Top 10 Richest Tribes in Nigeria and Their Billionaires

Richest Tribes in Nigeria: More than 300 distinct tribes, many of which are highly successful and culturally rich, make up Nigeria. Some of the richest persons on the continent, like Aliko Dangote, Wale Adenuga, and Femi Otedola, who has consistently appeared on Africa’s Forbes richest list for the past ten years, have come from the many tribes that make up the nation.

From various tribes all around the country, there are many more wealthy people like them. They may not be as rich as they are, but they have nonetheless amassed opulent riches that have the power to transform entire generations.

Nigeria is frequently referred to as the “giant of Africa”  due to its enormous population, a huge number of tribes and the cultural diversity found within these tribes.

A tribe is essentially a group of individuals or a community in a certain geographic location who share ancestors, clans, places, cultures, values, languages, and histories.

The Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa tribes are the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria. In actuality, there are 371 tribes in the nation as a whole.

Nigeria as a whole can take pride in creating wealthy people, however, some tribes have wealthier members than others. Although development and the number of wealthy individuals that have come from each tribe are the determining factors for determining the richest tribes in Nigeria, prosperity is not defined by the tribe.

The Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa tribes, which make up 60% of Nigeria’s population, are the most well-known and numerous, therefore it is not surprising that they are in the top 3.

Since you now have a solid understanding of the tribes in Nigeria, let’s move on to looking at the tribes that are currently the richest in Nigeria.

READ MORE: Top 10 Richest States in Nigeria (2022)

Top 10 Richest Tribes in Nigeria and Their Billionaires

The table below shows the ranking order of the wealthiest tribes in Nigeria and their Billionaires

1. Igbo

Igbo is presently the richest tribe with the best variety of the richest individuals in the African countries. Igbo tribe boasts of thousands of extremely flush men; as a matter of truth, a mean Igbo man is doing financially well.

This tribe is acknowledged for completing business and being cash adjusted thus it’s no surprise that an honest variety of Igbo men square measure extremely flush.

Amongst the richest with a verified supply of financial gain are: Arthur Eze, Allen Onyema, Obi Cubana, E-money, Cosmos MadukaDiezani Alison-madueke, Frank Stella Oduah, Frank Stella Okoli, Innoson, Ifeanyi Ubah, Andy Uba, Benedict Peters, Emeka Offor, Orji Uzor Kalu, Cletus Ibeto, Obi Cubana and lots of others UN agency square measure price millions and billions of bucks.

2. Yoruba

The next on the list of the richest tribe in Nigeria the Yorubas tribe, “THE EMILO kON”.

The Yorubas area unit is set in southwestern Nigeria. They preponderantly reside in states like Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Ondo, and Ekiti. they will even be found in elements of Delta state, Edo state, and Kogi state.

Historically, the Yorubas were thought of as among the foremost masterly and productive craftsmen in Africa. They were superb blacksmiths, leatherworkers, glassmakers, etc.

Having accepted and embraced western education, they these days hold education in terribly high regard and area unit thought of to be one all the foremost educated individuals in Africa as an entire.

Yoruba folks are able to use education to flee poorness and acquire wealth that makes them the richest tribe in Nigeria. they will be found in high places in numerous economic sectors, from the company world to politics, and business.

Cities like urban centers and cities within the Yoruba states also are a number of the largest and most developed in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Yoruba boasts of wealthy individuals such as:

• Mike Adenuga is a rich person man of affairs presently serving as the corporate executive business executive of Globacom which is a leading telecommunication company absolutely operating in Nigeria, Ghana, and also in other African countries. He’s additionally the chairman of Conoil and has a fantastic networth of $7.8 billion.
• Femi Otedola is the founding chairman of Zenon oil and Gas ltd and he’s presently the second richest man from the Yoruba tribe with a networth of $2 billion.
• Folorunsho Alakija is a businessperson World Health Organization and she is presently the chief chairman of Famfa Oil, manager of the Rose of Sharon cluster, and is well concerned within the land and printing industries business. With a networth of $1 billion, She is e the richest woman in Nigeria and at the same time, the Richest woman from the Yoruba tribe.
• Jimoh patriarch is the productive man of affairs, being the Chairman and Chief officer of world fleet cluster, and founding person of Nicon Investment, he’s additionally a productive Politician and presenter World Health Organization is one among the richest person from the Yoruba tribe with a networth of $ one billion.

3. Hausa

The third on the list of the richest tribes in Nigeria is the Hausas. The tribe is the most populous tribe in Nigeria and in Africa at large, it is a well-known tribe with its strength in Agriculture, most especially, perishable goods.

Also, in the history of Nigerian politics, the Hausas have been playing a major role right from the day of independence till now. although it boasts of the richest man in Nigeria and not only in Nigeria but in Africa within the person of Aliko Dangote who has an improbable networth of $20 billion, and also Alhaji Sayyu Danata who incorporates a networth of $1 billion.

4. Fulani

Similar to the Yoruba and Hausa, the Fulani are dispersed across West Africa. They are primarily found in Nigeria’s northern states, which are also home to the Hausa people.

The two tribes are sometimes grouped together because of their many parallels in customs and culture. But, the fact remains that they are distinct.

The Fulani are pastoral nomads by nature. They are farmers who have also given birth to a large number of artists, traders, and aristocrats.

