Three Nigerians make 2026 list of youngers billionaires in Africa

Three Nigerians made the Forbes’ 2026 Africa billionaires list.

Nigeria shares the podium with Egypt, which also has three nationals, on the list of those who made fortunes running businesses in manufacturing, telecommunications, energy, mining and others in Africa.

The Forbes’ 2026 Africa Billionaires ranking places premium on the age and not the net worth of the billionaires.

Femi Otedola, 63, is the second youngest billionaire in Africa, according to Forbes with a net worth of $1.3bn. The magazine reports Otedola built his initial fortune in commodities before selling his shares in Forte Oil and moving into energy investments. In 2025, he sold a majority stake in Geregu Power, while retaining a 5% interest. His other investments include stakes in Zenith Bank and FBN Holdings, according to Forbes.

Industrialist Abdulsamad Rabiu,66, is 8th on the list with a net worth of $11.2 billion.

Rabiu founded BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with interests in cement production, sugar refining and real estate. Forbes says Rabiu owns 98.2% of BUA Cement and 95% of BUA Foods. He began his own business in 1988, importing iron, steel and chemicals, before building the BUA empire.

 Africa’s richest person, Aliko Dangote, 69, has a Forbes 2026 net worth of $28.5 billion and is 9th on the list. Dangote founded and chairs Dangote Cement, which Forbes describes as Africa’s largest cement producer. The company has annual capacity of 48.6 million metric tonnes and operates in 10 African countries. His business interests have also expanded into fertiliser and refining, with his fertiliser plant beginning operations in 2022 and the Dangote Refinery beginning refining operations in 2024.

Others on the list of 2026 Forbes youngest Africa’s billionaires include Tanzanian Mohammed Dewji — 51 — $2.1bn (1st); South African Patrice Motsepe — 64 — $4.3bn (3rd); Egyptian Nassef Sawiris — 65 — $9.6bn (4th); Zimbabwean Strive Masiyiwa — 65 — $2.1bn (5th); Moroccan Aziz Akhannouch — 65 — $1.6bn (6th); Egyptian Yasseen Mansour — 65 — $1.4bn (7th) and Egyptian Samih Sawiris — 69 — $1.4bn (10th).