakija | About $1 Billion+ |
| 6 | Jim Ovia | Estimated hundreds of millions |
| 7 | Tony Elumelu | Estimated hundreds of millions |
| 8 | Theophilus Danjuma | Estimated hundreds of millions |
| 9 | Orji Uzor Kalu | Estimated hundreds of millions |
| 10 | Pascal Dozie Family | Estimated hundreds of millions |
Source: Forbes Billionaire List
Based on the 2026 Forbes Billionaires List and other real-time wealth estimates, here are the top 10 richest people in Nigeria for 2026. Nigeria is home to four of Africa’s 23 billionaires, with a combined net worth that has surged significantly this year
1. Aliko Dangote – $28.5 Billion (Forbes) / $36.5 Billion (Bloomberg)
Source of Wealth: Diversified (Cement, Sugar, Fertilizer, Oil Refinery)
Nigeria’s richest man, as of 2026, is Aliko Dangote. Dangote Cement has continued to generate profits and the Dangote Refinery is an ongoing project and an emerging business venture for Dangote.
Major Businesses
- Dangote Cement
- Dangote Sugar
- Dangote Salt
- Dangote Fertilizer
- Dangote Refinery
- Logistics and Infrastructure
2. Abdulsamad Rabiu – $11.2 Billion
Source of Wealth: Diversified (Cement, Sugar, Food Processing)
Abdulsamad Rabiu is one of Africa’s rapidly rising businessmen. His wealth is attributable to the BUA Cement and BUA Foods. BUA Cement and BUA Foods performed very well in the last several years.
Major Businesses
- BUA Cement
- BUA Foods
- Sugar refining
- Flour milling
- Infrastructure
- Real estate
3. Mike Adenuga – $6.5 Billion
Source of Wealth: Diversified (Telecommunications, Oil Production)
Mike Adenuga has built a fortune in both oil and gas and telecom businesses. Mike Adenuga owns Nigeria’s second largest telecommunications company, Globacom (Glo), as well as Conoil Producing.
Major Investments
- Telecommunications
- Oil exploration
- Banking
- Real estate
- Aviation
4. Femi Otedola – $1.3 Billion
Source of Wealth: Diversified (Oil, Power Generation, Banking)
Femi Otedola rebuilt his fortune through strategic investments in power generation, banking, and financial services. His stake in Geregu Power Plc and investments in First HoldCo have strengthened his position among Nigeria’s wealthiest individuals.
Major Investments
- Geregu Power Plc
- Banking
- Energy
- Financial services
- Real estate
Additional Notable Billionaires of Nigerian Descent
While Forbes officially lists only four Nigerian residents as billionaires in 2026, several other individuals of Nigerian descent have amassed substantial fortunes, often residing abroad. Below are some prominent figures often cited in wealth rankings:
5. Adebayo Ogunlesi – Estimated $1.2 Billion+
Source of Wealth: Finance & Investments
Adebayo Ogunlesi is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a leading independent infrastructure investor. He is a prominent figure in global finance, frequently mentioned among the wealthiest people of Nigerian origin.
6. Tope Awotona – Estimated $1 Billion+
Source of Wealth: Software/Technology (Calendly)
Tope Awotona is the founder and CEO of Calendly, a popular scheduling software platform. His success in the tech industry has made him one of the most prominent Nigerian-born billionaires globally.
7. Folorunsho Alakija – Estimated $1 Billion
Source of Wealth: Oil & Gas, Fashion
Folorunsho Alakija is the founder of Famfa Oil Limited and has been recognized as one of the richest women in Africa. She was notably absent from the 2026 Forbes list.
8. Jim Ovia
Estimated Net Worth: Hundreds of millions of dollars
Jim Ovia founded Zenith Bank, one of Nigeria’s largest commercial banks. Besides banking, he has investments in technology, hospitality, education, and telecommunications.
Major Investments
- Banking
- ICT
- Education
- Hospitality
- Real estate
9. Tony Elumelu
Estimated Net Worth: Hundreds of millions of dollars
Tony Elumelu is the Chairman of Heirs Holdings and one of Africa’s most influential investors. Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he has funded thousands of African entrepreneurs.
Major Businesses
- Heirs Holdings
- United Bank for Africa
- Transcorp
- Energy
- Hospitality
- Healthcare
10. General Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd.)
Estimated Net Worth: Hundreds of millions of dollars
Former Chief of Army Staff, General Danjuma built a diversified business empire through South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO) and investments in shipping, agriculture, and healthcare.
Major Investments
- Oil and gas
- Shipping
- Agriculture
- Healthcare
- Philanthropy
Industries That Created the Most Billionaires
Nigeria’s wealthiest individuals have largely built their fortunes in:
- Manufacturing
- Cement production
- Telecommunications
- Oil and gas
- Banking
- Food processing
- Agriculture
- Infrastructure
- Energy
- Financial services
Manufacturing, telecommunications, and energy remain among the largest contributors to private wealth creation in Nigeria.
Who Is the Richest Person in Nigeria in 2026?
According to Forbes Africa’s 2026 Billionaires List, Aliko Dangote is the richest Nigerian and the richest person in Africa, with an estimated net worth of $28.5 billion. His wealth is driven primarily by Dangote Cement, the Dangote Refinery, fertilizer production, sugar refining, and other manufacturing businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many Nigerian billionaires are on the Forbes Africa list in 2026?
Nigeria has four Forbes-recognized dollar billionaires in the 2026 Africa Billionaires ranking: Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Mike Adenuga, and Femi Otedola.
What industry produces the richest Nigerians?
Manufacturing, cement, telecommunications, oil and gas, banking, and energy have produced most of Nigeria’s wealthiest entrepreneurs.
Is Aliko Dangote still the richest person in Africa?
Yes. As of the 2026 Forbes Africa Billionaires List, Aliko Dangote remains Africa’s richest individual.
Is Femi Otedola a billionaire?
Yes, Femi Otedola is a billionaire with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion in 202
Disclaimer: The net worth figures are based on estimates from the Forbes and Bloomberg Billionaires Indexes. Actual wealth can fluctuate significantly based on stock prices and currency exchange rates. The list of “notable billionaires of Nigerian descent” is based on various wealth rankings and may not be exhaustive.
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