Africa’s millionaires are getting younger and younger, which is not surprising for a continent that has the world’s largest youth population. Close to 70 percent of the population is aged below 25. Some 200 million individuals are aged between 15 and 24.
Like their counterparts worldwide, Africa’s Generation X (born after the post-World War II baby boom) and Generation Y, or millennials, generally shy away from the political arena, opting instead for the platforms of entrepreneurship and philanthropy to provide for themselves and to effect change. But on a continent that accounts for some of the highest youth unemployment figures in the world, entrepreneurship may be the only option for many, especially as the youth become better educated.
Among the continent’s young millionaires is Ugandan-born Ashish J. Thakkar, who, at 32, is said to be Africa’s youngest billionaire. And at 36, Senegal’s Magatte Wade may be the only woman to crack the male-dominated list (see below).
|
NAME |
COUNTRY |
TITLE, ORGANIZATION |
DESCRIPTION |
|
Roland Agambire, 39 |
Ghana |
Group chairman, AGAMS Group; Founder/CEO, RLG Communications |
Electronics manufacturer |
|
Kamal Budhabatti, 36 |
Kenya |
CEO, Craft Silicon |
Software |
|
Ladi Delano, 30
|
Nigeria |
Founder/CEO, Bakrie Delano Africa |
Investment – mining, agriculture, oil & gas |
|
Nic Haralambous, 29 |
South Africa |
Founder, ForeFront Africa |
Mobile strategy |
|
Abasiama Idaresit, 34 |
Nigeria |
Founder/CEO, Wild Fusion |
Digital marketing |
|
Vinny Lingham, 34 |
South Africa |
Internet entrepreneur |
Online marketing; search engines |
|
Michael Macharia, 38 |
Kenya |
Group CEO, Seven Seas Technologies |
Technology solutions |
|
Patrick Ngowi, 28
|
Tanzania |
Founder/chairman, Helvetic Group of Companies |
Renewable energy |
|
Jason Njoku, 32,
|
Nigeria |
Co-founder, iROKO Partners |
African entertainment distribution |
|
Sim Shagaya, 38 |
Nigeria |
Digital entrepreneur |
Retail; ecommerce |
|
Mark Shuttleworth, 39
|
South Africa
|
Founder, Canonical Ltd., developer of Ubuntu |
The world’s largest, free, open-source operating system |
|
Justin Stanford, 28 |
South Africa |
Founder/CEO, ESET Southern Africa; Founder/CEO, 4ADi Group |
Internet security; Venture capital |
|
Ashish Thakkar, 32 |
Uganda |
Co-founder/CEO, Mara Group |
Real estate; manufacturing; technology; renewable energy; financial services |
|
Magatte Wade, 36 |
Senegal |
Co-founder, Adina World Beat Beverages; Founder/CEO, Tiossan |
Beverages; Skin care |
Source: Ventures Africa, Forbes, and others
