A list of top ten richest women in Nigeria has been revealed in this article.
Despite the odds facing them as women in business, these ones have successfully amassed great wealth for themselves and their families.
Just like we have men who are extremely rich in the country e.g. Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Jim Ovia, etc, we also have women in the country who are very very rich.
The wealthiest women in Nigeria today are not just those who were born with a silver spoon. They are simply women who have worked so hard to establish themselves in their various businesses and careers.
These are the names of the wealthiest women in Nigeria at the moment as compiled by DAILY GIST
1. Folorunsho Alakija
Mrs Folorunsho Alakija is Nigeria’s richest woman according to Forbes. With a networth of about 2$ billion the entrepreneur and business mogul is ranked as the wealthiest woman in the country.
Folrunsho Alakija was born on the 15th of July, 1951, in Lagos. As of 1974, she worked as a secretary at Sijuade Enterprises, Lagos. She also worked in a few other places before establishing Supreme Stitches, a tailoring company.
Her major break in business actually came in 1993 when she received an oil prospecting license, which allowed her family’s company, FAMFA limited, to explore oil at OPL 216, a 617000-acre block.
Over the years, Mrs Folorusho Alakija has continued to lead the way as one of the most successful businesswomen in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
As of November 2019, Folorunsho Alakija is estimated by Forbes Magazines to be worth $1 billion, making her the richest Nigerian woman alive. She is also one of the richest women in Africa and the world at large.
2. Hajia Bola Shagaya
Hajia Bola Shagaya is the second richest woman in Nigeria right now. She has interest in photography, oil, gas, real estate, fashion and several other industries.
Bola Shagaya was born on October 10th, 1959, to the family of Adnut Makur and Emenike Mobo. Growing up, she had her secondary education at Queens school, Ilorin, Kwara State. After her high school, she proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University where she graduated with a degree in Economics. She later attended Armstrong College where she got a degree in Accountancy.
In her early career days, Hajia Bola worked at the audit department in Central Bank of Nigeria. Her major breakthrough came when she partnered with Konica to become the sole distributor of the brand’s photographic materials in the whole of West Africa.
Apart from that, Mrs Shagaya also invested heavily in oil and gas. She is today the managing director of Practoil Limited – an oil company which was established in 2005.
Just like Nigeria’s wealthiest woman, Bola Shagya is a Fashion designer. She is a well-recognised patron of Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria.
Though the woman is married to a very wealthy man, Alhaji Shagaya, the CEO of Bolmus Group Int’l, she is very hardworking and makes her money herself.
Hajia Bola Shagaya is currently estimated to be worth over $1.6billion. That makes her the richest woman in Nigeria after Folorunsho Alakija.
3. Daisy Danjuma
Daisy Danjuma is the fourth richest woman in Nigeria. She is the wife of the retired Chairman of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Ltd – Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (Rtd) (GCON), whom she succeeded as the Chairman in the same company.
Apart from being a businesswoman, Mrs Daisy Danjuma is also a politician and a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She is also a lawyer by profession.
Senator Daisy Danjuma was born on August 6, 1952, a few years before the Nigerian Independence. She studied at Ahmadu Bello University where she graduated as a Lawyer.
Mrs Danjuma was called to bar in 1977 and in 1982 she became the Legal Adviser and Company Secretary to Nigerian Television Authority. A position she held until 1992.
From July 1999 to October 2003, she served as a member of Board o Directors, May & Baker Nigeria Plc. A position she was appointed to serve again on the 30th of May, 2019.
During the period she was first appointed to the board (1999 to 2003), she also served as the Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited.
She is currently the Chairman, May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership, and Vice Chairman, South Atlantic Petroleum Limited.
Senator Daisy Danjuma is currently estimated to be worth over $1.4billion.
5. Stella Okoli
Have you ever heard of Emzor Pharmaceutical, the manufacturers of the popular Emzor Paracetamol that you find nearly in every Nigerian home and one of the best pharmaceutical companies in the country?
Well, Mrs Stella Okoli is the Chairman and CEO of that company.
From a small pharmacy store in 1997, the company has grown to become one of the most popular pharmaceutical companies in the country.
Stella Okoli was born in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most populated cities, in 1944. Growing up, she had her primary education at All Saints Primary School, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Being a native of Nnewi in Anambra State, it is not totally a surprise that she is excelling greatly in business. It is as though people from that town are naturally wired to do business. Little wonder the town has been nicknamed “the small village of billionaires”.
Well, after her primary education, she proceeded to Ogidi Girls Secondary School where she got her secondary education. After that, she was sent abroad for her tertiary education at the University of Bradford, United Kingdom, where she studied pharmacy and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree. She is also said to have gotten her Master’s degree in Biopharmaceutical from the renowned University of London.
She started her pharmaceutical company in Nigeria in January 1977. Ever since inception, the company has developed over 50 different products.
Mrs Stella Okoli is currently estimated to be worth over $800 million.
6. Fifi Ejindu
Princess Fifi Ejindu Networth
Source: Happenings.com.ng
Nigerian billionaire businesswoman, Fifi Ejindu, is the great-granddaughter of King James Ekpo Bassey who during his time ruled Cobham Town in Calabar.
After her secondary education at Queens’ College, Yaba, Lagos, she attended Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, USA, where graduated with a bachelors’ degree in Agriculture. Becoming the first black woman to do so at the institution. She later got her Master’s degree from the same school.
Returning to Nigeria after schooling and working for a while in the U.S, she established her company known as Starcrest Group of companies. Today that company has grown to become one of the biggest in the country, with interests in building construction, oil and real estate.
Fifi Ejindu’s current net worth is estimated to be over $700 million.
7. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO boss is the third Nigeria’s richest women. She is an economist, entrepreneur and an international development expert. She had also served as the Director-General of World Bank a few years ago.
She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Harvard University, the United States of America in 1976. She is currently estimated to be worth over $650million.
8. Bimbo Alase
Bimbo Alase is one of Nigeria’s most influential businesswomen. She is the founder of Leatherworld, a furniture company established in June 1994.
She is a graduate of Pitman College, London and Regent Academy of Designs and Fine Arts. She also holds a Post Graduate degree in Interior Designing from London Design School.
She is currently estimated to be worth over $650 million, giving her a favourable position on this list.
8. Mo Abudu
Mo Abudu is one of Nigeria’s billionaire businesswoman. She is the Chairman and CEO of EbonyLife TV. Forbes Magazine has at one time described her as one of the most successful women in Africa.
Mo Abudu was born September 11, 1964, in London, where she spent most of her early years. Growing up, she schooled at Ridgeway School, Mid Kent College and West Kent College, all in London, United Kingdom.
She also attended the University of Westminister in the UK where she got her Bachelor’s degree in Law. She established EbonyLife TV which airs in over 49 countries in 2006. She is currently worth over $600M.
9. Diezani Alison-Madueke
Diezeni Alison is a Nigerian politician, entrepreneur and a billionaire businesswoman. She was born on the 6th of November, 2014, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
She attended Howard University in the United States of America where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Prior to that, she is said to have studied Architecture at a prestigious university in England.
Returning to Nigeria after her graduation from Howard, she joined Shell petroleum, the popular oil and gas company in the country.
Alison has served in various positions in government and non-government institutions. She is the first female president of OPEC and is estimated to be worth over $500M.
10. Stella Oduah
Princess Stella Oduah is a Nigerian Senator, entrepreneur and billionaire businesswoman. She is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sea Petroleum.
She holds a bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration which she got upon her graduation in the United States.
After graduation, Stella Oduah worked with NNPC for a while before establishing her own petroleum company. She is actively involved in politics today and is worth over $450M.