Hajia Bola Shagaya is a businesswoman who is regarded as one of the richest women in Africa. She is the founder and CEO of Bolmus Group International.
Hajia Bola Shagaya started her career just like many other entrepreneurs today in Nigeria who started with nothing and later went on to build an empire.
Hajia Bola Shagaya was born on October 10, 1959, in Ilorin, Kwara State. Her mother was a Sudanese seamstress named Adut Makur, while her father, Emenike Mobo, was a Nigerian public servant.
She spent most of her childhood in Ilorin, where she had her secondary school education at Queens School.
Aside from being a successful businesswoman, Hajia Bola Shagaya is a graduate of economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and accounting from Armstrong College in California.
How Did Hajia Bola Shagaya Make Her Money?
Hajia Sagaya is known as a businesswoman who has ventured into lots of sectors like Oil, real estate, banking, communications, etc. But how did she start her career, and how did she make her money?
Hajia Bola Shagaya started her career in the banking industry, working with the audit department of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). She decided to go into commercial activities in 1983 with the importation and distribution of photographic materials.
This led to her starting success in the business world, as she was the first to introduce the Konica brand of photographic materials into the Nigerian market and West Africa. Her newfound success in the photography industry led to the birth of the company known as Fotofair (Nigeria) Limited.
After a successful start with photography, Hajia Shagaya ventured into the oil and gas industry. Her involvement in the industry led to her becoming the managing director of Practoil Limited. A company with a reputation as one of the largest importers and distributors of base oil in Nigeria.
Hajia Bola Shagaya also founded Voyage Oil and Gas Limited in 2011 but started operations officially in 2012 as a crude oil trading and export company.
Hajia Bola Shagaya is also involved in real estate, with investments scattered all over Nigerian cities.
Who is the Husband of Bola Shagaya?
Hajia Bola Shagaya’s husband is named Alhaji Shagaya. Alhaji Shagaya is a Kwara State-based transport mogul. Hajia Shagaya is one of the few female entrepreneurs who are known by their husband’s surname.
The couple has six children: Sherif Shagaya, Hakeem Shagaya, Deeja Shagaya, Naieema Shagaya, Amaya Roberts Shagaya, and Adeena Roberts Shagaya. Her children are also involved in some businesses across the world.
Her son, Sherif Shagaya, is the co-founder and managing director of Phoenix Energy Nigeria Limited, the founder of Kashton Concepts Nigeria Limited; the founder and managing director of Kashton Homes Limited; and part of the management team of Practoil Limited.
Bottom Line
Hajia Bola Shagaya is one of the most influential figures in Nigeria and Africa at large. She was among Forbes’ Ten Millionaires to Watch in Africa in 2012. That same year, she won the National Productivity Order of Merit Award.
Hajia Bola Shagaya is a role model for up-and-coming entrepreneurs in Africa.
