Three Nigerians Feature on Forbes' 2024 List of Most Powerful and Wealthiest Black Americans

 

Wemimo Abbey, Tope Awotona, and Adebayo Ogunlesi, three Nigerians based in the United States, have earned spots on Forbes' prestigious 2024 list of the most powerful, impactful, and wealthiest Black Americans.

At just 32 years old, Wemimo Abbey is the co-founder and co-CEO of Esusu, a New York-based fintech startup that helps renters build credit histories by reporting rent payments to credit bureaus.

Forbes reports that Esusu's services are now offered in over 20,000 properties across the U.S., benefiting approximately 1.8 million Americans. In 2022, Esusu raised $130 million in funding, earning a $1 billion valuation.

Abbey, who grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, overcame significant financial challenges, including his mother selling her wedding ring to fund his education and travel to the U.S. Before founding Esusu, he worked as a mergers and acquisitions consultant at PwC and co-founded both a non-profit and a data analytics startup.

Tope Awotona, 43, is the founder and CEO of Calendly, a scheduling software startup valued at $3 billion in 2021.

Awotona, who moved to Atlanta from Lagos at 15, initially studied computer science before switching to business and management information at the University of Georgia. After working as a tech salesperson and launching several failed startups, Awotona founded Calendly in 2013 using his 401(k).

By 2021, he raised $350 million to scale the company further. Awotona’s innovation has paid off, making him worth an estimated $1.4 billion today.

At 70, Adebayo Ogunlesi is the chairman and co-founder of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a New York-based private equity firm.

In October, GIP was acquired by BlackRock for $12.5 billion, with Ogunlesi retaining his leadership role. Forbes estimates his net worth at $1.7 billion.

A graduate of Oxford University and Harvard Law and Business Schools, Ogunlesi began his career clerking for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. He later spent over two decades at Credit Suisse before co-founding GIP in 2006.

The list also features icons such as Dr. Dre, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Gary Linnen, highlighting the diversity and success of Black leaders across industries.

These Nigerians’ inclusion underscores the impact of their entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, inspiring millions worldwide.