Meet The Successful Under 40 Ceo’s In Nigeria

#U4C is an acronym for Under 40 Ceo’s, the U4C is a set of nigerian young entreprenuers that has make it to the Lime light at their early 20’s to 30’s or late, they can be called nigeria young glory, Because in one way or the other, they are improving nigeria economy or adding their own values possitively. The U4C is for those that are successful Legally at their early ages.

#U4C; TOP 15 UNDER 40 CEO’S IN NIGERIA

1, Makinde Azeez (29): Founder/Ceo Naijaloaded
Degree: ND. Lagos State Polytechnic (droppedout), B.sc. Physics and Electronic, Osun State University

Fresh out of seconday school, Nine years ago (October 1 2009), he started Naijaloaded. Naijaloaded was started as fun and an act of keep self busy, One year after the creation, Naijaloaded grew from being just a normal information website to full blown music website. In year 2012, Makinde Azeez a.k.a Mankind was ranked among the top ten Nigerian bloggers by Ranksng.com; Although he was ranked 10th on that list then, Today is sure to be a different story. According to reports, Makinde Azeez is worth $900,000 (that is equivalent to N327,600,000.00 with an exchange rate of 1USD=364).

2, Ijeoma Ndukwe-Egwuronu (37): Founder Bubez Foods
Degree: B.Sc. Human Physiology, University of Calabar; An alumna of The Lagos Business School 6 month program – The Owner Manager.

Popularly known as “Nwa Akamu” or “Iyaologi” (Igbo and Yoruba names for women selling pap). Ijeoma was neck deep in bad debt in 2012 as a result of being owed from sales from her clothing store (Bubez Plaiz), which threaten its existence. As a result, she went to God in prayers to seek divine answers to her problems and got moved by words in 2nd Kings 4:2 AMP Version “What do you have in your house of sale value. After seeing Akamu in her refrigerator, which is a staple meal for her kids before they turn 2, and knowing that lots of mothers desire to feed their kids pap, coupled with the challenge in finding one prepared in hygienic conditions. She delved into the food processing that has corn as its main raw material. Ijeoma has constantly mentioned epileptic power supply as a
major constraint to SMEs in the country.

3, Rotimi Williams (37): Founder Of Kereksuk Rice Farm
Degree: B.Sc. Economics, University of Aberdeen, Scotland; MSc. Economics, University of Aberdeen; M.Sc. Finance and Development Studies, SOAS, University of London.

Journalist cum rice farmer, Worked as an analyst in the European and Financial Centre, London, and later at Euromoney Magazine. Where he was responsible for studying the African market. After travelling various African nations under Euromoney, and seeing how agriculture is an important aspect in the economy. Williams resigned and got employed as a banker focused on agriculture in Nigeria. Resigned afterwards upon discovering the lacklustre approach the bank had towards agriculture. In 2012, with a unique agreement with the farm owner, he garnered 17,269 hectares of land and later ramped it to 55,000 before parting with his partner. Which brought it down to 45,000 hectares – making him the owner of Nigeria’s second largest rice farm, after Olam. Founded agriculture focused data analytics’ firm – Compare the Markets in 2016.

4, Fidelis Ozuawala (28): – Founder/Ceo Waploaded and Myloadedlaundry
Degree: HND, Mechanical Engineer Auchi Polytechnic

Fidelis Ozuawala is a Nigerian internet marketer and blogger who pride himself for building Nigeria most sort-aftert simple music blog ‘Waploaded.com’, Several other niche blogs all under Waploaded Media Umbrella.
Waploaded was created seven years ago (June 16 2011), Fidelis Ozuawala Networth is $614,130 (that is equivalent to N223,543,320.00, with the exchange rate of 1USD=364NGN).

5, Opeyemi Awoyemi, Co-Founder Jobberman, Founder Whogohost
Degree: Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

He also had executive education courses at Wharton Business School and University of California, Berkeley. Opeyemi is a co-founder and the Chief Information Officer at Jobberman. He is also the founder of ennovateNIGERIA and WhoGoHost. While Ayodeji has experience in strategy and sales and Olalekan in technology, Opeyemi has a strong background in technology with over 15 years experience in web programming. The three gentlemen combined to execute the Jobberman business plan. Jobberman was few years ago acquired by an international investor but Opeyemi and his partners remain on the board of the company.

