10 Richest Tribe In Nigeria 2023

There are over 300 tribes across each state in Nigeria. There are three major tribes which are Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba. Which tribe is the richest of them all?

The top 10 richest tribes in Nigeria are a good example of how fast our economy and culture have grown. This content will explain the deep reason why other tribes are richer than the rest and why. Let’s hop into it.

Yoruba Tribe

Yoruba is the richest tribe in Nigeria in all of the tribes. Yoruba is probably the largest ethnic group that is in the African subcontinent. Most Yoruba people are found in South-Western Nigeria, the Southern Benin region, and North Central. Yoruba tribe is known as the most educated tribe in terms of EducationEducation.

Yoruba tribe loves Education, and they have an education as a breakthrough from poverty. You can see there is a lot of free EducationEducation in the South-Western region.

The tribe also hold prominent positions in politics and the corporate sector, and they are most successful in entrepreneurship and running successful businesses. It is considered one of the richest tribes in Nigeria because of its interest in EducationEducation and striving in running successful businesses.

Yoruba tribe are positioned in places of influence, power, connection, wealth and politics, and they also make up a very large part of the Nigerian population in the Uk.

Below are notable people from the tribe:

Femi Otedola: is a popular Businessman in Nigeria. Femi Otedola is the son of Sir Micheal Otedola, the former governor of Lagos and the CEO of Zenon Petroleum and from the Yoruba tribe.

He is also the former Chairman of Forte Oil PLC. Femi Otedola is a philanthropist in the education sector.

Dr Oba Otudeko is one of Nigeria’s most influential and richest men and a successful businessman. He is credited with the foundation of the Honeywell group, and he also owns many businesses like HOGL Energy Limited, Honeywell Flour Mill Plc, Uraga Real Estate Limited, Anchorage Leisures Limited, and Pavilion Technology Limited.

Dr Oba Otudeko has also held prominent positions (President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (2006) and Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria).

Tunde Folawiyo: is a lawyer by profession. He is also the managing director of Yinka Folawiyo Group, which is interested in energy, agriculture, shipping, real estate and engineering. Other assets like his minority stakes in Nigeria’s Access Bank and mobile phone carrier MTN Nigeria.

Tunde Folawiyo is an art collector and a patron of William Kentridge. With the estimation of $650 million.

Mike Adenuga: is Nigeria second richest man who built his fortune in the telecom and oil production industry. He is the CEO of Globacom telecommunication and Conoil.

Globacom is the third-largest operator in Nigeria with over 60 million subscribers, and its conoil production operates six blocks in the NIger Delta.

Folorunsho Alakija: is a businesswoman and philanthropist. Folorunsho Alakija is the executive vice-chairman of Famfa Oil in Nigeria. Famfa oil also partners with various companies, including Chevron and Petrobras.

Folorunsho Alakija also venture into different businesses like printing (The Rose of Sharon Group, which consists of The Rose of Sharon Prints & Promotions Limited, Digital Reality Prints Limited) & real estate (DaySpring Property Development Company)

Hausa Tribe 

Among the Afroasiatic languages, Hausa is the second most common language. Because of Nigeria’s enormous population, these tribes have the most political success. It is Nigeria’s most populous tribe, and it can also be found in other West African countries.

Although Hausa speaking communities are distributed over Africa, making them a diverse community, they are culturally quite similar.

The Hausa tribe consists of individuals who reside in villages, towns and cities. Thanks to their noble ancestry and long lineage, the Hausa have become one of Nigeria’s wealthiest tribes. Hausa are mostly Sunni Muslims who practice orthodox Sunni Islam, sometimes known as Sufi Islam.

Furthermore, the Hausa tribe dates back nearly 500 years and is home to Nigeria’s most powerful politicians, businesspeople, benefactors and leaders. Their history is essentially the continent’s history, making them Nigeria’s and Africa’s most culturally and economically prosperous.

The inhabitants are largely involved in agriculture and trading, and they are one of the continent’s wealthiest tribes. Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest billionaire, is from these tribes.

Below are notable people from the tribe:

Aliko Dangote: is the founder and CEO of the Dangote Group, which trades in commodities throughout Nigeria and Africa. He is the richest man in Africa, with a net worth of over 14.1 billion.

Dangote Cement manufactures over 45.6 million metrics of cement per year and operates in ten African nations. Dangote also has investments in salt and sugar-producing companies that are publicly traded.

Zaynab Alkali is widely regarded as Nigeria’s first female author. Zaynab is Nigeria’s most successful short story writer, poet, and novelist. In addition to writing, the author worked as a dean at Nasarawa state university.

The works of Akali have been translated into various languages, including German, French, Arabic and Spanish. Zaynab Alkali has received almost 40 awards to date.

