Richest Women in Nigeria – Until a few decades ago, the possibility of a woman attaining billionaire status was virtually unheard of.
However, the narrative has shifted since the beginning of the new millennium, with the emergence of numerous women who possess fortunes and possessions worth hundreds of millions, and even billions, of dollars.
It is not surprising that the saying “what a man can do, a woman can do even better” exists. Who are these women? The affluent women who own a substantial amount of wealth. Stop wondering; we will present them to you in this article.
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Our Assessment Parameters
The parameters we used in carrying out this assessment include the number and quality of companies they own/manage, the number of shares they control, the market value of their companies and other investments, and their general net worth.
Also, note that the other super-rich women with no clear business or professional model are not included in this list. This is so because money doesn’t fall from the sky. To be considered rich and wealthy, you should have something legally making money for you.
Top 7 Richest Women in Nigeria 2024
The top seven (7) richest women in Nigeria include:
1. Folorunsho Alakija [Estimated net worth: $1.6 Billion]
Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija has struggled to maintain her position as the richest woman in Nigeria and Africa for many years now.
Folorunsho started as a top-notch fashion designer, practicing the profession she studied at American College London and the Central School of Fashion.
Her rise to billionaire status started when she won the bid for an Oil Prospecting License in Nigeria, which led to the creation of Famfa Oil Limited, which is today a multi-billion dollar company. Note that the bulk of her wealth comes from this oil block.
She also owns massive properties all across Nigeria and has a private jet.
In 2017, Alakija hosted one of the most glamorous weddings in the world, which took place in England. Her son, Folarin Alakija, married his heartthrob, the Iranian beauty Jafarian Ghaissarifar.
2. Hajia Bola Shagaya [Estimated net worth: $950 Million]
Hajia Bola made our list of the richest women in Nigeria, and deservedly so. She is currently the second-richest woman in Nigeria and the third-richest woman in Africa.
She is currently the CEO of Bolmus Group International, a company that is professionally involved in real estate, oil and gas, banking, and other services.
In addition to the above, this woman is also a board member of Unity Bank Plc. She has hundreds of houses scattered throughout Nigeria, including a private jet that is rumored to cost over $30 million.
She is a close confidant of the former president’s wife, Patience Jonathan and was awarded Member of the Order of the Niger.
Just like Alakija, the bulk of her stupendous wealth comes from her Oil and Gas industry.
3. Daisy Danjuma [Estimated net worth: $900 Million]
Daisy Danjuma is a lawyer and the wife of the former Nigerian military general and minister of defense of Nigeria, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, founder of the oil exploration company South Atlantic Petroleum.
Between 1977 and 1978, Daisy worked as an executive secretary for Nigerian Acceptances Limited (NAL). From 1982 to 1992, she served as the Nigerian Television Authority’s (NTA) Company Secretary and Legal Consultant. She was elected to represent Edo South as a senator from 2003 to 2007.
The Nigerian lawyer has held board positions with several public and private companies. She served as a director for South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO), a leading oil company, before being named chairwoman of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, a prestigious drug manufacturing firm, in 2019.
4. Fifi Ekanem Ejindu [Estimated net worth: $850 Million]
Fifi Ejindu might not be so well known, but we can assure you that this lady is stinking rich! She is the great-granddaughter of King James Ekpo Bassey of Cobham Town in Calabar, Nigeria. She graduated as an architect from Pratt Institute in the United States.
The Ibadan-born architect, businesswoman and philanthropist later started the Starcrest Group of companies, which operates in three divisions: oil and gas, real estate, and building construction. Her conglomerate grew to become a multi-million-dollar empire, making Fifi one of the richest women in Nigeria and Africa.
Fifi Ejindu was awarded the African Achievers African Arts and Fashion Lifetime Achievement award in 2013.
5. Stella Okoli [Estimated net worth: $800 Million]
Dr. Stella Okoli has since risen to the status of an A-list Nigerian billionaire with her drive to make healthcare affordable and available.
This is a Nigerian woman who worked her way up the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria to become an unrivaled entrepreneur in her field.
Dr. Stella Okoli is the proud founder and CEO of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, which produces over 30 drugs that are consumed by millions of Nigerians and Africans daily. The company is over 33 years old already and still burgeoning.
Her drive for sustainable healthcare has not only brought her money but also accolades and government recognition.
President Goodluck Jonathan bestowed her with the Member of the Order of the Niger award. She is also a recipient of the ECOWAS International Gold Award.
6. Bimbo Alashe [Estimated net worth: $750 Million]
Mrs. Bimbo Alashe is a Nigerian feminine billionaire who has cemented her place amongst the high and mighty in Nigerian society.
Bimbo Alashe started small as a small business owner of a furniture store in Lagos, which she later transitioned to Leatherworld furniture company. Leatherworld grew to become the biggest furniture company in Lagos.
Her company partnered with NIERI, one of the best furniture-making companies based in Tuscany, Italy, to produce some of the best furniture ever made in Africa, which was in 2005.
Today, the Leatherworld company has become a multi-million-dollar empire, which makes Bimbo Alashe one of the richest women in Nigeria.
7. Mo Abudu [Estimated net worth: $650 Million]
Mosunmola “Mo” Abudu, the owner of Ebonylife Television and Films, is one of the richest women in Nigeria. Forbes has referred to her as “Africa’s Most Successful Woman,” and The Hollywood Reporter has listed her among the “25 Most Influential Women in Global Television.”
Her company, Ebonylife Television & Film, is a production studio that makes films and other forms of entertainment. It was established in 2006 and broadcasts across the UK, the Caribbean, and over 49 African nations.
On July 1, 2013, EbonyLife TV made its debut on DSTV Channel 165, owned by Multichoice. EbonyLife TV, one of the top 25% of most popular networks on the DStv platform, launched a deluxe, multi-screen video-on-demand (VOD) platform aimed at Africans living abroad less than a year after it began operating.
Final Thoughts
The women mentioned in this post exemplify a wide array of backgrounds and industries. Nevertheless, they all possess a shared characteristic: their determination, perseverance, and unyielding motivation to achieve success.
These women are not just affluent, but they are also influential figures and exemplars who are actively altering the trajectory of Nigeria’s economy.
Additionally, their entrepreneurial endeavors generate employment opportunities, foster economic expansion, and inspire aspiring female entrepreneurs. These women are defying stereotypes and demonstrating that gender is irrelevant to achievement.
Also see: Top 10 Richest Men in the World (2024)
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