6, Paul Samson (32) Founder/Ceo NNU.NG and Coolnaira
Degree: Loading……

Paul samson is a Nigerian internet enterpreneur, a professional blogger, an intreprenuer and a philanthropist, He is the founder of the nigeria money making platform ‘NNU.NG’. Paul samson lauched his networking programme, NNU.NG in November 2′ 2016. Currently Over six hundred thousand Nigerians have benefited financially from the programme and the programm has been running effectively since its inception without any symptom of crashing. Paul samson Networth is $56, 862, 536 (that is equivalent to N20,697,937,104.00 with an exchange rate of 1USD=364NGN).

7,. Jide Ogunsanya Founder/Ceo Ogbongeblog, Nairaforsms, Mobilitaria
Degree: B.Sc. Microbiologist, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Java Programming at NIIT.

Jide Ogunsanya; the brain behing Ogbongeblog.com, young and passionate blogger and digital marketer with so mush passion for making thing happen with the use of Technology. No doubt, he is the Top Nigerian tech blogger. Ogbonge blog was created Eight years ago, September 9th’ 200, Is the space through which tutorials and tips related to blogging, social media, digital market, money making ideas were shared. Ogbongbeblog won “Best Science and Tech Blog Awards in 2011”, and “Best Tutorial Blog” (Judges choice). Jide Ogunsanya Worth is $108, 482 (that is equivalent to N39,487,448.00 with an exchange rate of 1USD=364NGN)

8, Oluwaseun Temitope Osewa (35): Founder Nairaland
Degree: B.Sc. Electrical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University.

Dropped-out even while being one of the best students to start Nairaland (formerly MobileNigeria Forum) in 2005 after several failed attempts at starting an internet focused business. Failed after three months of starting a mobile hosting business, getting only getting a client and ran out of capital.
Nairaland is Nigeria’s third most visited sited owned by a Nigerian (after Bet9ja by Kunle Soname and Ayo Ojuroye and Jumia) and was sixth two years ago after being surpassed by MMM. Mr. Seun is a private individual who in way despises public appearance. So much that he decline the invitation to The Future Awards’ ceremony of Nigeria’s Best 100 in 2013. I describe him as the “son of Mike Adenuga” when it comes to aversion to public appearance. He made the Forbes’ List of Best African successful entrepreneurs in 2013.

9, Jason Chukwuma Njoku (37): Co-Founder Iroko Partners And Serial Entrepreneur
Degree: B.Sc. Chemistry, University of Manchester.

Co-founded iROKOtv, his 11 attempt at starting a successful enterprise. Before then, he launched Brash Magazine, a student publication which was closed in 2005; a year after graduation from varsity. Founded NollywoodLove, a YouTube Channel with fellow Manchester grad Bastian Gotter in 2010. After an article on TechCrunch, investment firm Tiger Global invested $3 million through a Series A investment and iROKOtv was launched on December 1, 2011. Later that year, with his wife Remmy Njoku and Gotter, they founded Spark – investment firm for internt start-ups based in Lagos. Which has invested into Drink.ng, ToLet.ng, Hotels.ng amongst others. Jason who is the largest shareholder in iROKOtv and partners, which is the world’s largest digital distributor of African movies, has been listed by Forbes in 2014 amongst the 10 young African millionaires to watch. He tweeted to pay exceptional coders/developers minimum of N150K and maximum of N400K in May 8, 2015.

10, Ayodeji Adewunmi (33): Co-Founder Jobberman
Degree: Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Obafemi Awolowo University; Executive Leadership,Archbishop Desmond Tutu Program, University of Oxford; Executive Education, Building Businesses in Emerging Markets, Harvard Business School.

A doctor who is “passionate about building, monetizing and engaging online content, users and platforms.” Deji who started his career as an Advisory intern in Goldman Sachs’ Inaugural Africa Initiative in 2007 – and assisted in the recruitment of 12 more students (highest of any Nigerian university) into the program. Reputed for his excellent networking and strategy skills, together with close friends – Olalekan Olude and Opeyemi Awoyemi, Jobberman was founded in 2009 – which helps link qualified personnel to the right job opportunities. The trio became partners with stock options in One Africa Media, when OAM acquired the firm in 2015. One of Nigeria’s most visited site. Today, Jobberman is amongst the biggest recruitment firms in Africa.

11, Uche Pedro (33): Founder Bella Naija
Degree:B.Sc. Business Administration (Distinction), Richard Ievy School of Business, University of Western Ontario, Canada.

