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JIMOH IBRAHIM
Success has nothing to do with sex. It has to do with your desire to succeed, the determination to excel and the ability to dream. For if it has to do with where we are coming from or age, then someone like Jimoh Ibrahim, in his early forties, wouldn’t have been considered today on Nigerian-Million-Makers. Born in 1967 to the family of Alhaji Yakubu and Omofemiwa Jimoh in Igbotako in Okitipupa, Ondo State, a descendant of Idogun Tibogi Family in Osooro Ikale Kingdom. He had his early education at Community Grammar School, Igbotako and from there to Federal school of Arts and Science, Ondo. It was at this school that he became a Christian. He proceeded to study Law at Lagos State University and later changed to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in Osun State, for a degree in international Law and Master in Public Administration. He also obtained a Masters degree in Economics and International Tax at
As a kid, he dreamt of being famous, to become a successful person, to become one of the celebrated people in the world, to become renowned among his colleagues and to become someone that will contribute meaningfully to mankind. It was reported that he loved living big right from when he was in the village. Then whenever he makes money from petty contracts he would buy milk and beverages and after drinking them he would use the empty tins to decorate his room.
He worked as a consultant to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on tax reforms in Croatia and Estonia. He was also part of the Harvard team that went to
He was a special Adviser to the Military Administrator of Bayelsa state, a member of the exclusive Federation Account Allocation Committee and was Chairman of FAAC News, the first monthly magazine that published the activities of that Committee. He was executive Secretary, African Center for Policy Studies; to various bodies and multilateral institutions; and presently Chairman Global Fleet Companies and Group Managing Director, NICON Group.
It’s on record that as a youngster he got petty contracts and used some of his father’s bricklaying material to execute them. He started making millions in his mid 20s. In fact he made his first million during his youth service period. Then he discovered that the Local Governments did not have a law of their own, but the state and the Federal Government in the country and that fetched him N3.6million. that same years, he organized about 14workshops for top public functionaries at all tiers of government and by the time he was finishing youth service, he had about N70 million in his account.
It all started when he acquired a swampy land at the Victorian Garden City (VGC) gate with the money he made from which he later transformed into an ultra-modern filling station with two expensive banking halls. Barrister Jimoh, who used to sleep four hours a day when he started, was the one who brought the concept of bringing in banking halls into oil marketing. Though the initial budget for developing the property was N21 million, two banks paid a rent of over N40 million which was too much to build the station, the surplus was invested in real estate. After the VGC outlet, he opened another station at Ilupeju bypass which is likely to be the biggest outlet in the country. When it was finished, three banks wanted it at the same time. In less than a month the VGC and Ilupeju Stations built the Shomolu station and a bank paid the rent on it. Within a few years he was able to acquire hundred of filling station and has vowed never to stop until he gets to one thousand. He currently imports petroleum and has a bug storage depot in Apapa.
Today, he has ventured into several businesses and all of them are doing very well. They include hospitality industry, telecommunication, banking, real estate, block making, carpentry, industrial dry cleaning, roofing tiles, insurance etc. His 70 per cent (N46 billion) equity stake in National Insurance Commission of Nigeria (NICON) during the privatization period is still the talk of the town. He also staked a claim in the purchase and control of Executive Airlines Services (EAS), an airline operator which was changed to Nicon Airways. The Nicon Group now has eleven subsidiaries. Nicon Properties; Nicon Energy; Nicon Academy; Nicon Trustee; Nicon Insurance, Nicon Investment; Nicon PFA, Nicon Hotels; Nicon Sao Tome; Nicon Airways and Nicon United Kingdom.
Barrister Ibrahim who some section of the media calls the Mystery Investor but who considers himself as an average person has special endowments like foundation that provides scholarship for thousands of indigent students annually. He has invested more $2 billion in the Nigerian economy. He is so passionate about creating employment for Nigerian youths and turning them out as future entrepreneurs. This is the reason why he in conjunction with City People magazine organizes motivational talks for the Nigerian youths. His life is ruled by passion to turn business situations around. In many instances, he has picked up ailing enterprises and created wealth out of them, which is the reason President John Kuffour of
Positive Side:
He believed he can succeed, irrespective of his background, sex or education. One may not need a lot of money as start up capital, Barrister Ibrahim started his seminar business by writing letters and distributing them through Liaison Offices in Victoria Island which carry letters to the States free of charge. What matters is the idea.
Also, he never joke with his integrity. Today, banks are ready to grant Barrister Jimoh and any of his companies billion of naira worth of facility because he has never defaulted in the previous ones.
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