Africa's Dynamic Billionaire Couples

Business Brilliance Meets Altruism

By Raine St.Claire

The empowering journeys of exceptional African power couples who seamlessly combine entrepreneurial brilliance with a deep commitment to philanthropy exemplify success in both business and benevolence. Discover their remarkable contributions and the transformative impact they have made on society.

Halima Dangote and Suleiman Sani Bello: Nigeria's Adored Power Couple - Unassuming Accomplishment and Societal Impact

Halima, daughter of Africa’s wealthiest person Aliko Dangote, and her husband Suleiman, son of multimillionaire Sani Bello made headlines in 2008 with their lavish wedding. However, despite their high-profile standing this unpretentious couple and their two daughters purposefully maintains a private lifestyle.

Boasting an estimated net worth of $1.2-million, Halima is following her father’s legacy. Starting as an Analyst at KPMG, she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the American Intercontinental University, London, and an MBA from Webster

Business School and serves as the Executive Director of Commercial Operations at Dangote Group and holds positions on various boards. Halima’s dedication to entrepreneurship shines through her roles at Endeavor Nigeria and as the board president at the Africa Centre in New York. Her passion for women’s empowerment, gender equality and economic well-being extends to increasing female representation on corporate boards and fostering empowerment across societal levels in Nigeria and Africa.

Suleiman is Executive Director at Equatel Telecoms and with an extensive background in various sectors across IT & telecommunications, oil and gas, power and energy (with a focus on hydro power generation), aviation and logistics, he serves as a Director on multiple boards. He is a respected member of the British Computer Society (BCS) in the UK and the Nigerian Polo Association’s Kaduna club.

Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa's Inspirational Journey of Tenacity: A Philanthropic Legacy

Strive, a Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist with a net worth of $1.9-billion, holds the 12th position on Forbes’ 2023 list of African billionaires. He resides in London and is the founder and executive chairman of international technology groups Econet Global and Cassava Technologies. In 2022 he made history as the first black billionaire on the Sunday Times Rich List.

His inspiring journey to overcome government opposition to launch Zimbabwe’s mobile phone network back in 1998 resulted in a financially crippling and challenging five-year legal battle. The landmark case, ruling in his favour, broke the state monopoly in telecommunications, opening the door to private investment in the African telecom sector.

Tsitsi serves as the Executive Chair and Co-Founder of Delta Philanthropies and the Masiyiwa Higherlife Foundation, which focuses on human capital development, thriving communities, and improving education and healthcare access, especially for girls and women.

As a commitment to philanthropy, they have dedicated $100-million to establish a fund benefiting smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. Additionally, serving as Chairman Emeritus of AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), Strive has played a crucial role in mobilising over US$15-billion in investments for agriculture throughout the continent.

Mohammed and Saira Dewji: A Diverse Empire of Passion and The Quiet Influence Behind Wealth Beyond Measure

Mohammed, with a substantial net worth of $1.5-billion is Forbes Africa’s 15th and youngest billionaire and Tanzania’s only billionaire. Mohammed, affectionately “Mo” is the owner of the diversified conglomerate MeTL Group and is recognised for his exceptional style, extensive designer suit collection, distinctive collection of glasses and being exceptionally humble. Making an impact with Mo Bomba Energy Drink as a contender in the market alongside Red Bull and Mo Cola, a major competitor to beverage industry giants like Pepsi and Coca Cola, Mo’s ambitious plans include tripling the current production of 1 billion bottles within the next 2 to 3 years by establishing factories in other African nations.

In 2016, Mo joined the Giving Pledge, and through the Mo Dewji Foundation, he focuses on providing education to underprivileged children in Tanzania, including university level support.

Agriculture forms the core of Mo’s business, positioning him to become the world’s largest sisal producer. His investments extend to planting extensive hectares of organic tea for export, with ventures in Mozambique and Rwanda covering macadamia production, maize milling, cashew processing, and denim production, alongside his beverage endeavours.

Maintaining a fiercely private lifestyle, Saira, Mo’s wife, serves on the board of the Mo Dewji Foundation and Tumaini La Maisha, the country’’s only children’s cancer centre. Mo acknowledges Saira as the cornerstone, providing the much-needed balance in his family life and a reminder of what truly matters beyond wealth and money.

A headline-making near-death kidnapping incident in 2018 shifted Mo’s perspective toward philanthropy and impact investing and while Mo concedes to “slowing down a little bit,” his ambition remains fueled by an unwavering passion for his endeavours. “I no longer work 100 hours a week; I now dedicate 80 hours a week to my endeavours,” he revealed.

Nigeria's Dynamic Duo Tony and Aweke Elumelu: Business Prowess and Medical Advocacy Forge a Path of Impactful Philanthropy

Tony is a renowned economist and philanthropist. Widely recognised as a guru in the banking and finance sector, the recent rapid increase in his net worth by $20-million in just 55 days highlights his exceptional prowess in the business world.

Starting as an ambitious copier salesman in the late ‘80s, he made history at 34 as the youngest bank CEO in Nigeria. In 2010 Tony founded the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), a prominent philanthropic initiative that reflects his belief in the significance of young entrepreneurs and their determination to uplift Africa from poverty. In 2020, TIME recognised Tony as one of Africa’s leading investors and philanthropists, estimating his wealth at $1.98-billion.

The TEF empowers entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries with a $100-million programme to create one million jobs in a decade. Despite the challenge of receiving thousands of applications, so far 7 520 entrepreneurs, with 68% being female have been accepted.

Awele, an accomplished medical doctor and business magnate, champions immunisation in Africa and is the recipient of the distinguished Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As the Founder and CEO of Avon Medical, she is a prominent advocate for universal healthcare in Africa, and serves on the Yale Institute for Global Health Advisory Board.

Tony openly attributes Awele, equally passionate about the work of the TEF and known for her unwavering commitment to privacy, as his greatest inspiration.

Dr. Patrice Motsepe and Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe: From Boardrooms to Philanthropy - An Impactful Journey of Business Brilliance and Unprecedented Genorisity

Patrice is a highly accomplished South African businessman with a net worth of $3.2 billion, ranks 9th on Forbes Africa. He is the founder and executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, known for its diversified interests in gold, ferrous metals, base metals, and platinum.

Recognised by Forbes Magazine in 2017 as one of the “100 Greatest Living Business Minds” globally, he plays pivotal roles on various corporate boards, including non-executive chairman of Harmony Gold, a top 12 global gold mining company. In March 2021, he assumed the role of President of the Confederation of African Football, and since 2003, he has owned the Mamelodi Sundowns football club.

Dedicated to alleviating poverty and addressing social and economic inequality, the couple established the Motsepe Foundation in 1999, the Keep a Child Alive Foundation in 2015, and through the Giving Pledge, they committed to philanthropy by pledging a substantial portion of their wealth, aiming for a lasting impact on society.

Precious, a distinguished medical doctor, businesswoman, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, assumed the ten-year role as Chancellor of the University of Cape Town in 2020. She is actively involved in the World Economic Forum and serves on the Harvard Kennedy School Women’s Leadership Board. Her numerous achievements include founding African Fashion International in 2007, promoting African designers, championing the Gender Responsive Budget Initiative in 2012 and authoring “The Precious Little Black Book.”

She graced the inaugural cover of Forbes Women Africa and has consistently been listed as one of the 50 most powerful women in Africa. Through the Motsepe Foundation, she has generously donated R35-million, aiding students at the University of Cape Town and across Africa during Covid-19 with assistance towards student fees, historical debt, and computers.

Sources: legit.ng | Wikipedia | Forbes Africa | Independent Newspapers | Statista