Forbes List 2025: Dangote, Adenuga, Rabiu, Otedola named among Africa’s richest persons

Forbes Magazine has named Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Femi Otedola in its 2025 list of the richest individuals in Africa.
According to the 2025 edition published on the magazine’s website on Saturday, the CEO and founder of the Dangote Group, Mr Dangote, tops the list once again for the 14th consecutive year, with an estimated net worth of $23.9 billion—up from $13.9 billion in 2024.
The report attributes the surge in his net worth to the valuation of his refinery, which opened last year in Lagos.
The Dangote Group, a multinational conglomerate, operates in various sectors of the economy, including cement, sugar, flour, salt, seasoning, pasta, beverages, real estate, and projects in oil & gas and fertiliser.
Globacom chairman, Mr. Adenuga, ranks 5th in Africa and 2nd in Nigeria with a net worth of $8.5 billion, followed by Abdul Samad Rabiu, founder and chairman of BUA Group, who ranks 6th in Africa and 3rd in Nigeria, with a net worth of $5.1 billion.
Femi Otedola, chairman of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings Plc, shares the 16th position in Africa with Christoffel Wiese of South Africa, ranking 4th in Nigeria, with a net worth of $1.5 billion.
The business magazine noted that South Africa had the highest number of individuals on the list, with seven billionaires, followed by Nigeria and Egypt with four each.
Other countries represented on the list include Morocco with three, while Algeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe each have one.
Forbes stated that the ranking was based on individuals who reside in Africa or primarily run their businesses there, with the exception of Sudanese-UK billionaire Mo Ibrahim and South African billionaire Nathan Kirsh.
“Our list tracks the wealth of African billionaires who reside in Africa or have their primary business there,” it said. “This excludes Sudanese-born billionaire Mo Ibrahim, a U.K. citizen, and South African Nathan Kirsh, who operates out of London and has his business in the U.S. and U.K.”
“Net worths were calculated using stock prices and currency exchange rates from the close of business on March 7, 2025,” it added.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States
Lagos court sentences man to life imprisonment for defiling minor
The judge also ruled that the convict’s name be registered in the Sexual Offenders Register.

States
Fire service saves property worth over N16 billion in Kaduna
The official said most fire outbreaks occurred in homes, markets, farms and other public places.

States
Troops destroy kidnappers’ hideout, recover 1,000 rounds of ammunition in Kogi
Ms Anele said a substantial cache of ammunition and other items were recovered during an offensive operation.

Politics
IPAC tasks INEC on functional voting equipment, hitch-free election
Ms Akinade urged INEC to intensify its preparations to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

World
U.S. Midterm: Democrat Haley Stevens shocks party members, endorses Republican Mike Rogers
Ms Stevens endorsed the Republican Party candidate for the Senate seat, dumping Mr El-Sayed.

Sport
Football fans hail Flamingos’ World Cup semi-final qualification
The Flamingos defeated Venezuela 1-0 to advance to the semi-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.





