Mike Adenuga & Other African Billionaires Who Made Their Billions from Telecommunications 

Mike Adenuga, one of Africa’s richest men has amassed a lot of fortune for himself in the telecommunication industry through his company, Globacom Limited, one of the largest telecom operators in Africa.

Aside from the chairperson of Globacom, there are several other African billionaires who have made remarkable success stories in the sector, leveraged the power of communication technology to create influential companies, bridge the digital divide, and transform lives across the continent.

This brief will delve into the achievements of some African billionaires who have made their mark in the telecommunications sector. 

Strive Mayisiwa

Strive Masiyiwa is a Zimbabwean billionaire who has amassed his wealth through the telecommunications industry. As the founder of Econet Wireless, a telecommunications services company, including mobile voice and data, broadband, and mobile financial services, Masiyiwa has been at the forefront of transforming mobile communications in Africa since it was established in 1993.

Expanding across multiple African countries, his company now operates as Econet Wireless Group, providing mobile network services, broadband, and innovative solutions. Masiyiwa’s entrepreneurial acumen and contributions to the telecommunications sector have propelled him to billionaire status and positioned him as a leading figure in African business.

Mo Ibrahim

Mo Ibrahim is another billionaire who has accumulated his wealth through the telecommunications industry. He founded Celtel International in 1988,  one of the first mobile phone companies serving Africa and the Middle East.  

Ibrahim has played a pivotal role in expanding mobile communications across Africa. Celtel focused on providing affordable mobile services in underdeveloped regions, effectively bridging the digital divide. Ibrahim’s strategic leadership led to the success of Celtel, and he later sold the company for $3.4 billion. 

Mohammed Dewji

Mo Dewji is a Tanzanian businessman and one of the youngest billionaires who made his fortune through telecommunications and other industries. He is the owner of MeTL Group, a conglomerate with interests in diverse sectors, including telecommunications. MeTL Group owns Vodacom Tanzania, a leading telecommunications company in the country. 

Under Dewji’s leadership, Vodacom Tanzania expanded its operations and introduced innovative services, contributing to his success in the telecommunications sector. Dewji’s achievements have positioned him as one of Tanzania’s most influential business figures and ranking him among the continent’s billionaires.

Naguib Sawiris

Egyptian Naguib Sawiris is a billionaire who has accumulated his wealth primarily through the telecommunications industry. As the founder of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology, Sawiris played a key role in expanding mobile communications across the Middle East and North Africa and has continuously contributed to the growth and diversification of the company into what it is today – one of Egypt’s largest and most diversified conglomerates.

Orascom Telecom Media operated multiple mobile network operators, including Egypt’s Mobinil and Pakistan’s Mobilink, which became significant players in their respective markets. Sawiris’ strategic investments and business acumen propelled the company’s success.