Benue a middle belt state in Nigeria is one of the states that are known for farming and different agricultural activities, but the story of this state is not complete if you do not write about the richest men in Benue state.
So, when writing about Benue as a state, it is paramount to know those who are in charge of affluence and money.
Richest Men In Benue State
1. Betty Abah (Net Worth $10 million)
Betty Abah is a Nigerian journalist, novelist, and women’s and children’s rights campaigner who was born on March 6, 1974. She is the founder and Executive Director of CEE HOPE, a Lagos-based non-profit organization dedicated to the rights and development of girls.
Betty was born in Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria’s Middle Belt area. She graduated from the University of Calabar with a bachelor’s degree in English and Literary Studies and a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Lagos.
2. Benson Abounu (Net Worth $8 million)
Benson Abounu, Deputy Governor of Benue State in Nigeria, was born on July 3, 1949, and is currently the second richest man in Benue State. Under the All Progressive Congress, he was elected as Governor Samuel L. Ortom’s running mate in 2015. (APC). He is a politician, as well as an engineer and management consultant.
He attended the Kaduna Polytechnic in Kaduna from 1971 to 1975 before moving to the United Kingdom in 1976 and 1978 to study at Cranfield University in Bedford, England. He studied at the University of Ibadan from 1980 to 1984 before moving to England to pursue postgraduate studies at Ashridge Management College in 1989.
3. Moses Adasu (Net Worth $7 million)
On 2 January 1992, Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu, a member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), was elected governor of Benue State, Nigeria. He stepped down following General Sani Abacha’s military takeover in November 1993.
Adasu was born on June 12, 1945, in Mbaamena, near Awajir, in the Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State’s Shangev-Tiev District.
He earned an M.A. degree from St. John’s University in New York City (1975–1976), and then a Masters in Religious Education from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC (1976–1978).
4. Jerry Agada (Net Worth $5 million)
Professor Jerry Agada (born November 11, 1952) is a Nigerian educationist, scholar, and author. He is the Chairman of the Benue State Civil Service Commission, the first Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors in Central Nigeria, the Vice-Chairman of Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko, and the former Minister of State for Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Jerry Agada is believed to have an estimated net worth of $5 million, making him one of the richest person in Benue State.
5. Joseph Akaagerger (Net Worth $4 million)
Akaagerger, of Tiv ancestry, was born on May 5, 1956, in the Konshisha local government region of Benue State. From 1969 until 1973, he attended Gboko Government Secondary School.
He enlisted in the army in 1976 and attended the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna (1976–1977), as well as the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England (1977–79).
He also holds a Ph.D. in International Economic Law from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, as well as LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Jos. He is known as Ambe u Konshisha in the traditional sense (the Konshisha Crocodile). He is a cousin of Michael Aondoakaa, the former Attorney-General, and Justice Minister.
6. George Akume (Net Worth $3.5 million)
George Akume (born December 27, 1953) is the current Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs in Nigeria. He was a Senator in Nigeria’s Federal Republic and also one of the richest men in Benue State. From June 2011 to June 2015, he served as the Senate Minority Leader. From May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007, he served as Governor of Benue State. He was the first governor in the history of Benue State to serve two terms. On the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, he was elected governor of Benue State and later to the Senate.
7. Ada Ameh (Net Worth $3 million)
Ada Ameh (born May 15, 1974) is a Nigerian actress best known for her roles as Anita in the 1996 film “Domitilla” and Emu Johnson in the award-winning Nigerian television series “The Johnsons.” Ameh appeared alongside Charles Inojie, Chinedu Ikedieze, and Olumide Oworu in the TV series The Johnsons.
8. Michael Aondoakaa (Net Worth $2 million)
Michael Kaase Aondoakaa was born on June 12, 1962, in Benue, Nigeria. He attended Mount Saint Gabriel’s Secondary School in Makurdi and was accepted to the University of Maiduguri’s Faculty of Law after graduation, where he earned his LL.B certificate. He spent 18 years as a senior partner in a law firm.
He was invited to meet President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua after assisting two of his friends, Ogiri Ajene, former deputy governor of Benue State, and Professor Daniel Saror, in securing nominations for ministerial appointments. During the interview, he was offered the position of Attorney General, which he held until February 10, 2010, when he was removed in controversial circumstances by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
9. William Avenya (Net Worth $1.5 million)
Bishop William Amove Avenya (born June 21, 1955) of Benue State’s Konshisha Local Government Area is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gboko in Nigeria’s Ecclesiastical Province of Abuja. Since the diocese’s inception on December 29, 2012, Avenya has served as its first Bishop. He is also the Secretary of the Nigerian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (CBCN).
10. James Ayatse (Net Worth $1 million)
His Royal Majesty, Begha u Tiv, Orcivirigh Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv V (born 12 May 1956) is the Paramount Ruler of the Tiv Nation and President of the Tiv Area Traditional Council as well as Chairman of the Benue State Council of Chiefs. Before succeeding His Royal Highness, Orchivirigh Late Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, Tor Tiv IV, who ruled from 1991 until his death on November 22, 2015, he served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, respectively.
Other Wealthy People In Benue State
- Samuel Ioraer Ortom
- Terhemba Shija
- Dorathy Mato
- Ameh Ebute
- Ejembi Eko
- Emmanuel Kucha
- Riku Morgan
- Patrick Abba Moro
- Audu Innocent Ogbeh
- Solomon Kwambe
- Steven Lawani
- Victor Malu
- Dickson Akoh
- Barnabas Andyar Gemade
- Ene Franca Idoko
- Daniel Itodo
- I. Katsina-Alu
- Msugh Moses Kembe
- Peter Suswam
- Joseph Tarka
- Dickson Tarkighir
- Terhemen Tarzoor
- Anthony Ujah
- Godwin Zaki
- Cecilia Omaile Ojabo
- Gabriel Suswam
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