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Africa’s Richest Men and their Mantras
Power and drive are two things business leaders seem to have in common.
Add an uncommon determination to succeed, and the extraordinary that pushes them to surpass expectations and do things others have not thought, or found the wit to do then you might might probably have all the ingredients that these geniuses embody.
The veritable Ventures Africa, Pan-African business magazine and news service, across the globe, entrepreneurs and business leaders are marked by their enviable managerial skills and intellectual capacity which they demonstrate.
According to Ventures Africa, no wonder when they as much as cough everyone pays apt attention: that split-second action of opening their lips could be some kind of code unlocking the next billion dollar opportunity.
In the Africa, the story is the same. From Cape to Cairo via Nairobi and the busy ports of Lagos, African has it fair share of dynamic business leaders who have not just built world-class businesses, but have positioned the continent’s economies for unprecedented growth and development. Ventures Africa takes a look at 21 ‘words of wisdom’ from some of Africa’s billionaire businessmen.
Johann Rupert, South Africa
Johann Rupert is one of South Africa’s richest people with an approximate net worth of $6.6 billion. Johann serves as Chairman of Richemont, Swiss -based luxury-goods company, as well as of Remgro, South Africa-based company.
However, Rupert’s wealth has grown an astonishing 30% recently, after he upgraded fortunes of his Swiss-based luxury goods outfit, Compagnie Financiere Richemont.
Quote: ‘‘I just want to be master of my own time. It is ironic that someone in the watch business should not be in control of his own time.’’
Christoffel Wiese, South Africa
Christoffel Wiese is a veteran business leader from South Africa with a net worth of $3.5 billion. Wiese is one of the richest people in South Africa.
Christoeffel Wiese serves as Chairman and the largest single shareholder of Shoprite, Africa’s biggest retailer, low-priced supermarket chain.
He is also the Executive Chairman of Pepkor, a chain of discount clothes, shoes and textiles, where he holds a large stake.
Quote: ‘‘Who else could have built a company we bought for R1 million into a company worth more than R100 billion today. To run a company with more than 100,000 employees in 17 countries, you have to be able to think on your feet.’’
Mike Adenuga, Nigeria
Mike Adenuga is a Nigerian business magnate whose net worth is estimated at $4.7 billion according to Forbes. Some quarters believe he is worth more than that. In 2006, he founded Globacom, the second largest mobile phone network in Nigeria.
With over 24 million customers in Nigeria, the company also operates in the Republic of Benin, where it recently acquired licenses to start businesses in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
Adenuga’s Conoil Producing is considered to be one of the largest independent exploration companies in Nigeria, with a production capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil per day
Quote: ‘‘The harder you work, the luckier you get’’.
Mohammed Ibrahim, Sudan
Mohammed Ibrahim is a mobile communications entrepreneur. He is a respected international philanthropist, who is credited with ‘transforming the continent’ and is thought to be the ‘most powerful black man in Britain’.
In 2007, he launched the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, which awards an initial prize of $5 million and an annual life payment of $200,000 to African Heads-of-State awardees. Past recipients of the award include Nelson Mandela and Olusegun Obasanjo.
Quote: ‘‘What do you do if you are an executive who resigns? You declare yourself a consultant’’.
Aliko Dangote, Nigeria
Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote is an industrialist currently worth $20 billion. He founded the Dangote Group which controls much of Nigeria’s commodities trade.
This business magnate and philanthropist referred to as ‘‘the golden child of Nigerian business circle’’ once drove a taxi cab on the streets of London to fund his education, three decades later, his consortium now spans across many sectors of the Nigerian economy and is expanding to the rest of Africa. He has retained his position as Africa’s richest man for the 3rd year in a row.
Quote: ‘‘If you give me $5 billion today, I will invest everything here in Nigeria. Let us put our heads together and work’’.
Naguib Sawiris, Egypt
Sawiris is a business man and politician. He was the executive chairman of the telecommunications companies Wind Telecom and Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) before turning to politics in May 2017. OTH launched the first mobile operator in Egypt, Mobnil in 1998.
