Anambra State is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an Anglicized version of the original ‘Oma Mbala’, the native name of the Anambra River which flows through the area and is a tributary of the River Niger.
The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Akwa is a rapidly growing city that increased in population from approximately 300,000 to 2.5 million between 2006 and 2018, making it the eighth-most populous state in Nigeria.
Nicknamed the “Light of the Nation”, it is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State and Rivers State to the south, Enugu State to the east, and Kogi State to the north. In Anambra State lies the first Nigerian car assembly plant called Innoson. There is the popular city of Nnewi that has produced lots of wealthy entrepreneurs, while within 30 minutes is the commercial city of Onitsha. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. In Nnewi, there are factories for the production of household goods, the largest transport companies in Nigeria. The city of Onitsha is a historic port city during the pre-colonial era and remains an important centre of commerce within the state. Onitsha is the largest outdoor market in West Africa.
Anambra over the years has been known to be a city given to entrepreneurship and is adjudged to be the state in Nigeria with the highest numbers of billionaire entrepreneurs
A few weeks back, the little town of Oba in Anambra witnessed a glamorous event – the burial of Obi Cubana’s late mother. The event showcased an array of wealth from friends of Obi Cubana as stated in our previous post – wealthiest Igbo men alive.
In this article, we take a look at the richest Igbo men from the very rich state of Anambra.
Obiajulu Uzodike
Estimated Net Worth: $330 Million
Dr. Gilbert Obiajulu Uzodike is another popular billionaire in Anambra. He is from Nnewi and was born in 1949. Before becoming the billionaire he is today, he went to a secondary school in the southeastern part of the country before proceeding to the prestigious University of Lagos to study Mechanical Engineering. Obiajulu is also an Harvard Business School alumni.
He has served as a staff with a US-based aircraft and military wires & accessories company.
In 1982, he set up his company Cutix with N400000, a cable manufacturing company, building the company to a great enterprise. Today, Cutix is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
When you see a man like Gilbert making headway in business, know that he also took steps to pick the right education. Indeed, after his degree program, he also went to the Harvard Business School for his Master’s (as far back as 1977).
ALLEN ONYEMA
Estimated Net Worth: Over $500 Million
Allen Ifechukwu Onyema is a Nigerian lawyer and entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Air Peace which he established in 2013. Allen is a man who is very passionate about maintaining peace amongst ethnic groups. He has been tagged ‘Conflict Resolution Expert’.
Allen Ifechukwu Onyema is popularly known as the Founder and Chairman of Air Peace Airline, a private flight servicing agency. According to him, he founded the airline to create more job opportunities for Nigerians. The airline remains one of the thriving commercial airlines in Nigeria touring both major cities in Nigeria as well as international countries including Ghana, United Arab Emirates, Senegal, Sierra Leone, China, USA, India, and the Gambia.
Allen Ifechukwu endeared him to Nigerians when he offered a free flight to Nigerians in South Africa during the Xenophobic attack in 2019.
Though a native of Mbosi town in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra state, Allen Ifechukwu Onyema, was the first of nine children born to his parents in 1964, in Benin City (now Edo state). Onyema read law at the University of Ibadan. He combined academic works with social activism to engender national peace. Onyema graduated in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989.
Amongst many awards he had received are Martin Luther King Global Award for pioneering Nonviolence Education in West Africa (2007). Hope for Humanity Award from the Rotary Club. L&M leader of the month award for demonstration of compassion and meeting a need (2019).
Cosmas Maduka
Estimated Net Worth: Over $1 Billion
Cosmas Maduka, the CEO of Coscharis Group of Companies, was born on December 24, 1958, into an Igbo family in Nnewi, Anambra state. Just as most Nnewi boys, he ventured into business at a very early age without proper elementary education. The Nigeria government import license given to automobile companies in 1982 marked a remarkable turnaround for Maduka & Coscharis in his entrepreneurial journey. Today the Coscharis Group is a conglomerate with a net worth of $500million with several subsidiaries including Manufacturing, ICT, Petrochemical, Auto care, and Auto Components, Automobile Sales and Services, Agric and Agro-Allied business sectors. Coscharis Motors is also a leading distributor of several brands of luxuries cars including Range Rover, Ford, and Jaguar.