Alhaji Sayyu Dantata is a Nigerian billionaire and wealthier in the Hausa tribe. MRS Holdings Ltd, formerly known as the MRS Group, is led by Alhaji Sayyu Idris Dantata, the company’s founder and CEO. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dantata has served as a Non-Executive Director of Nigeria Telecommunications Limited. The business magnate ran MRS Holdings Ltd and Transportation Corporation of Nigeria Plc. 

Igbo Tribe 

Igbo people are considered to be the third richest tribes in Nigeria. The Igbo tribe has numerous corporations and are heralded as grasp economists. Nearly 70% of Nollywood, the Nigerian movie industry, is administered with the aid of the Igbo tribe.

Although few Igbo tribes are not usually involved in government affairs, they have infiltrated and dominated the business world due to their fondness for bringing in cash and business knowledge.

Below are notable people from the tribe:

Eze Arthur: In Nigeria, Arthur Eze is a well known Igbo man. He is regarded as Nigeria’s wealthiest Igbo man. Arthur Eze is the owner of one of Nigeria’s largest oil companies.

Cubana Obi: Obi Cubana is a well known Nigerian billionaire and entrepreneur with interests in Real Estate, Hotels, Restaurants and Bars, among other things.

Cosmos Maduka: is the Coscharis Group’s Founder, Chairman, and President of Telecommunications, manufacturing, automobiles, agriculture, petrochemicals and other sectors are included in this Nigerian conglomerate’s portfolio. Cosmos Maduka has been interviewed by western media multiple times, with an estimated net worth of over $500 million. Maduka is also a philanthropist, and it is because of people like him that the Igbo tribe has become one of Nigeria’s wealthiest.

Fulani Tribe

In terms of traditions and culture, Fulani and Hausa are very similar. As a result, these two combined should have been Nigeria Wealthiest tribes, with significant ethnic communities spread across the country. Most Fulani people live sedentary lives, with farming as their primary occupation. Aside from merchants and artists, the tribe also boasts nobility. The Fulani tribe has produced some of Africa’s most powerful politicians, including Nigeria. Fulanis are one of Nigeria’s most culturally diversified and wealthy tribes, with a presence throughout Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania and Mali.

Below are notable people from the tribe:

Shehu Usman Aliyu: Shehu Usman Aliyu shagari was Nigeria’s first democratically elected president. Shagari began his political career in 1951 after working as a teacher. Agriculture, housing, transportation, and industries were all high on his agenda throughout his presidency.

Usman Dan Fodio: he was a leader, revolutionary, writer and proponent of Islam. Usman Dan Fodio is the creator of the Sokoto caliphate in Nigeria. He authored several publications on Islamic science, including works on Islamic spirituality, creed, and Maliki law, among other subjects.

Isoko Tribe

Isoko is a Nigerian tribe who live in the south of the country. It is rich in culture and heritage with a strong emphasis on fine arts.

The Isoko tribe engages in plantain and palm oil production and distribution, focusing on farming and fishing.

Unlike the other tribes on the list, Isoko is not a very close-knit group, which may explain why they aren’t rated as Nigeria richest tribe.

In Isoko civilization, personal pride is extremely important. It also makes it difficult for them to seek help or assist others because it is disrespectful.

As a result, just a small amount of wisdom is passed to future generations. Regrettable, they are likewise uninterested in entering politics.

While individual members of the tribe prosper, Isoko as a tribe has not been able to reach the top of our list of Nigeria’s wealthiest tribes.

Below are notable people from the tribe:

Benedict Peter: is now the richest individual in the Isoko tribe, with a net worth of $1 billion. He is the CEO of AITEO Group and a billionaire in the Isoko tribe. He is one of Nigeria’s wealthiest businessmen in the oil and gas industry. The savvy businessman has made substantial investments in the country’s energy sector.

Peters is the Isoko tribe’s wealthiest and most prosperous resident. According to estimates, the richest man in the Isoko tribe is worth more than $900 million. It is based on some online sources.

Tony Elumelu: He has a net worth of $700 million. Tony Elumelu is the second richest person in the Isoko tribe. He is a well-known businessman and entrepreneur in Nigeria. Tony is the current CEO of the HIER group and formerly served on the board of directors of UBA. He also manages the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a non-profit organization to help other Nigerian small businesses and start-ups.

Elumelu, who has had a great impact on Nigerians, has been awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MO-FR) by the Nigerian government (MFR). The Nigerian businessman is a well-known African businessman and one of the Isoko tribe’s wealthiest residents. His net worth is estimated to be around 700 million dollars.

Jim Ovia: A well-known Isoko tribe banker is Jim Ovia. With a fortune of $550 million, he is one of the wealthiest people in the world. He is the former CEO of Zenith Bank and one of the largest investors in the financial industry.

He’s also a commercial real estate investor. The banker has accomplished a lot for himself since entering the business world many years ago, and he is now one of the Isoko tribe’s billionaires.

