Forbes has unveiled its 2024 ForbesBLK 50 list, celebrating the achievements of the wealthiest and most influential Black Americans.

Among the honorees are three Nigerians—Adebayo Ogunlesi, Tope Awotona, and Wemimo Abbey—whose groundbreaking contributions and entrepreneurial successes have earned them places on this prestigious list.

The Forbes BLK 50 is a reimagining of Forbes’ 2009 Wealthiest Black Americans list, which then featured figures like Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson.

While net worth remains a core metric, the new list also highlights innovation, societal impact, and leadership across diverse industries.

What Forbes said

Adebayo Ogunlesi, with a net worth of $1.7 billion, stands out as a pioneering force in global infrastructure investment. As chairman and cofounder of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), Ogunlesi led the private equity firm through a transformative acquisition by BlackRock in 2024 for $12.5 billion.

Ogunlesi, a Harvard-educated lawyer and banker, previously spent over two decades at Credit Suisse before launching GIP in 2006.

His influence extends beyond business, as he has become a key figure in reshaping infrastructure investment on a global scale.

Also, Nigerian entrepreneur, Tope Awotona, the founder and CEO of Calendly, has redefined efficiency in scheduling and holds a net worth of $1.4 billion.

Born in Lagos, Awotona moved to Atlanta as a teenager and pursued business and management information studies at the University of Georgia. After early entrepreneurial setbacks, he launched Calendly in 2013, driven by frustration with cumbersome meeting coordination. The platform, which raised $350 million in 2021, is now valued at $3 billion and serves millions of users worldwide.

Although not a ranking, Wemimo Abbey, at just 32, is the youngest Nigerian on the list and cofounder of Esusu, an African fintech company addressing financial inclusion.

Esusu helps renters build credit by reporting rent payments to credit bureaus, a service utilized by more than 20,000 properties and benefiting 1.8 million Americans.

In 2022, Esusu achieved a $1 billion valuation following a $130 million funding round. Abbey, who grew up in Lagos, has a background in mergers and acquisitions consulting and a passion for leveraging technology to drive social impact.

These three Nigerians show innovation, resilience, and the drive to address pressing global challenges. Their inclusion on the ForbesBLK 50 list is a foretelling of their entrepreneurial vision and the increasing influence of Nigerians on the global stage.

The ForbesBLK 50 list, launched under ForbesBLK, aims to go beyond net worth to measure impact and influence within the Black community and beyond.

[Nairametric]

Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello was, on Friday evening, released from the Kuje Custodial Centre after meeting the bail conditions set by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

Spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, FCT Command, Adamu Duza, confirmed the development.

According to Duza, “Yahaya Bello has been released after meeting the bail conditions. He was released this evening (Friday).

“The Controller of NCoS FCT, Ajibogun Olatubosun, was on the ground to ensure his smooth release and that all protocols were observed.”

On Thursday, Justice Maryanne Anenih granted Bello bail in the sum of N500m.

The bail conditions included providing three sureties, each owning property in select high-value areas of Abuja, such as Maitama, Guzape, or Asokoro.

Justice Anenih also ordered Bello to surrender his passport and restricted his travel outside Nigeria without prior permission.

The former governor, along with Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, faces a 16-count charge of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and unlawful possession of property, brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

All three have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Court had rejected Bello’s initial bail application on procedural grounds but granted bail to his co-defendants.

But on Thursday, Bello’s fresh application was approved, resulting in his release on Friday.

A suspected terrorist has been nabbed by the troops in the North West theatre of operation.

The arrested high profile and notorious terrorist was identified as Bako Wurgi. The terror leader is linked to the murder of the Sokoto Monarch and a staunch ally of wanted high profile terrorist Bello Turji’s.

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday in Abuja, the Defence Director Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba said the arrested terrorist leader, Bako Wurgi, eventually succumbed to gun shot injuries sustained during the fire fight.

According to General Buba, the terrorist leader Wurgi provided valuable intelligence to support troops operations before he eventually passed on.

General Buba also disclosed that another two high profile terrorists identified as Hamisu Sale (aka Master) and Abubakar Muhammad were arrested during seperate operations conducted in North Central theatre of operation.

In his words, the duo are cooperating and providing valuable intelligence on the terror network.

The DHQ spokesman was deadpan when he said that, “Troops are on high alert and have increased readiness to protect the country from further terrorist aggression, particularly during the yuletide.

Accordingly, robust operations targeted at terrorist leadership are being conducted across the various theatres of operations.”

He disclosed that during the week under review, troops neutralised 212 and arrested 272 persons.

The DHQ publicist informed that troops recovered 247 assorted weapons and 6,174 assorted ammunition.

Giving the breakdown, General Buba said 2 RPG UXO4, 110 AK47 rifles, 56 fabricated rifles, 36 dane guns and 2 FN rifles were recovered during the week under review.

Others include, 2 baretta pistols, 15 locally made pistols, 2 revolver pistols, 12 pump action guns, 2 double barrel guns, one single barrel gun, one RPG bomb, one RPG tube, 2 exploded RPG chargers, one PKM link, one link of GPMG and 70 AK47 magazines.

Also recovered are 3,235 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 1,583 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 130 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm ammo, 400 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammo, 92 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm ammo, 107 rounds of 9mm ammo, 311 live cartridges, one FN magazine, 3 bandoliers, 5 baofeng radios, 8 vehicles, 51 motorcycles and 103 mobile phones amongst other items.