Of these 13, there are four people from Nigeria. They are Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Abdulsamad Rabiu and Folorunsho Alakija. Together, they have some of the wealthiest families in the country.

Here are the three richest families in Nigeria:

Aliko Dangote

As of today, April 8, 2019, the CEO of Dangote Group is worth $10.4 billion. This makes him Africa’s richest man as well as the wealthiest person in the country. It also makes his families one of the richest in Nigeria.

It all started with Chief Al-Hassan Dantata, a Northerner who traded in kola nuts and ground nuts. He also distributed European goods. By the time he died, he was one of the wealthiest men in West Africa. His family has produced many of the most successful businessmen in the country including Mamuda Dantata, Mudi Dantata and now, Aliko Dangote.

Aliko Dangote during a visit to the fertilizer plant under construction in Lagos State. Credit: ANDREW ESIEBO FOR BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK Aliko Dangote during a visit to the fertilizer plant under construction in Lagos State. Credit: ANDREW ESIEBO FOR BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK

He founded and chairs Dangote Cement, the continent’s largest cement producer. He has a daughter named Halima Aliko Dangote, who is the 3rd in line of command as the Group Executive Director. His other daughter, Mariya Dangote, is reportedly one of the top managers in Dangote Group.

Mike Adenuga

Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr, GCON is the second-richest person in the country. Forbes estimates his fortune to be worth $9.1 billion as of 2019.

His company Globacom is one of the largest telecom operators in Nigeria. He owns stakes in the Equatorial Trust Bank and the oil exploration firm Conoil (formerly Consolidated Oil Company). 

Mike Adenuga, second richest man in Africa Mike Adenuga, second richest man in Africa

Adenuga’s daughter, Belinda, fondly called Bella, resumed at Globacom as a sales executive in 2004. She has since risen to the position of a group executive director.

Abdulsamad Rabiu

Rabiu is the son of the late Khalifah Isyaku Rabiu, who was one of Nigeria’s foremost industrialists in the 1970s and 1980s. After inherited land from his father, he started building his empire by importing iron, steel and chemicals in 1988.

Abdulsamad, who is currently worth $1.5B, eventually founded the BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate active in cement production, sugar refining and real estate.

Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chairman, BUA Group and Tong Laigou, Board Chairman, SINOMA CBMI, shake hands and exchange documents after signing a USD600 million deal to expand BUA's cement capacity in Africa. Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chairman, BUA Group and Tong Laigou, Board Chairman, SINOMA CBMI, shake hands and exchange documents after signing a USD600 million deal to expand BUA’s cement capacity in Africa.

His brother, Kabiru Rabiu, is the Group Executive Director of the company. He joined the family business in 2002 after working as an Assistant General Manager of Nigerian Oil Mills based in Kano state.

He is responsible for overseeing the company’s strategy, operations and growth.

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