Three Nigerians have been recognized on Forbes’ prestigious list of the most powerful, impactful, and wealthiest Black Americans in 2024. The individuals, Adebayo Ogunlesi, Tope Awotona, and Wemimo Abbey, have made significant contributions in their respective fields, earning them spots among the top 50 wealthiest personalities.
Adebayo Ogunlesi, often referred to as “Africa’s King of Wall Street,” is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Infrastructure Partners, a leading private equity firm. A seasoned investment banker, Ogunlesi is an alumnus of King’s College Lagos, Oxford University, and Harvard Law School. He boasts an impressive career spanning 23 years at Credit Suisse and a stint at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of Africa Finance Corporation and has been on the board of Goldman Sachs. His net worth is estimated at $1.7 billion.
Tope Awotona, founder and CEO of Calendly, also made the list. Awotona’s scheduling software company, which he launched in 2013 with his life savings of $200,000, has grown exponentially. With over 20 million users and 100,000 organizations relying on Calendly, the company is now valued at $3 billion, solidifying Awotona’s billionaire status.
Wemimo Abbey, the co-founder of Esusu, is another Nigerian celebrated on the list. Esusu is a fintech platform designed to help immigrant communities save, manage cash flow, and build credit, empowering underserved populations with financial tools and resources.
