For years, the ranks of Nigeria’s wealthiest individuals on the Forbes billionaire list have been ruled by household names like Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, and Femi Otedola.
However, the landscape is shifting as a new face emerges among the elite.
A Nigerian entrepreneur has stormed into the billionaire club, catching the attention of the business world and piquing the curiosity of many eager to learn more about this rising titan. … CONTINUE READING
Nigerian billionaire mogul Adebayo Ogunlesi has further cemented his standing among the global financial elite, with Forbes recognizing his impressive net worth of $1.7 billion.
This milestone not only elevates Ogunlesi as Nigeria’s fifth billionaire but also contributes to Africa’s growing roster of high-net-worth individuals making waves on the world stage.
Forbes’ latest valuation marks a pivotal shift, following Bloomberg’s earlier report just eight months ago, highlighting Ogulesi’s remarkable ascent among African billionaires.
His meteoric rise is fueled by the massive success of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), the private equity behemoth he co-founded. The cornerstone of this success? A blockbuster deal with BlackRock, finalized in January, which has taken the world of finance by storm.
Valued at a staggering $12.5 billion, the BlackRock-GIP alliance has not only redefined the infrastructure investment landscape but also solidified Ogulesi’s position as a formidable force in the global financial arena.
The deal includes a hefty $3 billion cash component, along with the issuance of roughly 12 million shares of BlackRock common stock—together totaling a jaw-dropping $9.5 billion.
This strategic merger brings together a powerhouse of assets under management (AUM), exceeding $150 billion, spanning equity, debt, and innovative solution-driven investments.
With this monumental deal under his belt, Ogulesi now firmly holds the title of Nigeria’s fifth richest individual, trailing only behind industrial titans like Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and Femi Otedola.
His rise marks a new chapter not just for Nigeria, but for Africa’s burgeoning financial influence on the global stage.