Quote: ‘‘I can tell you that I won’t sell Mobnil, they think because of this boycott, that I will get fed up and sell, it’s not in my character… I am not a quitter’’.
Stephen Saad, South Africa
Stephen Saad is a South African billionaire whose net worth is estimated at $1 billion. He is the co-founder of Aspen Pharmacare, South Africa’s leading publicly-traded drug manufacturer on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Quote: ‘‘In Life, you don’t get anywhere or do anything you hope to without some sort of sacrifice’’.
Isabel Dos Santos, Angola
Isabel dos Santos is Angolan businesswoman who has a net worth of $2 billion. Isabel who best known as the oldest daughter of Angola’s President José Eduardo dos Santos, was named Angola’s first billionaire and the richest woman in Africa as of March 2013. In 1977, 24 year old Isabel started her first business, i.e., a restaurant called Miami Beach in Luanda, the country’s capital.
Quote: ‘‘I think there are a lot of people with family connections but who are actually nowhere. If you are hardworking and determined, you will make it and that’s the bottom line. I don’t believe in an easy way through’’.
Patrice Motsepe, South Africa
Patrice Motsepe is a South African mining magnate who has a net worth of $2.9 billion. Motsepe founded and now chairs African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), a publicly traded mining conglomerate with interests in platinum, nickel, chrome, iron, manganese, coal, copper and gold.
Quote: ‘‘One has to set high standards… I can never be happy with mediocre performance’’.
Miloud Chaabi, Morocco
Miloud Chaabi is a business tycoon with an estimated net worth of $2.1 billion placing him as the richest person in Morocco.
Chaabi began working as a farmer and goat herder in his early teens. He eventually saved up enough money to move to Kenitra.
He launched his first construction company, Ynna Holdings, in the late 40s. He grew Ynna Holdings from a construction firm into the ownership firm of hotels, supermarkets, and renewable energy, among other holdings. He owns the Riad Mogador hotel chain and the Aswak Assalam chain of supermarkets.
He also runs one of Morocco’s most prolific charity groups, the Miloud Chaabi Foundation
Quote: ‘‘Bribe seekers know who to look for and my company’s reputation for integrity means I never get hassled into bribery’’.
Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa
Ramaphosa is a South African business mogul, philanthropist and owner of the Shanduka Group. Cyril is wildly respected as a skilful and formidable negotiator and strategist, and also best known for building up the biggest and most powerful trade union in South Africa, the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM).
Quote: ‘‘No action is too small when it comes to changing the world… I’m inspired every time I meet an entrepreneur who is succeeding against all odds’’.
Naushad Merali, Kenya
Merali is a Kenyan inventor, and business magnate, best known as the founder of the Kenyan mobile service provider Kencell along with French media giant Vivendi.
As one of Kenya’s leading industrialist, Merali has brought commercial development in Kenya for more than 30 years and is currently expanding his business throughout East Africa. In 2004, he made a $20 million dollar profit in a deal at a record 1 hour.
Quote: ‘‘We need to arrest the widening disparities in incomes between the rich and poor’’.
Anas Sefrioui, Morroco
Sefrioui is a Moroccan businessman and visionary leader. According to reports, he is worth about $1.3 billion.
He founded Groupe Addoha back in 1988, but he made a big break ten years later after he got a contract to build a chunk of government-subsidized housing under the patronage of Morocco’s late King Hassan II.
His wealth continued to swell as he won a $1 billion state contract to build more housing units in 2005.
Currently, Anas is the General President and 61.7% owner of the corporate enterprise also known as Douja Promotion Groupe Addoha. Anas Sefrioui is the third richest person in Morocco and the 16th in Africa.
Quote: ‘‘The potential of the African market is huge’’
Nicky Oppenheimer, South Africa
Nicky Oppenheimer’s net worth is estimated at $6.5 billion dollars which makes him one of the richest people in South Africa. In addition to his work with De Beers, he also helms Greene and Partners Investments, a venture capital firm which focuses on building business in South Africa, and surrounding areas. In 2011, he sold his family’s 40% stake in De Beers to Anglo American, a company his grandfather started in 1917.
