Edo State Billionaires: The Top 10 Men wey Mount Finish

Chai! If you dey curious make you know who dey carry correct gbege for Edo State pockets, you don land for correct blog. Today, I go yarn you the koko about the top ten richest Edo men – their hustle, their drama, their style, and how dem dey make sense for street and society. No be “wahala mama” we dey tell, na real gist with proper pepper for!

1. Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion – “The Omo Benin Billion-Airus”

Estimated Net Worth: ₦150 to ₦200 billion (na rough estimate oo)
Position: Esama of Benin Kingdom, oga patapata for business and philanthropist
Age: Born 1934 – the man don see yawa! But still dey ginger!

How E Start But…

Chief G is like Benin grit himself – him no just dey yapa, he de pack wealth. From private university (Igbinedion University, Okada – believe me, na the first private one for Naija), hotel, hospital, media, airline… na so list begin dey long like Danfo bus queue. He own Independent Radio & TV, plus Okada Air (e no dey fly again but e still carry gist for history), and real estate for days!
E don carry pikin dem go America, build school inside bush, donate money for orphans. The man spoil well-well.

Why E Rich Pass

Chief G sabi diversify like NBA player wey sabi cross-over. No be only one hustle o!

• School: dem pay school fees pour-pour

• Hospital: dem dey treat sick people

• Hotels/Airline: if tourist wan chop, they go Okada camp

• Media: na him dey run radio talk, TV gist

• Real Estate: land everywhere, compound everywhere o!

The Person

Talkable, bold, stand-by-his-gist, and the kpekus of culture. No dey run from responsibilities, e dey give community add value. Humanitarian point strong.

2. Mitchell Elegbe – “The Fintech Oga with Brain”

Estimated Net Worth: ₦120 – ₦140 billion
Company: Interswitch – dem dey move your money online
Background: Engineer chef before fintech star

Wetin E Know?

Make I tell you, Mitchell no dey joke with tech. Him sabi barbarian engineering before him waka go findwun for Gate (TelNet, Schlumberger). Him look gaps for payments matter, so from there, Interswitch drop in 2002. Now we dey easy, we dey swipe card, we dey transfer, we no dey carry cash like thief.
Interswitch don be giant – ATM, POS, banking, eCommerce – everything wey carry money inside computer.

How Him Blow?

• Engineering mind – e sabi solve wahala

• Early bird for fintech – dem dey ahead of oga them for street

• Local to global – investors, shares, vibe everywhere
  Na dem put fintech Naija for sustainable map.

3. Adams Oshiomhole – “Politician wey no dey fear meat”

Estimated Net Worth: ₦100 – ₦120 billion
Positions: Ex-NLC President, Edo Governor (2008-2016), APC National Chairman
Personality: Bold, direct, no dey mince word

Hustle Story

From labor moshood to governor, Adams na street guy. Him shout for workers union, advocate for workers pay, then finally carry cross for Edo. Him do some roads, schools, hospitals, but omo! e sabi talk plenty. Some say him sharp, some say him sabi steal, but e na matter wey still dey floor.

Wealth Come From

• Politics: allowance, consultancy, board appointments

• Real Estate: houses sabi gather money

• Media & Agriculture
  Some people wan form saint but na money e dey collect like other humans.

4. Lucky Igbinedion – “Son of the Boss but sabi hustle”

Estimated Net Worth: ₦90 – ₦110 billion
Position: Governor (1999–2007), businessman
Football Jersey: Igbinedion FC Manager before
Notice: Rocky controversies

How Him Landing?

Lucky inherit papa vision and money. But e no just sat down; from governor to businessman, e get hand for oil, banking, hospitality, agriculture. But omo! EFCC show face and ask question about overspending. But as Naija, case matter slow slow, e still dey do him thing.

Why People Know Am?

Former governor, scion of rich family, got business vibes and controversy. E no clear like crystal, but still strong for economic influence.

5. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome – “The Preacher wey no dey carry last for money waka”

Estimated Net Worth: ₦60 – ₦80 billion
Ministry: Christ Embassy (LoveWorld), global evangelist, televangelist, publisher

The Background

Pastor Chris na correct marketing chap. Him fit sweet-talker, token man for airwaves, authors, conferences… omo, him church donors full ground. Him dey use private jet, him dey build mansions, him ministry dey spread like Netflix for gospel.
The man strong for image and influence. Even talk say him value wisdom pass money, but him account jus dey show something else.

How E Dey Make Money?

• Media: partners dey worldwide, conference debentures

• Publishing books and magazines

• Luxury properties and jets

6. Oba Ewuare II – “The King them no dey find beef with culture”

Estimated Net Worth: ₦40 – ₦60 billion
Position: Oba of Benin since 2016
Status: Traditional ruler with political pull

Why He Matter?

