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Dynamic duo - Five African power couples
By Raine St.Claire
The African continent has gained recognition for its talented innovators, influential figures, and as a home to dynamic power couples who are achieving remarkable accomplishments in their respective fields. In this article, we introduce five dynamic African power couples who have not only achieved success in their careers but have also dedicated themselves to philanthropic endeavours, uplifting and empowering individuals and communities across Africa.
Halima Dangote and Suleiman Sani Bello
Suleiman Bello and Halima Dangote are known as Nigeria’s most cherished power couple. Halima (40) with an estimated net worth of N500-million, is the daughter of Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man. Despite their extravagant wedding in 2008, the couple and their two daughters intentionally maintain a private lifestyle. Halima started her career as an Analyst at KPMG. As the current Executive Director of Commercial Operations at Dangote Group and a board member of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, her commitment extends to fostering economic growth in Nigeria, advocating for women’s empowerment and increasing female representation on corporate boards in Nigeria and Africa. Suleiman, the son of multi-millionaire Sani Bello, holds the position of Executive Director at Equatel Telecoms. With extensive experience in IT & Telecoms, Oil and Gas (Downstream and Upstream), Power and Energy, including hydro power generation, Aviation, logistics, and the Marine sector, he also serves as a Director on various boards. He is a respected member of the British Computer Society (BCS) in the UK and a member of the Nigerian Polo Association.
Tony and Awele Elumelu
Tony Elumelu (60), a Nigerian billionaire, economist, and philanthropist, is widely recognised as a Nigerian and African banking and finance sector guru. He started his career in the late ‘80s as an ambitious copier salesman and made history as the youngest bank CEO in Nigeria at the age of 34. The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), a prominent philanthropic initiative, reflects Tony’s belief in the significance of young entrepreneurs and their determination to uplift Africa from poverty. 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 (59), is an accomplished, beautiful and sophisticated Nigerian business magnate and medical doctor who serves as the African Ambassador for Gavi. She champions African immunisation drives, quality healthcare in Nigeria 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 and is equally passionate about the work of the TEF. Known for her unwavering commitment to privacy, Tony openly attributes Awele as his greatest inspiration. In 2020, TIME recognised Tony as one of Africa’s leading investors and philanthropists, estimating his wealth at $1.98-billion. In August 2023, Tony earned N26-billion & Awele N4-billion from investments in Transcorp Group across Hospitality, Power, and Oil & Gas sectors.
Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa
Strive (62) is a Zimbabwean billionaire businessman and philanthropist based in London. He is the founder and executive chairman of international technology groups Econet Global and Cassava Technologies. Ranked 12th on Forbes’ 2023 list of African billionaires, and a net worth of $1.9-billion, Strive made history in 2022 as the first black billionaire on the Sunday Times Rich List. Strive entered the telecoms industry in the 90s, but the government’s attempt to prevent him from acquiring a licence to operate his cellular business led to a challenging five-year legal battle that nearly pushed him to bankruptcy. The landmark case that ruled in his favour ended 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 signatories of the Giving Pledge initiative, the couple is well-known for their philanthropic work, uplifting orphaned and underprivileged children across multiple African countries. They have pledged $100-million to establish a fund that improves the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. Over the past two decades, Strive has used his own fortune to create and support programmes that educate over 40 000 orphans in Africa and provide scholarships to more than 250 000 young Africans. As Chairman Emeritus of AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), Strive has helped mobilise over US$15-billion in investments for agriculture throughout Africa.
Mohammed and Saira Dewji
Mohammed (47) ranked 15th is Africa’s youngest billionaire and the sole billionaire from Tanzania with an impressive net worth of $1.5-billion. He owns MeTL Group, a Tanzanian conglomerate with diversified interests across varied sectors. “Mo”, known for his exceptional style, extensive collection of designer suits and fetish for glasses, is considered an exceptionally humble gentleman. Mo has made an impact in the beverage industry with Mo Cola, a competitor to industry giants like Pepsi and Coca Cola. He plans to triple the current production of 1-billion bottles in the next 2 to 3 years by opening factories in other African nations. He also introduced Mo Bomba Energy Drink to compete with Red Bull. In 2016, Mo joined the Giving Pledge and the Mo Dewji Foundation focuses on providing education to underprivileged children in Tanzania, including university-level support.
With agriculture as the foundation of Mo’s business he is poised to become the world’s largest sisal producer. He has invested $50-million in planting extensive hectares of organic tea for export and is also expanding into Mozambique and Rwanda with ventures in macadamia production, maize milling, cashew processing and denim production, and of course, Mo beverages. Saira, who maintains a fiercely private lifestyle, serves as a board member of the Mo Dewji Foundation and Tumaini La Maisha, Tanzania’s only children’s cancer centre. Mo regards Saira as the cornerstone of the much-needed balance in his family life, reminding him of what truly matters beyond wealth and money. Mo’s headline-making near-death kidnapping incident in 2018 shifted his perspective toward philanthropy and impact investing. He co-owns the football club Simba SC and even as he reduces his work hours, his ambition is driven by his ceaseless passion for his endeavours.
Dr Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe and Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe
Patrice (61), a prominent South African businessman with a net worth of $3.2-billion, ranking 9th on Forbes Africa’s list, was acknowledged as one of the “100 Greatest Living Business Minds” globally. He founded African Rainbow Minerals, a company with interests in various mineral sectors. Holding various corporate boards positions, including Harmony Gold, a leading global gold mining company, he is widely recognised for his leadership and is considered one of South Africa’s top business leaders.
Precious (61) is a highly accomplished South African businesswoman, philanthropist, entrepreneur and one of Africa’s wealthiest women. In 2020, she began her ten-year tenure as Chancellor of the University of Cape Town. Precious founded African Fashion International in 2007 to promote Pan-African fashion designers and has consistently been honoured as Forbes 50 most influential women in Africa. She championed the Gender Responsive Budget Initiative in 2012, advocating for women’s inclusion in national plans and budgets. In 2013, Patrice became the first African to sign the Giving Pledge, and the couple remains dedicated to lifelong philanthropic efforts through the Motsepe Foundation, aimed at alleviating poverty and improving living conditions for marginalised individuals.Patrice, a self-made billionaire, made history by becoming the first black partner at the law firm Bowman Gilfillan in 1994.
