The 12 Nigerians on this year’s Forbes list of Africa’s richest have a combined net worth of $65.3 billion with Aliko Dangote, the cement-czar netting $20.8bn of the total sum.
But while Nigeria basks in the euphoria of her 12 deep pockets,South Africa has 14 millionaires on the list making her the country with the highest number of wealthy people in Africa.
Other Nigerian billionaires apart from Dangote are Mike Adenuga who has his hands in every profitable pie and has an estimated net worth of $4.6 billion, while Folorunsho Alakija of Famfa Oil has $2.5 billion to her name.
Also, Abdulsamad Rabiu is said to be worth $1.2 billion, Jim Ovia has $900 million recorded to his name, and Theophilus Danjuma has $700 million.
On the list also are Oba Otudeko with $575 million, Hakeem Bello Osagie is said to be worth $550 million, and Mohammed Indimi’s fortune was put at $550 million.
Sani Bello has $500 million, Femi Otedola $410 million, while Tunde Folawiyo has $400 million.
But South Africa has more millionaires on the list making her the country with thewealthiest people on the continent.
According to Forbes, South Africa leads in Africa, with 14 people from the southern-most country appearing on its list of the 50 wealthiest people on the continent.
South African luxury goods tycoon, Johann Rupert added $2 billion to his fortune in 2013, according to Forbes, to steal the spot as second wealthiest man in Africa from Nicky Oppenheimer and family, who have had to weather the storm of a struggling local mining sector.
Forbes’ Africa’s richest list is based on people who were born on and currently reside on the continent, thus some African-born billionaires who no longer live were excluded.