Quote: ‘‘I am a great believer that if you know how to operate in Africa, there are unbelievable opportunities’’.
Nathan Kirsh, Swaziland
Nathan Kirsh is a South African business mogul whose net worth of $3.1 billion. Kirsh owns a property empire that spans across the United Kingdom, Swaziland and Australia.
Kirsh has started his corn milling business in1958. The business expanded and became a variety wholesale food distribution.
Quote: ‘‘Real estate is the only sector where ‘stupid people’ can make money’’.
Desmond Sacco, South Africa,
Sacco is a business magnate and billionaire whose net worth is about $1.5 billion.
He is one of the richest and most influential South Africans. He got into mining in 1928 when he established Gloucester Manganese Mines.
He later inherited and further developed his father’s business. As of January 2012, Desmond’s Assore Group’s shares have almost doubled.
Quote: ‘‘Money is not my objective’’.
Sudhir Ruparelia, Uganda
Sudhir is a businessman and entrepreneur in Uganda. He is the Chairman and majority shareholder in the companies owned by the Ruparelia Group.
He has investments in banking, insurance, education, broadcasting etc. In 2012, he was reported to be the wealthiest individual in East Africa with an estimated net worth of $900 million.
Quote: ‘‘I own quite a lot and I have worked very hard for it’’.
Othman Benjelloun, Morocco
Benjelloun was listed as the richest person in Morocco with a net worth of $3.1 billion. He took over his family’s insurance company and turned it into the leading RMA Watanya insurer.
Then he expanded to the banking sector.
The banking aspect of Benjelloun’s business career alone is worth $4 billion. His holding company, FinanceCom holds interests in telecommunications, airlines and information technology.
Quote: ‘‘I have done industry, banking, insurance and telecommunications, and but helping children and adults is the project of my life’’.
Mr. Jim Ovia, Nigeria
Jim Ovia founded Zenith Bank Group in 1990. The bank has grown into West Africa’s second largest financial services provider by market capitalization and asset base.
His stake with Zenith is worth about $300 million. An equally large chunk of his wealth comes from a portfolio of prime real estate in Victoria Island and Ikoyi, some of Nigeria’s priciest neighborhoods.
Ovia devotes majority of his time to managing Visafone, a telecom outfit he founded in 2007. He also owns Quantum, a private equity fund focused on Africa.
Quote: “I will continue to empower the youths. That is my passion. The youths are the leaders of tomorrow. We must continue to support them’’
Ashish Thakkar, Uganda
Ashish is referred to as the youngest billionaire in Africa. He is founder of the pan-African multi-sector business conglomerate, Mara Group.
A serial entrepreneur who started his first company at the age of 15, Ashish built a conglomerate of real estate, information technology and manufacturing with operations in over 26 companies and employing 7,000 people worldwide in less than two decades.
Quote: ‘‘Money should never be a measurement for anything’’.
Said Salim Bakhresa, Tanzania
Bakhresa is described as extremely reclusive business tycoon and richest man in Tanzania. He is the founder and chairman of the Bakhresa Group of Companies.
The genius is a well known industrialist in the mainland of Tanzania and Island of Zanzibar.
With a small beginning as a small restaurateur in the 70’s, he created the business empire with a span of three decades. He is the mastermind behind the success of all the business within the group.
Quote: …
This man hardly reveals his mind… he keeps people guessing of what his next moves are.
Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced that the National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will automatically serve as the Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) for all Nigerian citizens, while registered businesses will use their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration numbers.
FIRS
The disclosure was made during a public awareness campaign on the new tax laws posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.
According to the Service, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), which comes into force in January 2026, mandates the use of Tax IDs for certain financial and commercial transactions, including bank account ownership.
FIRS explained that the measure is part of efforts to unify all previously issued Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) by both the federal and state revenue services into a single identifier.
