10 things you don’t know about Benedict Peters of Aiteo

HE IS THE 17TH RICHEST MAN IN AFRICA-

Founder and Executive Vice Chairman of integrated energy company, Aiteo Group, Benedict Peters, clocked 51 on Tuesday, December 5, 2017. And in the past two weeks, the elusive billionaire who has changed the face of Nigerian football and is taking us to the World Cup in Russia, has received 3 big awards from New Telegraph, BusinessDay and Leadership.

A consummate businessman with an unassuming personality, there is a lot about the gentleman fondly called Benny that many do not know about.

Here are 10 of them

1. Born in Abakaliki
Although of Delta State origin, Benedict Peters was born in Abakaliki, the capital of present-day Ebonyi State on December 5, 1966 to a middle class family. He and five other siblings were raised by their banker father and a homemaker mother. Formal education began at Ekulu Primary School, Enugu, from which he proceeded to Federal Government College, also in Enugu.

2. Graduate of UNIBEN
He graduated from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) with a B.Sc. degree in Geography and Urban Planning in 1989 at the age of 22. His father retired from banking while he was at the university, prompting the young Peters to develop entrepreneurial skills ahead of many of his contemporaries.

3. Tomato and cocoa trader
After graduation, an enterprising Peters became a cross-country merchant with interests in agricultural produce. He started with large-scale trading of tomatoes from northern Nigeria to the south and trading in cocoa for local consumption and export. Sale of new and used cars, vehicle spare parts and real estate were some of his other early business interests.

4. From banking to Ocean and Oil
The seed of what would later become a flourishing career in oil and gas was sown at Union Bank where Peters did his mandatory one-year National Youth Service. A job offer by the bank was politely turned down for a chance to build a fortune from his relationship with Wale Tinubu, Jite Okoloko and Mofe Boyo of Ocean and Oil.

5. Managing Director of MRS
Convinced of Peters’ competence and far-reaching influence, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata head-hunted him to join MRS Oil Nigeria Plc as Group Executive Director in 1994, followed by promotion to the position of Managing Director. In no time, the company became a prime player in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry. Peters wrote his name into MRS folklore in five short but eventful years.

More after the break.

WHERE IS PADDY ADENUGA?

PADDY ADENUGA

PADDY WITH THE GURU

The very handsome son and scion of the billionaire dollar Adenuga dynasty (dad is the 5th richest African in the world) has not been seen or heard from of late. Unlike before where one would have seen him at one gig or the other (he used to loved popping into one or two clubs, lounges, joints etc) or heard from him, he used to represent Glo at one or 2 events sometimes in the past, it's like he has totally gone incommunicado, totally off the radar. Is he even in Nigeria anymore? What is he or has he being up to of late?



Or has he gone back abroad, either back to school for a new Master's degree or doctorate or something? You cannot but notice the handsome, short Afro wearing dude then whenever he was any where, thanks majorly to the very ubiquitous barrel chested bodyguards that always surrounds him wherever he goes to. 

While asking for the dude's whereabouts, it would also be nice if we were to know if it's true that the very reclusive billionaire does not get along that well or very well with his first 2 sons- Jide & Paddy?

JIM OVIA SET TO BUILD THE BIGGEST MALL IN NIGERIA AND AFRICA

The man Jim Ovia needs no introduction whatsoever. He is one of the richest Nigerian ever, in fact he is one of the top 40 richest Africans. He is reportedly said to be worth conservatively close to a Billion dollars. With massive investments in real estate, banking, communications, recreational center etc. 

The astute business man from what we have just heard has major plans in the pipeline to increase is investments and worth incredibly in the next few years. On going as we speak is a multi-storey office building project where the former La Casa Lounge/cigar bar used to be, the imposing office building is at the Lagoon front on Ozumba Mbadiwe in-between the Civic center & Caverton Helicopter office opposite the Law School. 

According to the gist the next in line to be built on the same axis not far from one of his properties -the Civic center, is a 5-star hotel, the hotel is most likely going to be called the Lagos Marriot or Marriot Hotel, Lagos, which we hear would give all other hotels on the island and by extension Lagos a run for its money. One of the unique features of the upcoming Marriot Hotel from the gist we could gather is the super sized, super luxurious event center that would be built in it. The idea is that the Civic center is too small for some types of events, so the need to build a bigger more prestigious event venue.

The third project that we have heard that is uppermost in the heart of this great businessman and investor is the building of the biggest mall in Nigeria and most probably Africa. According to our bird in the air. This 3rd project is planned as a colossal one and it also planned to be built along the Ozumba Mbadiwe axis, where Mr. Ovia is said to own massive acres of land from where the office complex project is currently on going right now to somewhere close to where Cactus is right now, some even speculate that the landmass stretches further than we are thinking. 

All things been equal all of this projects are planned to be on ground in the next 5 years at most. See vision oooooo. Opportunity to employ thousands of people from the labour market.