The Fulani ethnic group has produced some of Nigeria’s most notable politicians. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari are the most recent Fulani rulers of Nigeria.

However, while a look at the Fulanis’ past will show that they are wealthy people, the bulk of their relatives and the cities that are predominantly their home, much like those of the Hausas, can be characterized as poverty. Before achieving the status of cities like Lagos or Ibadan, their towns and cities still have a ways to go.

Fulani continues to brag about other leaders who have overseen national issues in recent years, like Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki, and numerous others.

One of the richest tribes in Nigeria is the Fulani, which boasts a number of extremely successful politicians and businessmen, including Abdulsamad Rabiu, Theophilus Danjuma, Abdullahi Rano, and many others with fortunes in the millions.

5. Edo

Another one of the several tribes living in southern Nigeria is the Edo tribe. They originate from the ancient Benin Empire, one of the oldest and most advanced nations in West Africa, and are primarily found in Edo State.

In the past, Edo people were both farmers and painters and sculptors. There was a rainforest nearby, and this gave the area a lot of fertile soil for cultivation.

Due to their wealth in gold, ivory, and bronze, the Edo people later became artists. As a result, they created works of art that are now discovered not only in different parts of Nigeria but also in other nations across the world. These works of art are known as Benin Bronzes and were exchanged.

The mask of the Queen Mother Idia is just one of the famous Benin bronzes. Edo people of today are highly educated individuals in addition to being traders and artists. They have thrived as a result of a variety of vocations.

6. Isoko

Delta and Bayelsa State are home to the Isoko tribe, an ethnolinguistic group rich in culture and tradition. It is one of the smallest tribes in the Niger Delta, but it is also one of the richest because it is home to many extremely wealthy and successful people, like Benedict Peter, CEO of the AITEO company, the largest indigenous oil producer in Nigeria. With a net worth of $1.9 billion, he is now ranked sixth in Nigeria and seventeenth in Africa.

Also, Tony Elumelu, founder of Heirs Holding, chairman of Transcorp, founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and chairman of United Bank of Africa. He presently has a $1 billion net worth.

And Jim Ovia, former CEO of Zenith Bank and one of the wealthiest investors in the banking sector with a net worth of more than $600 million.

7. Ijaw

In southern Nigeria are the Ijaws. They are primarily found in the Niger Delta in the states of Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers, but they are also present in Ondo, Akwa Ibom, and Edo.

Ijaw people were among the first to interact with Westerners because they were among those who lived in coastal regions. As a result, they were traditionally active in both farming and fishing as well as trade.

Prior to the start of oil and gas exploration in their region, they would subsequently change to being merchant shippers. Most of them would end up finding employment in the field as a result.

However, there is still extreme poverty in their own region, even if the majority of the wealthiest members of the Ijaw tribe can link their wealth to either politics or the oil and gas industry. Despite ongoing oil drilling in the area, the government of Nigeria has long ignored the territory.

8. Tiv

Tiv is an exceptional tribe with unique cultural values, beliefs, rituals, and a shared tongue. This tribe can be located in states like Benue State, Nassarawa, Plateau, Taraba, and Cross River, and its natives mostly focus on subsistence farming in crops like yam, millet, and sorghum which creates significant income for them.

Many Tiv people adopted education over time, and thanks to their success in the military and other fields and the high positions they were able to obtain, they were able to prosper.

Unlike other tribes in Nigeria that have created businessmen, some of the wealthiest residents of the area acquired their fortune through these methods.

Famous Rich Tiv individuals and their net worth

Betty Abah $10 Million

Betty Abah is a journalist, author of novels, and supporter of women’s and children’s rights. She is the organization’s creator and executive director. CEE HOPE is a nonprofit dedicated to the rights and development of girls.

Benson Abounu $8 million

Engineering, management consulting, and politics are all aspects of Benson Abounu’s career. He held roles such as CEO and sole administrator of the Nigerian Mining Corporation, Jos, and executive director at the Nigeria Coal Corporation, Enugu, before taking on the role of deputy governor of Benue state.

9. Kanuri

Another significant richest tribe in Nigeria is the Kanuri, whose members live in the northeastern states of Borno, Niger, and Yobe State. They speak Kanuri as their mother tongue and adhere to Islam as their religion.

With notable and wealthy members like Mohammed Indimi, Yahaya Adamu, Ibrahim Abacha, Daniel k. Daniel, Tukur Buratai, Mohammed Daggash, and Zaynab Alkali, Kanuri is currently one of the richest tribes in Nigeria.

10. Ibibio

The Ibibios are a different southern tribe whose members live in Nigeria’s coastal regions. They are mainly found in the states of Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

The Ibibios developed palm plantations whose oils and kernels were exported due to the rainforests that are present in their area. They also raised numerous tuber crops (yams, cassava, and taro). They were renowned most, though, for their expert woodcarving skills.

The Ibibios adopted western education, just like other tribes around them, and have since produced a few noteworthy figures to be regarded as one of the richest tribes in Nigeria.

READ MORE: Top 10 Richest Celebrities In Nigeria and Their Net Worth

Summary

Here is a summary list of the richest tribes in Nigeria

1. Igbo
2. Yoruba
3. Hausa
4. Fulani
5. Edo
6. Isoko
7. Ijaw
8. Tiv
9. Kanuri
10. Ibibio