Do you know the top 10 richest families in Nigeria? Seen as the poverty capital of the world, Nigeria still has individuals who no matter how harsh the economy is cannot be affected.
Many of these individuals are seen in the oil and gas sector, business, telecommunication sector, agriculture, real estate etc. Some individuals go as far as venturing in at least 3 of the sectors together.
Aside the business personnel, politicians are very wealthy with businesses home and abroad. The wealth amassed by these individuals rubs off on their families giving both their nuclear and extended family a luxurious life which majority of Nigerians can only dream of.
We would be taking a look at the richest families in Nigeria according to the Forbes list.
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Top 10 Richest Families In Nigeria
- Briggs Family
- Ibru Family
- Okoya-Thomas Family
- Dantata Family
- Fajemirokun Family
- Tejuosho Family
- Tinubu Family
- Saraki Family
- Folawiyo Family
- Igbinedion Family
1. Briggs Family
Chief Olu Benson Lulu Briggs, the predecessor of the Briggs Family and founder of Moni Pull limited which is an indigenous oil and gas exploration and production company that is based in Port Harcourt, Lagos and London.
His wife Mrs Senye Lulu Briggs who is the Chief Executive Officer of Rachael hotel limited, an administrator, business woman and a former civil servant who worked for not more than a year before moving into a design research center where she was the office manager. She left after a while and ventured into finance and then into business.
Chief Dumk is another affluent and prominent member of the family. He is a lawyer and a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He was the former chief operating officer of Moni Pull and a pioneer executive director.
2. Ibru Family
This is the family behind the Ibru Organization which was founded in 1956. This is one of the biggest organization of the nation with over 10 thousand staff. It is a diverse business venture with interest in agriculture, shipping, aviation, banking and also oil and gas.
Michael Ibru, the head and founder of the organization once worked for United Africa Company from 1951-1956 before starting up the Laibru General Trading Company in conjunction with an Englishman Jimmy Large.
He later moved into iced or frozen fish distribution in 1957 which later turned out to be Ibru Sea For. He expanded after a while an entered into vehicle transportation, distribution, fruit growing, brewing, construction and petroleum distribution.
There are other prominent and affluent members of the family and they include; his eldest son Olorogun Oskar, Alex Ibru, Felix Ibru, Oboden Ibru and Cecilia Ibru.
Alex heads Rutam motors and was a minister of internal affairs, Felix was a former governor of Delta State, Cecilia was the former managing director and chief executive officer of Oceanic bank
3. Okoya Family
Okoya family is one of the richest families in Nigeria. Prince Molade Okoya-Thomas is the head of the wealthy family.
A former chairman of CFAO Nigeria LTD before he died. He was a trained accountant at the Columbian university in 1981 and started his career as an accountant with CFAO where he rose to be the chairman.
He was also the director of Transcap Nig LTD, NFI insurance company PLC, Gateway bank PLC, Niger motors industries LTD and a former chairman of Studio Press Nigeria LTD.
Another notable person of this family is Princess Olajumoke Abidemi Okoya-Thomas who is a member of house of representative, representing the Lagos island 1 federal constituency of Lagos state.
4. Dantata Family
The richest family in the country as they have a close relation with Aliko Dangote who is the richest man in Africa. Sanusi Dantata was an entrepreneur. His father was a kolanut trader in another Nigeria who also distributed groundnut and European goods.
Alhassan Dantata, the father of Sanusi Dantata died as one of the richest men in West Africa. Other prestigious members of the family are; Ahmadu Dantata, Alikon Dangote, Mamuda Dantata, Aminu Dantata etc
5. Fajemirokun Family
Henry Oloyede who was a trade unionist later became one of the main industrialist in Nigeria and a business man. He led and held the negotiation to establish a merchant bank, the First Bank of Boston now known as Bank of Boston.
This later became the reason for the establishment of Nigerian-American Merchant Bank LTD. He also established Henry Stephen, the first indigenous private oil company to get an offshore exploration license
6. Tejuosho Family
Bisoye Tejuosho is the pioneer of this family. A too business woman from Abeokuta, Ogun state. She founded the Teju industries (they specialize in foam manufacturing). Another prominent person is Adefumilayo, the wife of Prince Kayode Tejuosho.
A politician who has stayed four terms as a member of Lagos state house of assembly, representing Mushin. She is also a trained lawyer.
Another member is Lanre Tejuosho, a senator and a trained medical doctor who is the chairman Senate committee of health
7. Tinubu Family
The major pioneer who upholds this family name is the former governor of Lagos, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is one of the richest politicians in Nigeria with a networth of $30million.
The next prominent person is his wife who is a senator of the federal republic of Nigeria.
8. Saraki Family
The prominent members are Bukola Saraki, Gbemisola Saraki and Olusola Saraki. Olusola was a former senator and chairman of the defunct Society General Bank.
Bukola Saraki who is the son of Olusola is the current Senate president of the federal republic. Before that, he was the governor of Kwara state. His sister, Gbemisola is also a senator.
9. Folawiyo Family
The upholder of the family is Chief Wahab Folawiyo who was the founder of Yinka Folawiyo and Sons which is an import and export business and was later renamed to Yinka Folawiyo Group.
The group’s investments include; real estate, agriculture, energy, shipping and the company is now worth over $650million according to Forbes.
10. Igbinedion Family
The head and the prominent member, also the pioneer if this family is Chief Gabriel Igbinedion. The Esama of Benin, this title was given to him by Oba Akenzua the 2nd. Chief Gabriel owns a very fast business empire. The empire includes; oil refinery, bank, diamond, gold and marble mines.
He also owns a private university (Igbinedion university), a TV station, radio station and hotels all over the world. He was also an Edo state governor.
