adisa_segun: I just don't know how you people are just senseless, what has Ibadan got to do with what we are discussing? Is Arisekola not successful? Is Bode Akinjide not successful? There are so many successful people in Ibadan than that the village where you came from, Bastards

Jarus:

My brother u have said it all. U can see hw ibadan people think, we have not said anything someone has started shouting bastard, do want ur son to be like mr adisa? D answer is no.Mr Adisa (typical Ibadan name ), he was only pulling someone's legs

Don't so him pepper

lekkie073: If u r in a rush to be successful at a young age, why not try money ritual.

adisa_segun: I just don't know how you people are just senseless, what has Ibadan got to do with what we are discussing? Is Arisekola not successful? Is Bode Akinjide not successful? There are so many successful people in Ibadan than that the village where you came from, Bastards

TheRealMrStan: [size=14pt]COSCHARIS, IBETO, EKENE DILI CHUKWU, ORANGE DRUGS,ABC TRANSPORT and co...their CEOs did not finish secondary school.[/size]

WinkWrld: Nigerian career includes music. What is success? Success is impacting the future generation with your actions and fame of today. And when such action and fame translates to good wealth for you and your family making you live amongst the rich and wealthy in society. Examples of successful kids whizkid, olamide, dbanj, Davido , 2face, don jazzy. Etc I am sure these kids are successful and did not school in havard
.when the ED's MD's etc need entertainment they pay heavily and when these rich kids Ned to invest their monies they pay heavily to these MD's too.
So the whole idea of success should be redefined not to focus on 9-5 jobs only

Jarus: I told the stories of 2 Nigerian 'young and successful' in my blog:

Bank Subsidiary CEO @ 27: http://jarushub.com/2013/03/17/young-successful-the-inspiring-story-of-akeem-oyewale-chartered-accountant-at-20-bank-subsidiarys-ceo-at-27/

Oil company CEO @ 29: http://jarushub.com/2013/03/21/young-and-successful-from-toilet-cleaner-to-oil-company-ceo-the-story-of-yomi-awobokun-oando-marketings-ceo/

I also interviwed the CEO of Accenture Nigeria, who got that position at 40 (though relatively old): http://jarushub.com/2013/03/31/i-failed-math-in-year-1-because-i-thought-what-worked-in-secondary-school-would-work-in-university-niyi-yusuf-ceo-accenture-nigeria/

Afam4eva:
+1000

I don't know why anyone should say one has to attend Harvard to be successful in Nigeria.

Desric: My dear they ve not really answered the OP's question, where were these guys before they became the celebrities that they are today, what were their background? Who were their parents? because I ve come to understand that most of these early millionaires in Nigeria especially those of the 80's and 90's do have either a favourable background or they benefited from the Corrupt Military era Largesse. Please if anyone has a concise profile of these guys, I am interested and will appreciate the information. Most times when you read about most Nigeria Millionaires profiles, you hardly can point their break even point, all you read or hear is how they ve become mega billionaires please advice and motivate the youths who wants or aspires to be like you in a positive way by telling us how u accessed your first capital, which I bet might be very difficult to say capital because in most cases you must find corruption or Government patronage.
Ibeto, Innoson, Ekene dili Chukwu, Tonimas etc are some examples of some self made millionaires if I am not mistaken, but the ones the OP mentioned, pls we need more info.

Cultured: Well , from my own perspective and experience , the secret of becoming successful at young age/ at any age are as follows :

- Master an art through either formal or informal education and always remain innovative
- Imbibe self and continuous education - Leaders are readers ( although, not all readers are leaders )
- Live on your own opinion , because living on others opinion is the easiest route to failure and death
- Surround yourself with people who're more passionate and informed than you are in your chosen field ( chose your team wisely )
- Work hard , but never forget " Smart Work ", because it pays better
- Expansion is good but remember that it doesn't equal profit- profit is what will keep you going
- Positive mindset is also very important , because misinformation and misconception are very bad diseases

Lest I forget ,have it at the back of your mind that theory is different from practical and that experience remains the best teacher ( our prayer always is, may we never be consumed in the cause of experimenting ) . And "quitters never win " they say , but never forget/undermine " Surrender Tactics" , because at some point in the cause of your journey to success you will need it and when applied rightfully will lead you to the desired promise land . Good luck to all who aspires to become successful in life .

Bye the way , you don't necessarily need to attend any IVY league school neither at home nor abroad to become successful - having the privilege to attend one will only help to gloss that greatness which is already in you , for quick public consumption .

Desric: My dear they ve not really answered the OP's question, where were these guys before they became the celebrities that they are today, what were their background? Who were their parents? because I ve come to understand that most of these early millionaires in Nigeria especially those of the 80's and 90's do have either a favourable background or they benefited from the Corrupt Military era Largesse. Please if anyone has a concise profile of these guys, I am interested and will appreciate the information. Most times when you read about most Nigeria Millionaires profiles, you hardly can point their break even point, all you read or hear is how they ve become mega billionaires please advice and motivate the youths who wants or aspires to be like you in a positive way by telling us how u accessed your first capital, which I bet might be very difficult to say capital because in most cases you must find corruption or Government patronage.
Ibeto, Innoson, Ekene dili Chukwu, Tonimas etc are some examples of some self made millionaires if I am not mistaken, but the ones the OP mentioned, pls we need more info.

Jarus:

Mr Adisa (typical Ibadan name ), he was only pulling someone's legs

Don't so him pepper

Jarus: Stories of young and successful that interest me more are those that never had headstart in terms of being put there by their parents or so (e.g Paddy Adenuga, Kola Abiola, Ladi Balogun etc), but those who were just average Joes and rose to high positions at young age.

Look at:

Atedo Peterside, founded IBTC in 1989 at 32
Fola Adeola (at 35) and Tayo Aderinokun (at 34) founded what is GTB today
Herbert Wigwe and Aig-Imhoukhude, both left GTB at 34 years of age, to found Access Bank. When they left GTB, they can't be less than AGM. So AGM at 34 was an achievement on its own.
Tony Elumelu was in his early 30's when he co-founded STB and became CEO.
Jim Ovia was also in his 30's when he founded Zenith Bank.

All these guys (except Wigwe and Aig) founded these banks 1989-1990. Before that time, we had the old school banks (Union, First, Wema, Cooperative, Savannah, UBA etc), later dubbed First Generation Bank. These guys, most of whom, were working in these banks, probably thought there were more innovative ways of providing financial services than what these conservative First Generation banks were offering. That's an opportunity. Pronto, they explored it, and coupled with IBB's liberalization policy of the era, they established the banks. A couple by the old folks (Adekanye, Osayemah, Femi Ajayi, Duro Emmanuel etc) failed, but these young guys' became mega successful.

Atedo Peterside came back from LSE and realized merchant banking as was practiced in Nigeria was still crude. That's an opportunity. He floated Investment Banking and Trust Company (IBTC) in 1989, to do just one thing: investment banking. He made it.

I think it is about recognizing an untapped opportunity quickly and grabbing it.

Olucheye:



Thank you so much for coming up with this. You took it right out of my head. A whole lot of our Mega nigerian millionaires only tell us how big they are but little about how they started things out, how their background was like, hurdles they had to cross before they could call themselves comfy.
If Jarus could do us all a favor and include such questions while profiling them, it'll be of great benefit to an average man who aspires to be like them

Laalamed:
all na thieves? most successful and young nigeria are bankers. how many are lawyers, engineers, health workers are among them?