Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Olufemi Peter Otedola has revealed he never completed high school, let alone earned a university degree – a truth he unveils in his newly released memoir, Making It Big.
Otedola (62) is the Chairman of FirstHoldco PLC, one of Nigeria’s top financial groups, Otedola recounts his struggles with academics stating he was “consistently at the bottom” of class rankings from primary school through secondary school”.
“There was something about academia and me, we were not compatible”, Otedola writes.
After dropping out during A Levels, he joined his father’s printing business -Impact Press – rising to Managing Director by 25, and later launching his own ventures, including the new defunct Forte Oil, Geregu Power PLC, and range of investments in oil, shipping and finance.
Otedola’s story, often assumed to be tied to university background, instead, he credits his success to practical experience, relentless drive, and lessons learned outside the classroom.
“All I wanted was to get involvement in business”, he states.
“That decision, once a source of my mother’s tears, built the foundation of my life”
Otedola said his story was meant to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs, emphasizing that resilience, vision, and determination are greater drivers of success than academic setbacks.
“I want young people to know that failure is not final -It can be the beginning of greatness”, he said.
-9News Nigeria.
