Africa is home to a growing number of billionaires whose fortunes are as diverse as their backgrounds.
As the continent continues to evolve economically, understanding the educational journeys of its wealthiest individuals can provide valuable insights into the skills and knowledge that have propelled them to success.
In this article, WoA explores the academic courses pursued by top billionaires in Africa, exploring how their educational choices have influenced their entrepreneurial ventures.
1. Aliko Dangote – Business Studies
Aliko Dangote, born on April 10, 1957, in Kano, Nigeria, is a prominent businessman and the richest man in Africa, with a net worth estimated at $13.4 billion in 2024.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.
Fangote founded Dangote Group, a major conglomerate in Africa, initially trading commodities before expanding into manufacturing, particularly cement.
2. Nassef Sawiris – Economics
Nassef Sawiris is an Egyptian billionaire businessman, born on January 19, 1961.
He is the CEO of OCI N.V., a leading engineering and construction firm, and has significant investments in companies like Adidas and LafargeHolcim.
Sawiris earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Chicago in 1982, where he has also been a trustee since 2013.
3. Mike Adenuga – Business Administration
Mike Adenuga is a Nigerian billionaire businessman, born on April 29, 1953.
He is known for founding Globacom, Nigeria’s second-largest telecom operator, and for his ventures in the oil industry through Conoil.
Adenuga graduated with degrees in Business Administration from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Pace University, New York.
To finance his education, he worked as a taxi driver and held various jobs, demonstrating resilience and determination throughout his early life.
4. Abdulsamad Rabiu – Economics
Abdul Samad Isyaku Rabiu, born on August 4, 1960, in Kano, Nigeria, is a prominent businessman and philanthropist.
He is the founder and chairman of BUA Group, a major conglomerate in Nigeria focused on manufacturing and infrastructure.
Rabiu studied Economics at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.
5. Naguib Sawiris – Technical Administration
Naguib Sawiris, born on June 15, 1954, in Cairo, Egypt, is a prominent businessman and the chairman of Orascom Investment Holding.
He holds a diploma in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Technical Administration from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich).
Since joining the family business, Orascom, in 1979, he has played a key role in its expansion into various sectors, including telecommunications.
6. Mohamed Mansour – Engineering
Sir Mohamed Mansour, born in January 1948 in Alexandria, Egypt, is a billionaire businessman and the chairman of the Mansour Group, a conglomerate with interests in various sectors.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1968 and an MBA from Auburn University in 1971.
Mansour served as Egypt’s Minister of Transportation from 2006 to 2009 and is involved in numerous philanthropic efforts.
7. Koos Bekker – Law and Literature
Koos Bekker, born Jacobus Petrus Bekker in 1952 in Potchefstroom, South Africa, is a prominent billionaire businessman and chairman of Naspers.
He studied law and literature at Stellenbosch University and later earned an LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Bekker also obtained an MBA from Columbia University in New York, which significantly influenced his career in media and telecommunications, including co-founding the pay-TV service M-Net and leading Naspers’ transformation into a global digital powerhouse.
8. Patrice Motsepe – Arts
Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe, born on January 28, 1962, in Soweto, South Africa, is a prominent billionaire businessman and football administrator.
He is the founder and executive chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, a major mining company.
Motsepe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Swaziland and a law degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, specializing in mining and business law.
He is also known for his philanthropic work and serves as the President of the Confederation of African Football since March 2021.
9. Mohammed Dewji – Finance and International Business, Theology
Mohammed Dewji, often referred to as Mo Dewji, is a prominent Tanzanian businessman and philanthropist, serving as the President of the MeTL Group, a major conglomerate in East Africa.
He significantly increased the company’s revenues from $30 million to over $2 billion between 1999 and 2022 and is recognized as Africa’s youngest billionaire, with a net worth of approximately $1.5 billion.
He studied Finance and International Business at Georgetown University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree, alongside a minor in Theology.
10. Strive Masiyiwa – Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Strive T. Masiyiwa, born on January 29, 1961, in Zimbabwe, is a prominent businessman and philanthropist.
He is the founder and executive chairman of Econet Group and Cassava Technologies, playing a pivotal role in Africa’s telecommunications sector.
Masiyiwa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Cardiff.