“For individuals, your NIN automatically serves as your Tax ID, while for registered companies, your CAC RC number is used. You do not need a physical card; the Tax ID is a unique number linked directly to your identity,” the Service stated.
The agency noted that the requirement has been in place since the Finance Act of 2019 but has now been strengthened under the NTAA to ensure compliance and ease of administration.
Officials emphasized that the reform would simplify tax processes, reduce duplication, and improve transparency in Nigeria’s tax system.
The Service added that the integration of NIN and CAC numbers into the tax framework would also enhance data accuracy, curb tax evasion, and streamline the monitoring of taxable activities across the country.
Tax experts have described the development as a significant step toward modernizing Nigeria’s revenue administration, noting that it aligns with global best practices where national identity systems are linked to tax compliance.
The FIRS urged Nigerians to ensure that their NINs and CAC registration details are up-to-date, stressing that the identifiers would be required for transactions such as property purchases, contract awards, and access to certain financial services once the NTAA takes effect
The United States will begin a partial suspension of visa issuance to Nigerians from January 1, 2026, following a new presidential proclamation aimed at strengthening border and national security.
The US Mission in Nigeria announced on Monday that the restriction will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled ‘Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.’
According to the mission, Nigeria is one of 19 countries affected by the measure.
Others listed are Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The proclamation provides for a partial suspension of visa issuance covering nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, as well as F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas.
It also applies to immigrant visas, though with limited exceptions.
The statement read in part, “Effective January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, in line with Presidential Proclamation 10998 on “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” the Department of State is partially suspending visa issuance to nationals of 19 countries – Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – for nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas and F, M, J student and exchange visitor visas, and all immigrant visas with limited exceptions.”
US officials clarified that the policy does not apply to all travellers. Exemptions include immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran, dual nationals applying with passports from countries not affected by the suspension, and Special Immigrant Visas for eligible US government employees.
Other exempted categories include lawful permanent residents of the United States and participants in certain major international sporting events.
The US government emphasised that the proclamation applies only to foreign nationals who are outside the United States on the effective date and who do not hold a valid US visa as of January 1, 2026.
“Foreign nationals, even those outside the United States, who hold valid visas as of the effective date are not subject to Presidential Proclamation 10998. No visas issued before January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. EST, have been or will be revoked pursuant to the Proclamation,” the statement added.
Visa applicants from affected countries may continue to submit applications and attend interviews. However, the US Mission noted that such applicants “may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the US” under the new rules.
The announcement comes amid a series of recent US policy decisions that have raised concerns among Nigerians seeking to travel, study or migrate to the country.
In October, the United States added Nigeria back to its list of countries accused of violating religious freedom, citing persistent insecurity and attacks on Christian communities. This was followed by Nigeria’s inclusion on a revised US travel ban list that imposed partial entry restrictions on Nigerians.
The US has also tightened immigration and visa policies affecting Nigerians. Earlier this year, the validity of most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians was reduced to single-entry visas with a three-month duration.
The pre-action notice was signed by Emmanuel Okpara, Esq., Litigation and Compliance Director, and Mus’ab Awwal Mu’az, Esq., secretary of the Association’s Steering Committee.
The dispute stemmed from a consent judgment delivered on November 3, 2025, by Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CC/355/2025 between Meta Platforms, Inc. and the NDPC.
Following investigations conducted under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023, the NDPC had issued a Final Order against Meta Platforms, Inc., finding “widespread violations of the data protection and privacy rights of approximately 61 million Nigerians,” and imposing a remedial fine of USD 32,800,000.
The pre-action notice was signed by Emmanuel Okpara, Esq., Litigation and Compliance Director, and Mus’ab Awwal Mu’az, Esq., Secretary of the Association’s Steering Committee.
The dispute stemmed from a consent judgment delivered on November 3, 2025, by Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CC/355/2025 between Meta Platforms, Inc. and the NDPC.
Following investigations conducted under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), 2023, the NDPC had issued a Final Order against Meta Platforms, Inc., finding “widespread violations of the data protection and privacy rights of approximately 61 million Nigerians,” and imposing a remedial fine of USD 32,800,000.
