Education is considered by many Nigerians to be the gateway to success and the passport to a better life.

Debunking this myth that one cannot be successful without a university education are these successful Nigerians who have been able to survive life's challenges and cross the hurdle of formal education to become who they are today.

Take a look at some of Nigeria's must successful individuals who didn't have university degree.



Cosmos Maduka - If you are a lover of cars; then you are certain to have heard the name Cosmos Maduka.

He is the founder of Coscharis Group, which is the sole distributor of BMW vehicles in West Africa.

He dropped out of elementary school and became an apprentice at a tender age of seven. Today; he sits as one of the biggest conglomerates that Nigeria can boast of.

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Folorunsho Alakija - Ranked not only as Nigeria's richest woman, according to Forbes ratings, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija is Africa's richest woman.

The billionaire who as at 2012 is estimated to be worth $2.5 billion revealed recently that she never attended a university.

She made this revelation at the United Nations International Youth Day held at University of Lagos.

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Olorogun Michael Ibru - Olorugun Michael Ibru is the founder of Ibru Organization which is one of the largest conglomerates in Nigeria and head of one of the richest families in Nigeria.

He is a prominent Nigerian businessman who has only a school certificate to his name, he graduated from Igbobi College, Lagos in 1951.

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Razaq Akanni Okoya - A Nigerian billionaire industrialist, he is the founder of Eleganza Group which has a marketing span across West Africa.

Lack of a proper education was not a barrier to Razaq Okoya in his quest for success.

He had his only formal education at Ansar-un-deen primary School, Okepopo, Lagos.

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Vincent Obianobo - The name Vincent Obianobo might not sound familiar but you must have heard of his transportation company, "The Young Shall Grow Motors."

He is also the owner of Rockview Hotels and his transport company is supposedly the largest in Nigeria.

This astute businessman had a humble beginning but little education but today, he is one of Nigeria's most successful businessmen.

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Orji Uzor Kalu - He is the billionaire founder of SLOK Holding as well as the founder of Daily Sun and New Telegraph Newspapers.

He was rusticated from the university for participating in a students' protest.

The university later reconsidered its decision and he was called back but he rejected the offer and ventured into entrepreneurship.

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Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande - He was a journalist who became governor of Lagos State in Nigeria from 1979 to 1983.

He was also Minister of Works under the Sani Abacha military regime.

Lateef Kayode Jakande was born at Epetedo area of Lagos Island on July 23, 1929.

He studied at the Lagos public school at Enu-Owa, Lagos Island, then at Bunham Memorial Methodist School, Port Harcourt (1934-43). He studied briefly at King's College in 1943 and then enrolled at Ilesa Grammar School in 1945 where he edited a literary paper calledThe Quarterly Mirror.
Till date, Jakande does not have a University degree.

eagleeye2:
Yes, I have met them.