A fellow of TEDGlobal, Uche founded BellaNaija (mainly as a store board of scanned magazine articles, pictures and featured interviews of Nigerian weddings, media celebrities and fashion personalities) currently among the most visited sites in Nigeria, in 2006 initially as a hobby to spend time when she was bored during a two week holiday.
Before founding Bella Naija, she worked at Shell, Cadbury ME & Africa based in the UK and Cadbury Nigeria. Uche, who had always loved everything about Nigeria and Africa in general; the fashion industry, political movements, technology and entertainment sectors, started blogging about the various happenings and issues across the aforesaid sectors. Won Outstanding Contribution to Fashion Communication Award and The Future Awards Africa for Young Media Entrepreneur in 2013. In February 2010, she featured on the Oprah Winfery Show “Beauty around the World”. Bella Naija Weddings is arguably Nigeria’s biggest weddings’ line firm.

12, Olorunyomi “Yomi” Omoniyi Makun (32): Founder Yomi Casual
Degree: HND Fashion and Design, Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State.

Brother and official clothier to ace comedian Ayo Makun. Got to study Fashion and Design as a result of a mistake made by his sister during filling of JAMB form. Once told his lecturer that he’d never be a tailor. Started Yomi Causal with a sewing machine bought by Ayo (cost N10, 000) from his brother’s house in Iponri Estate. During the day, the living room is made the office, same house had other comedians – Elenu and Seyi Law – as occupants. When elder Makun left, Yomi turned the house to his office, later moved to Bode Thomas, Surulere and then Lekki. Has had many celebrities as models for his collections, notably Elenu, Desmond Elliot, Zack Orji, Alibaba, Uti Nwachukwu, Alex Ekubo, Dj Jimmy Jatt amongst others. Advises the younger generation to start/create their ideas early in life as time waits for no one.

13, Oginni Tolulope Joshua (29): Founder Transfurd Farms Ltd, Transfurd Home and Properties.
Degree: B.Sc. Business Administration Olabisi Onabanjo University, Business Administration University Of Lagos State, Chartered Institute Of Personnel Manangement (CIPM).

Oginni tolulope is a young entreprenuer(Farmer), ceo of Transfurd Limited. He started is career as a farmer Six years ago (August 2012), After resigning from a brewery company he worked, he worked in the company for five years, after hearing from God in person, in ‘March 2012’. Tolulope started with just 2 acres of land then, but today he is having over 150 acres of land in Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and Oshogbo. Transfurd farm coconut garri and ofada rice has grown to become one the most used in Nigerian Owanbe’s (parties). In 2017 he was awarded ‘The young farmer of the year’ and his company was awarded ‘The most promising Agro-Business of the year’, Tolulope is recognized as “The Light Of Africa In Agro-Business”.
Oginni tolulope is third in line to “Mike Adenuga and Seun Osewa”, in private life aspect, they keep their lives private and off social media.

14, Linda Ifeoma Ikeji (37): Founder Linda Ikeji Blog
Degree: BA. English Language, University of Lagos.

Nicknamed the Queen of Blogging. Started modelling at a young age to assist her family and support herself through school. Performed as a waitress, model and writer. She opened a modelling agency and event management outfit media company called Black Dove Communications. Commenced blogging as a hobby in 2006. Then, the internet was not as prominent and widespread in Nigeria as at now, and she had to make her posts at a cybercafe. As the internet became more accessible, she grew popular and had her blog amongst the most visited in Nigeria. A philanthropist, sponsors the project “I’d rather be self-made; No thanks”. Project aims at supporting lasses aged 16–25 who have great business ideas and aspire to become entrepreneurs. She is one of Nigerian richest internetpreneurs.

15, Eyo Bassey (38): Founder And Ceo Payporte Global Systems/Ceo Rom-Flex Group
Degree: B.Tech. Pure and Applied Physics, Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso; Alumnus Financing Entrepreneurial Businesses’ Program, London Business School; Alumnus of Executive programs at Harvard Business School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Sloan School of Management.

Founded online shopping website – Payporte Global Systems – one of Nigeria’s most preferred online shopping website. Payporte Systems which has some celebrities as ambassadors has grown tremendously within the past 4 years and 5 months since its inception. He was also the CTO at Romflex Network Limited – software and systems integration company – from 2009 – 2012, afterwards he became the CEO, a position he has been at since. Eyo, who until founding Payporte, was the Head, Infrastructure Engineering at SW Global Limited for two years during the mid-2000s.

Written by:
Adewunmi Adebisi Choice
@adebisichoice