Four Nigerians listed in Forbes's latest survey of the world's 13 black billionaires

FOUR Nigerians have been listed among the world's top 13 black billionaires recently published by Forbes magazine in its latest survey of the wealthy with Africa's richest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote topping the list with an estimated value of $10.9bn.

In Forbes' 2019 list of black billionaires comprising 13 people around the world, Nigeria and the US topped the list with four members apiece, while Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa, Canada and Britain had one representative each. Alhaji Dangote who made a fortune made from sugar, cement and flour production, is currently building an oil refinery to produce 6500,000 barrels a day when it finally comes on stream.

Mike Adenuga the founder and executive chairman of Globacom, a Nigerian mobile phone network, follows closely with an estimated worth of $9.1bn. Another of his companies Conoil, is one of Nigeria’s first indigenous oil exploration companies and he also owns Cobblestone Properties, a prime residential and commercial property company.

Third amongst the Nigerians is Abdul Samad Rabiu, the founder and executive chairman of the BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with interests in sugar refining, cement production, real estate, steel, port concessions, manufacturing, oil gas and shipping. He is Africa’s 16th richest billionaire with an estimated wealth of $1.6 bn.

Also on the list is Nigeria’s first female billionaire Folorunsho Alakija with a net worth of $1.1bn. Mrs Alakija is the founder of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian company that owns a lucrative oil block on the Agbami deep-water oilfield in Nigeria.

Others on the list include the Americans Robert Smith ($5bn), David Steward ($3bn), Oprah Winfrey ($2.5bn) and Michael Jordan ($1.9bn). Also included are Zimbabwean Strive Masiyiwa ($2.4bn), Angolan Isabel Dos Santos, ($2.3bn), South African Patrice Motsepe ($2.3bn), Canadian Michael Lee-Chin ($1.9bn) and Briton Mohammed Ibrahim( $1.1bn).

Mrs Alakija Oprah Winfrey and Angolan investor Isabel dos Santos are the only black female billionaires in the world. Forbes' annual billionaire list is the most prestigious and recognised platform that measures the wealth of the world’s richest every year.