In 2015, Coscharis Motors became the sole distributor of the BMW in Nigeria and the first company to build an Assembly Plant of Ford Ranger in Nigeria. In 2016 the Anambra State approved 5000 hectares of land for Coscharis Farms to cultivate rice, the project has been reported to generate 3000 jobs upon completion. The Coscharis Group is rated one of the top 50 brands in Nigeria by Top 50 Brands Nigeria. Cosmas Maduka seats on the board of several reputable companies and organizations. He served as a Director in Access Bank Plc.
Innocent Chukwuma
Estimated Net Worth: Over $1.5 Billion
Innocent Chukwuma is a Nigerian business magnate and entrepreneur. He is the Chairman and founder of Innoson Group of Companies, under which is Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing – Africa’s first indigenous motor brand.
Innocent Chukwuma was born on 1st October 1961 into a humble family in Uru-Umdim, Nnewi, Anambra State. Innocent Chukwuma started his small business as a trader in motorcycle spare parts. He has since grown into a force in the auto manufacturing sector in Nigeria.
His company Innosun Motors is engaged in the production of sports and passenger cars, commercial buses. This plant was mentioned earlier as the first Nigerian car assembly factory. Its production departments are located in Enugu and Nnewi. Innoson management cooperates with the governments of Enugu and Anambra, several federal agencies.
His story is inspiring and a lesson to every young African. A lesson that shows that with determination you can achieve the unimaginable.
Recognition and Awards
Some of the awards and recognition he had gathered include:
Industrialist of the Year by Nigerian Union of Journalist, Enugu State 2006
Award of Excellence, Manufacturers Association of Nigerian (MAN) 2008
Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) 2008
Officer of the Federal Republic 2011
Auto Personality of the Year by Guild Motoring Correspondence 2013
Most Innovative Entrepreneur by Vanguard Newspaper 2013
Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration by University of Nigeria 2014
Accomplished Contemporary Entrepreneurs’ Award by Federal Government 2014
Professor Barth Nnaji Prize for Technology at Igbo Awards 2017
Gabriel Chukwuma
Estimated Net Worth: $1.7 Billion
This is the elder brother of the previous billionaire Gabriel Chukwuma. Gabriel is an international businessman with investments in hospitality, sports, and real estate. He is the chairman of the Gabros International Football Club.
Gabriel supported its activities in the Premier League of Nigeria and the conclusion of a partnership with the English football club West Ham. He would later sell the project to another Anambra Billionaire Ifeanyi Ubah, also from Nnewi. He still sits amongst the board at Ifeanyi Ubah FC. Gabriel also sits as a director on the board of Innoson group.
Bryan Orjiiakor
Estimated Net Worth: $1.7 Billion
Dr. Bryan Orjiiakor popular called ABC Orjiakor was born in Lagos on the 1st of October, 1960 to the family of Daniel Orjiako, a native of Uli, Anambra State. He is a trained General Surgeon at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos.
ABC Orjiakor is the CEO and co-founder of SEPLAT Petroleum Development. SEPLAT is a leading Nigerian independent oil and gas company listed on the London and Nigerian stock exchanges with a strategic focus in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. With asset cutting across different fields, health, Oil & Gas, Shipping, Banking, and Real Estate, he is believed to be the owner of Neimeth Pharmaceutical International Plc.
He obtained an M.B.B.Ch. degree in 1985 from the College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria. He later sub-specialized in orthopedic and trauma surgery and became a fellow of the West African College of Surgeons in 1996. In 2006, he completed the OPM program of the Harvard Business School.
He has received lots of awards which includes Platinum Award of the West African College of Surgeons in 2006; National Honours as an Officer of the Federal Republic (“OFR”), conferred on him by the President of Nigeria in 2012; the coveted Zik (Nnamdi Azikiwe) Prize in the Professional Leadership category by the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC) and African Business Executive of the Year 2014, by the Oil and Gas Council.
Ifeanyi Ubah
Estimated Net Worth: $1.7 Billion
Ifeanyi Ubah is a Nigerian business person, business investor, and humanitarian. He is also a senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate. Ifeanyi Ubah was born on September 3rd, 1971 in Nnewi, Anambra State.
He is the CEO of Capital Oil and Gas Industries Limited, one of the significant parts of the Oil and Gas industry in Nigeria working on downstream tasks. Ifeanyi Ubah founded the company in 2001. He is also the founder of Authority Newspaper.