The NDPC investigation stemmed from a petition filed at the commission on August 14, 2023, against Meta Platforms Inc. by the convener of Personal Data Protection Awareness Initiative, Ozoemena Nwogbo, regarding violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
After its investigation, NDPC found Meta Platforms Inc. wanting and, on February 18, 2025, issued nine Final Orders against Meta Platforms Inc.
NDPC’s Order
The NDPC’s order nine reads, “Meta shall pay the naira equivalent of 32,800,000 USD (Thirty-two million, eight-hundred thousand United States Dollars) as a remedial fee. The naira equivalent shall be at the rate determined by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The details of the account for payment of the remedial fee are as follows: Account Name: Nigeria Data Protection Commission Fund Account. Account Number: 0020331265048 (300131267). Use RTGS for payment.”
The NDPC added, “Note that Meta has a right to seek a judicial review of this decision. The Commission will closely monitor Meta’s remediation process and its impact on data subjects for upwards of six months.”
However, the Final Order was subsequently set aside through Terms of Settlement, which were adopted by the court as a consent judgment on November 3, 2025, following a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/355/2025, filed by Meta Platforms Inc. against the NDPC.
Part of the Terms of Settlement entered between NDPC and Meta Platforms Inc. reads, “The applicant (Meta Platforms Inc.) and the respondent (NDPC) have come to a mutual settlement agreement that resolves the dispute underlying the applicant’s originating Summons.
“Pursuant to this agreement: (I) the applicant has agreed to provide specific remedial consideration to the respondent in support of protecting the rights of data subjects in Nigeria; and (II) the respondent has inter alia agreed to set aside and waive any rights to enforce or take steps to enforce the Final Orders against the applicant.”
The settlement terms specifically read, “In the light of the foregoing: The applicant wholly and completely terminates, abandons, withdraws, and discontinues the Originating Summons as well as any and all claims against the respondent connected to or arising from the matters or the subject matter thereof, except as the parties have otherwise agreed.
“The respondent: (I) sets aside the Final Orders against Meta; and (II) save and except as the parties have otherwise agreed, fully and firmly releases and discharges Meta from any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of action, contracts, obligations, suits, debts, costs, liabilities, which the respondent ever had, may now have, or May hereafter claim to have against Meta in respect of the matters.”
Association Alleges Illegality In Settlement
But the Data Privacy Lawyers Association contended that the consent judgment was entered into unlawfully, arguing that it was done without lawful statutory authority, in violation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, and in derogation of the constitutional right to privacy guaranteed under Section 37 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
The Association further said the action was taken “to the grave prejudice of millions of affected Nigerians and the public interest, as well as the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
In the notice, the Association warned that unless the issues raised are urgently addressed within the statutory notice period, it would approach the Federal High Court to seek multiple reliefs.
These include an order setting aside, vacating, and nullifying the consent judgment on grounds of fraud, collusion, material non-disclosure, lack of statutory authority, and violation of the NDPA, 2023.
It is also seeking a declaration that the consent judgment is “null, void, unconstitutional, and of no legal effect,” as well as a declaration that the NDPC lacks statutory authority to waive, compro
Other reliefs sought include an order restoring and reviving the Final Order against Meta Platforms, including the $32.8 million fine, and an order restraining any further reliance on or enforcement of the consent judgment.
The Association also asked the court for other orders the Court may deem fit in the interest of justice, public accountability, and the protection of constitutional rights.
In the interest of transparency and accountability, the Association urged the NDPC to provide a written explanation of the legal basis for entering into the Terms of Settlement, clarify the statutory authority relied upon to waive the remedial fine and set aside the Final Order, and take steps to remedy the issues raised.
The letter, the Association said, constitutes the requisite pre-action notice under applicable law.
It warned that unless the concerns are satisfactorily addressed within 30 days of receipt of the notice, it will proceed to institute legal proceedings without further recourse.
mise, or extinguish liabilities, sanctions, or remedial fines arising from established violations of the Act.
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