Femi Otedola and Four other Nigerian Successful Men You Didn’t Know Were Nepo Babies
Femi Otedola is set to release his new book, Making It Big, but Nigerian netizens are not having it. The billionaire businessman and father of famous faces – DJ Cuppy, and Temi Otedola, made waves online after announcing his upcoming memoir about how he built his fortune. But instead of sparking admiration, it has triggered reactions, especially on X when popular X user, Salako, started the ‘Nepo baby’ conversation.
Just like that, a new Nigerian trend took off and what’s the gist? There’s nothing wrong with success, but ‘lapo babies’ say they’d prefer it if you didn’t skip the part where your dad was the former governor of Lagos State – like in Femi Otedola’s case.
From there, names have started popping up. However, this isn’t just about Femi Otedola. It’s about a system where some are born with keys to locked doors, and others are just trying to find the hallway. Scroll up to see this interesting list of Nigerian with popular success stories, but you probably didn’t know they are Nepo babies.
Wole Soyinka
We all know Wole Soyinka as a literary icon, Nigeria’s first (and only) Nobel Prize winner in Literature, and one of the greatest African playwrights of all time.
But many don’t realize he didn’t exactly start from the bottom. His mother, Grace Eniola Soyinka, was a prominent member of the Ransome-Kuti family, the same lineage that birthed Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
DJ Xclusive
Rotimi Alakija, better known as DJ Xclusive, has had a glittering music career, spinning at major events, collaborating with top Nigerian artists, and even being named the official DJ of the 2013 Big Brother Africa.
What you might not know is that DJ Xclusive is the nephew of Folorunso Alakija. Yes, that Alakija we all know, the oil magnate and one of the richest Black women in the world. He’s got talent, no doubt. But when your aunt is a billionaire philanthropist, you’re not exactly hustling from your cousin’s parlor in Bariga.
Akin Alabi
Many know Akin Alabi as the founder of NairaBET and a serving member of the House of Representatives. His journey is often painted as a classic business success story: a young man builds a betting empire, enters politics, and gives back.
But beneath the hustle narrative is a family history rooted in royalty and affluence. Alabi is the son of Chief Adediran Alabi, a traditional ruler in Ibadan. Akin is smart and savvy, but his head start didn’t come from chance. He was born close to the corridors of power, and that opened doors long before NairaBET ever existed.
Mr. Eazi
Mr. Eazi, born Oluwatosin Ajibade, has crafted an image of the laid-back, borderless Afrobeats star with a genius for business and investments. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find that Mr. Eazi comes from a comfortable, upper-middle-class home.
His father was a pilot for a multinational company, and his mother owned a successful business. He studied engineering in Ghana, launched a startup while still in school, and even got investment backing for his music platform emPawa Africa.
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