Ifeanyi Ubah is the proprietor of Ifeanyi Ubah F.C., a Nigerian football club.
He is married to Uchenna Ubah with whom he has 5 children.
Sir Emeka Offor
Estimated Net Worth: Over $2.9 Billion
Emeka Offor was born on the 10th of February 1957 to Mr. and Mrs. Benneth Offor in Kafachan, Kaduna, Nigeria, although his father hails from Irefi Oraifite in Ekwusigo LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria.
Emeka Offor is the Chairman of The Chrome Group. He is a Nigerian businessman, an oil tycoon, and a Philanthropist.
While in Delta State, he founded a work with Rivways Lines Nigeria Ltd – an organization that imports bitumen items. While working with Rivways Lines, he met his mentor Pa Abadi; with the help of Pa Abadi, Emeka began the purchase and distribution of bitumen to modest organizations. In a space of two years, Emeka Offor began providing bitumen to greater organizations like Julius Berger Nig. Ltd, Guffanti Nigeria Ltd, Fougerolle Nigeria Ltd.
He is the founder of Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) – an NGO whose aim is “to help people in need become independent and self-sufficient”.
Cletus Ibeto
Estimated Net Worth: Over $3.8 Billion
Cletus Ibeto hails from the Nnewi city of Anambra State, he was born on the 6th of November, 1952. Like Cosmos Maduka, Ibeto never had proper formal education during his youthful age. It wasn’t until he was 48 years of age that he sat for his WASSCE. He was listed amongst Forbes’ Most Prominent Naira Billionaire from Nnewi in 2017.
Cletus Ibeto is a Nigerian entrepreneur, manufacturer, and philanthropist. He is the founder and Chairman of The IBETO Group, referred to as the largest outfit in the manufacture of automotive spare parts in Nigeria and the largest conglomerate in the Eastern part of Nigeria. The company is involved in real estate, banking, and finance, cement production, automotive coupling, Petrochemical, etc. Some of the companies that formed IBETO GROUP include Union Autoparts Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Ltd, Ibeto Cement Company Ltd, etc.
He bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka at the age of 54. He was subsequently honored with a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the same University.
2008 Ibeto received the national Honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) from the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 2012 he was awarded the Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Chief Arthur Eze
Estimated Net Worth: Over $5.8 Billion
Arthur Eze was born on the 27th of November 1948 in Ukp, Dunukofia LGA, in Anambra State into a traditional Royal Family. His elder brother is the King of Ukpo Village; the traditional title bestowed upon Arthur Eze is ‘Ozoigbondu’ of Ndi Igbo.
He is the Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Oranto Petroleum; he is also a Philanthropist and a Politician. Atlas Oranto Petroleum was founded by Arthur Eze in 1991. The company currently has 22 oil and gas licenses in 12 jurisdictions across Africa. It has assets in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and several Atlas Oranto operated blocks. To date, the company is the largest holder of oil exploration and production blocks in Africa.
In 2011, former President Goodluck Jonathan conferred him with the distinguished award of the ‘Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR)’ in recognition of his contribution towards the development of the nation’s economy. The coveted Zik Prize in leadership awards honored him with the ‘Zik Leadership Awards’ in the business category in 2018.
PETER OBI
Estimated Net Worth: $4.2 Billion
Peter Gregory Obi is a Nigerian politician and businessman who was the vice presidential candidate in the 2019 Nigerian general election under the People’s Democratic Party. Formerly he served as the governor of Anambra State. He was born on the 19th of July 1961 at Onitsha , Anambra State. He graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1980, with a B.A (Hons) in philosophy in 1984.
Peter Obi started his career in business. Peter was so successful he became one amongst the wealthiest businessmen in the south-east. He later became the Chairman of Next International Nigeria Ltd, Chairman, and Director of Guardian Express Mortgage Bank Ltd, Guardian Express Bank Plc, Paymaster Nigeria Ltd, Future View Securities Ltd, Data Corp Ltd, Chams Nigeria Ltd and Card Center Ltd. Peter Obi also became the youngest chairman of Fidelity Bank plc. He was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 as Chairman of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Peter Obi also began a career in politics when he was elected as the governor of Anambra state under APGA political party.