Edo Tribe

Edo is a Nigerian tribe from the country’s south, Although Edo is not one of Nigeria’s wealthiest tribes. It is a rich culture with a strong emphasis on arts. Unlike the other tribes, Edo is not a very close-knit community.

While individual Edo people prosper, the tribe as a whole has not been able to climb to the top of our list of Nigeria’s wealthiest tribes.

Below are notable people from the tribe:

Chief Dr Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion: is the richest man in Benin, Edo state, with an estimated net worth of $250 million. He’s also the state’s most popular and respected figure. “Esama of Benin Kingdom” is the illustrious elder statesman’s title. He is a well-known philanthropist whose business interests have expanded to include real estate, EducationEducation, oil and gas, and the media.

Igbinedion is the founder of Igbinedion Institution, Okada, the most well-known private university in Nigeria and Edo state’s most popular university. He also owns the abundant Garden of Eden, demonstrating the true significance of Igbinedion billionaire status in Edo.

Mitchell Elegbe: is the second richest businessman in Edo state, with an estimated net worth of $200 million. He is currently the CEO and MD of Interswitch, a multibillion-dollar online payment gateway company in Africa. He’s also a role model for young Nigerians and one of the country’s few successful business people.

Mitchell Elegbe is a co-founder of Interswitch and an engineer and philanthropist. For his humanitarian work in Africa, he has received numerous awards. His company has completely automated transactions by establishing a payment system that allows Nigerians to make electronic payments easily.

Adams Oshiomhole: is Edo state’s wealthiest politician and one of the state’s wealthiest individuals, with an estimated net worth of $200 million. He was a two-term governor of Edo state and a former national chairman of the APC. Oshiomhole earned wealth while still in politics and is often recognized as the state’s political godfather.

While nothing is known about Oshiomhole’s businesses, investments, or holdings, we do know that he is a very wealthy guy. He owns multiple properties and has held some of the country’s most influential political positions.

Tiv Tribe

The Tiv tribe is famous for its agricultural and economic prowess. The Tiv people’s major religion is Christianity, with many Muslims. While the Tiv tribe makes up about 3.5 per cent of Nigeria’s population, they are one of the country’s smallest ethnic groups. The Tiv-controlled states are regarded as Nigeria’s most peaceful.

Below are notable people from the tribe:

Betty Abah: is a Nigerian journalist, novelist, and fighter for women’s and children’s rights. She is the founder and Executive Director of CEE HOPE, and a Lagos-based non-profit focused on girls’ rights and development.

Betty was born in the Nigerian Middle Belt city of Otukpo, in the state of Benue. Her bachelor’s degree in English and Literary Studies from the University of Calabar was followed by a master’s degree in English Literature from Lagos.

Benson Abounu: is the Deputy Governor of Nigeria’s Tiv tribe, was born on July 3, 1949, and is the state’s, second-richest man. In 2015, he was elected as Governor Samuel L. Ortom’s running mate under the All Progressive Congress. (APC). He works as a politician, an engineer, and a management consultant.

From 1971 to 1975, he studied at the Kaduna Polytechnic in Kaduna before travelling to the United Kingdom to study at Cranfield University in Bedford, England, in 1976 and 1978. From 1980 to 1984, he attended the University of Ibadan before travelling to England in 1989 to pursue postgraduate studies at Ashridge Management College.

Professor Jerry Agada: a Nigerian educator, researcher, and the author, was born on November 11, 1952. He is the former Minister of State for Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Chairman of the Tiv tribe Civil Service Commission, the first Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors in Central Nigeria, the Vice-Chairman of Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko, and the former Chairman of the Tiv tribe Civil Service Commission. Jerry Agada is one of the Tiv tribe’s wealthiest people, with an estimated net worth of $5 million.

Ijaw Tribe

The Ijaws are one of Nigeria’s most populous tribes. This organization is based in the Niger Delta. They account for 11% of the country’s population and live in Nigeria’s oil-producing states. Even though they have this natural resource, they are exposed to environmental degradation due to recurrent oil spills by large oil corporations in the region.

Proceeds from the region’s oil income and IGR have been kept in the pockets of several unscrupulous politicians who hold public office due to mismanagement by the government (both state and federal). The election of Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015, is another achievement worth noting for the Ijaw clan.

Kanuri Tribe

They are one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groupings, with a population estimated to be roughly 4% of its population (around 4,000,000). The Kanuri-speaking people’s territory is densely populated, making outside invasion nearly impossible. Kanuri people follow Islam as their religion (predominately Sunni Muslims). The Kanuri have a rich culture and tradition.

Ibibio Tribe

The Ibibio tribe has about 4.5 million people in Nigeria, with the majority of them living in the country’s south-eastern region. This huge ethnic group, which is predominantly Christian, has an ancient legacy and a diverse cultural tradition. They’re famed for creating detailed wooden masks and artistic sculptures.