- Forbes recently unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 BLK 50 list, shined a spotlight on the trailblazers whose leadership, innovation, and profound societal impact have shaped industries and communities alike.
- Among the illustrious honorees, three Nigerian billionaires have emerged as standout figures, capturing the admiration of a global audience and igniting widespread intrigue across the nation and the digital world.
Three Nigerians—Adebayo Ogunlesi ($1.7 billion), Tope Awotona ($1.4 billion), and Wemimo Abbey ($1 billion) stand tall among the honorees of the 2024 Forbes BLK 50 list.
Wemimo Abbey
From the bustling streets of Lagos to the financial hubs of New York, Wemimo Abbey’s journey is a masterclass in redefining possibility. As the co-founder and co-CEO of Esusu, a fintech powerhouse, Abbey has revolutionized the concept of credit access for millions. Esusu’s groundbreaking model reports rent payments to credit bureaus, helping tenants improve their credit histories—an innovation that now spans over 20,000 residences and impacts 1.8 million Americans.
Tope Awotona
Tope Awotona’s rise to prominence is a tale of grit, persistence, and an unyielding desire to simplify the complexities of modern life. Born in Lagos and uprooted to Atlanta at the age of fifteen, Awotona’s path was far from conventional. A tech enthusiast who studied computer technology at the University of Georgia before pivoting to business and management information, his journey was marked by failures before triumph.
After a series of unsuccessful startups, Awotona found himself frustrated by the inefficiency of scheduling meetings—a simple yet universal pain point. In 2013, he took a bold leap, cashing in his 401(k) to launch Calendly, a scheduling software that would disrupt the industry. What began as a personal frustration became a global phenomenon. By 2021, private investors valued Calendly at an astounding $3 billion, and Awotona raised $350 million to expand the business further.
Adebayo Ogunlesi
If leadership could be personified, it would wear the name Adebayo Ogunlesi. A scholar, strategist, and business titan, Ogunlesi’s ascent to global prominence is a testament to brilliance honed by experience. Born in Nigeria and armed with degrees from Oxford (Bachelor of Arts), Harvard Law School (Juris Doctor), and Harvard Business School (MBA), Ogunlesi’s academic pedigree set the stage for a storied career.
His professional journey began in the chambers of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, where he clerked in the early 1980s. From there, Ogunlesi transitioned to Cravath, Swaine & Moore as an attorney before spending over two decades at Credit Suisse, mastering the art of investment banking.
But his defining legacy would come in 2006 when he co-founded Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a private equity firm specializing in infrastructure investments.