Oba Ewuare II na cultural boss. Him reign over Benin, and esa general respect. By throne alone, him dey get land, traditional title, communal funds, plus diplomatic allowances. Before he become Oba, he been serve as ambassador and hold elite positions which add money to account.

How Him Build Wealth?

• Traditional privileges

• Diplomatic and board allowances

• Properties – mana compounds everywhere!

7. Chief Raymond Dokpesi – “Media Mogul wey dey direct our ears”

Estimated Net Worth: ₦50 – ₦70 billion
Business: Founder of DAAR Communication Group – AIT, Raypower
Legacy: Pioneer for private broadcasting

What E Don Do?

Before social media, AIT dey deliver news and gist. Raymond na media swagg, pioneer, boss of Nigerian TV. Even though he face some EFCC wahala, his story strong.
Without Dokpesi, maybe we no dey see channel wey resemble.

Revenue Streams

• Broadcast advertising

• Media licensing

• Consultancy and events

8. Godwin Obaseki – “Ex-Banker turned Governor, chaka hand”

Estimated Net Worth: ₦40 – ₦50 billion
Background: CEO Afrinvest Investment (before entering governance)
Position: Current Governor of Edo State (since 2016)

How Him Enter?

Obaseki na MBA-lord wey sabi finance. Him dey run Afrinvest, na serious investment firm. But he pack office go Edo State government! Him body full ideas – public–private partnership, business environment, education.
Plus, him sabi mingle with Oyakom (Mortal Kombat) politics.

Finance + Governance = Waka

Revenue from consultancy, investments, allowances. If him build talk for state, maybe even Obi-Wan get jealousy.

9. Idahosa “Hosa” Wells Okunbo – “Pilot wey skyrocket for business”

Estimated Net Worth: ₦35 – ₦45 billion
Career Path: From pilot to multi-industry magnate
Status: Dey ground even though him don die for 2021

Hustle Journey

Pilot for past, then shift gear to oil, gas, telecom, power, agro, banking, real estate. He dey chair many boards.
E pass ball for many strokes.

Key Moves

• Petroleum firm – attractive

• Telecom and power – utility heavy

• Investments and real estate

10. Apostle Johnson Suleman – “The Controversial Prophet wey get Dataload”

Estimated Net Worth: ₦35 – ₦45 billion
Ministry: Omega Fire Ministries, Auchi
Recognitions: Global preaching, social media presence, community outreach

Wetin Degenerate?

Apostle Suleman na correct talker and controversial. Him church dey grow spread, branches abroad. Him talk get flavor, him job for street dey sweet youth. Him post for social media hit sometimes.
Some pastors softbut na him dey carry star power, own jet, property, promo.

Money Channels

• Church contributions

• Media and books

• Events and conferences

📊 Honorable Mentions

No forget these guys too – dem sabi run heavy:

• Anthony Iluobe – Oil & Gas Aficionado, Iluobe Oil & Gas

• Asue Ighodalo – Lawyer/Banker, Sterling Bank past Chairman

• Chris Ogiemwonyi – Ex-NNPC MD, Minister, engineer, consultant

Final Reflection: Wetin We Fit Learn

1. Diversification Isis the key
   From Mr. G to Mitchell, dem no put all egg for one basket. More baskets = less wahala when rain gather.

2. Politics fit make brain, but money fit cause problem too
   Oshiomhole, Lucky, Obaseki – dem enter government space. Them gain connections and allowances, but also stress from scandal.

3. Religion na big business
   Pastor Chris, Apostle Suleman – money dey for gospel business too. Dem gat global reach, book, event, jet talk. Some say them bless but e go cost money too.

4. Royal swag over here
   Oba Ewuare II – throne alone dey carry prestige and pockets full.

5. Media savage
   Raymond Dokpesi – before internet, na im we dey see AIT, Raypower, news dem. He invest early.

Chai! Edo Past and Present Naija Story

No be only dollar, na mind-set too. Money don land for Edo by legacy, brain, hustle and location (that Benin kingdom cultural clout no weak). From Igbinedion’s lecture hall to Mitchell’s servers, from Oshiomhole’s protest marches to Obaseki’s boardroom breezes, the story full with talent, grit, mistakes, style.

If You Be Young Person…

• Learn: diversify hustle

• Polish: grammar from pastor tongue or politician charisma

• Balance: using brain and culture

• Use connections wisely – but no let dem carry away your moral

🎯 TL;DR (Summary for Busy Ones)

Final Gist for Youth

Edo people sabi hustle. From agribusiness to fintech, from throne to ministry. The moral: no let your background limit you. If bank manager fit start state project, if pilot turn oil baron, if pastor become preacher-billionaire, why you no fit do enormous?

Make I end with benediction:
“Ga don carry, go hustle, diversify, connect, pepper your skill and carry God/mindset. Edo spirit gon carry us higher.”