Tunde Folawiyo

Tijani Babatunde Folawiyo (popularly known as Tunde Folawiyo) was born on April 12th, 1960 in Lagos, Nigeria to Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo. He is the managing director of Yinka Folawiyo Group, which has interests in energy, agriculture, shipping, real estate and engineering.

Tunde Folawiyo Age

Tunde Folawiyo is 64 years old.

Tunde Folawiyo Early Life

Folawiyo grew up in Lagos with his siblings; brothers- Bolaji Folawiyo, Bayo Folawiyo, Lanre Folawiyo and Yomi Folawiyo, and sisters - Motunde Folawiyo, Fatima Folawiyo, Omowale Folawiyo, and Toyosi Folawiyo-Johnson. He attended grade school in Lagos Nigeria and went on to receive his Bachelors of Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1980 and his Bachelors of Law from University College London in 1984. In 1985, he earned his Master’s in Law degree, also at the University College London.

Tunde Folawiyo Career

Upon return to Nigeria, Folawiyo began practicing law in 1985 at the Ogunsanya firm but resigned from the profession by 1989 and in the same year, founded Energy Limited, which would go on to build a storage facility in 2004 that can hold 30 percent of the country’s motor fuel. This accomplishment landed Folawiyo the position of vice president of the Nigeria Association of Indigenous Petroleum Explorers and Productions in 1996.

Folawiyo is an art collector and a patron of William Kentridge —a South African artist who is known for impressionist drawings, prints and animated films. Kentridge’s parents were lawyers who defended victims of apartheid. The artist’s work often reflects social injustice in South African history and it’s among it may be among most expensive and sought-after in South Africa.

He is a fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh World Fellowship program, a network of philanthropic individuals looking to support the development of young people. The fellowship meets at high-profile events around the world, including the World Fellowship Anniversary Dinner usually held at a London palace. An advocate for educational development, Folawiyo is a member of governing councils at Crescent University and Lagos State University in Nigeria. Folawiyo is also a member of the global advisory board of the African Leadership Academy, a pan-African institute dedicated to economic growth, political stability, and eradication of poverty and disease in Africa.

Folawiyo had the publisher and editor of Global Excellence Magazine arrested in 2013 for publishing a story on an alleged affair. Publisher Segun Ogunbunmi spent four days in prison, and was “…promised hell in court and many days in the dumps” if he didn’t send a letter of apology to Folawiyo. Kunle Rasheed, editor of Global Excellence Magazine, sued Folawiyo for “malicious damages.”

Tunde was previously a Non-executive Director of Access Bank Plc (formerly Access Bank Nigeria) from October 11th, 2005 to January 29th, 2014. He also serves as Director of MTN Nigeria Ltd.

Tunde Folawiyo Personal Life

Folawiyo is married to Renie and the marriage is blessed with children including Faridah. In 2013, rumors emerged that Folawiyo was having an affair with married former beauty queen Ifeoma Williams. Allegedly it was Folawiyo’s wife who suspected the affair and talked about it after finding messages on the billionaire’s phone. 

His father died in 2008, at which point he took over the business. He was, according to Highbeam.com, “…one of the icons of Nigerian industry and a pillar of Islam.”

Tunde Folawiyo Awards

• In 2010 Folawiyo was honored with the African Business Leadership Award
• He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in business administration from Crescent University in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. 

Tunde Folawiyo Net Worth

Tunde Folawiyo is estimated to have a net worth of about $650 million

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