Be inspired: 2 Nigerians aged 30 and 31 make the Forbes Young Millionaires list

by Isi Esene

Two Nigerians, Ladi Delano and Jason Njoku, have made the recently released Forbes Magazine ‘Ten Young African Millionaires To Watch’ list.

Ladi, 30, is the founder and CEO of Bakrie Delano Africa, a $1bn investment vehicle; while Jason, 31, is the founder and CEO of Iroko TV.

These two Nigerians are among thousands of young and immensely successful entrepreneurs across the African continent. There’s a growing number of Africans aged 40 and under who are legitimately amassing multi-million dollar fortunes.

According to Mfonobong Nsehe, a Forbes Magazine contributor who compiled the list, it consists of a handful of young Africans in their 20s and 30s who have built businesses and amassed enviable million-dollar fortunes.

Others on the Top 10 list include four young entrepreneurs from South Africa, two from Kenya, and one each from Uganda, and Senegal.

Ladi Delano the jet-setting Nigerian entrepreneur made his first millions as a liquor entrepreneur in China. He made a lot of profit from this venture and later sold the business to a rival liquor company for over $15mn.

He is presently the co-founder and CEO of Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA) – a $1bn joint venture with the $15bn (market cap) Bakrie Group of Indonesia. The Indonesian conglomerate has provided over $900m worth of funds to invest in Nigeria and Bakrie Delano Africa is responsible for identifying investment opportunities for the company in the country.

Jason Njoku, the Internet entrepreneur is the founder of Iroko TV, the world’s largest digital distributor of African movies. Earlier this year, Iroko TV raised $8 million in venture capital from Tiger Global Management, a New York-based private equity and hedge fund run by billionaire Chase Coleman. Though Njoku is not willing to divulge his company’s figures, analysts believe Iroko TV could be worth as much as $30m.

Be inspired … or be depressed. You choose.

Comments (5)

  1. editor you didn't say how they amassed their wealth who motivated or finance them or what have thy worked over the years to give then such capital? I believe this names you mentioned are proxies to politicians fronting them because Nigerian government has no plan for entrepreneurship development.

  2. How ​ ​¶ can get contacted to ur outfit?Having a project coming up  which ​ ​¶'ll like you to be vehemently be part of….Thanks

  3. LOL: Be Inspired or be depressed! Classic.

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