A renowned radio personality and social commentator, Hon. Obi-West Utchaychukwuo, has sparked conversation on social media with his bold statement debunking the myth surrounding wealthy individuals from Southeast Nigeria. According to Utchaychukwuo, the wealth of Igbo businessmen is not rooted in ritual practices but in hard work, smart networking, and deep business acumen.
In a recent statement shared online, Utchaychukwuo noted that the southeastern region of Nigeria, predominantly occupied by the Igbo ethnic group, is home to the highest number of self-made billionaires in the country. “These are not people who looted public funds,” he emphasized, “but entrepreneurs who have built legitimate empires.”
He pointed to events such as the high-profile burial ceremony of Obi Cubana’s mother, which drew nationwide attention due to the extravagant displays of wealth. While some questioned the sources of the funds, Utchaychukwuo clarified that many of those in attendance were top importers, exporters, and sole distributors of major international products across Africa.
“There is hardly any Igbo family today without at least one millionaire. This isn’t by accident. It’s due to a strong entrepreneurial culture passed down through generations,” he said.
He also challenged common stereotypes, urging the public to stop associating Igbo businessmen with rituals, fraud, or money laundering. “You need to emancipate yourself from the misconception,” he said, listing notable Igbo entrepreneurs such as E-Money, Obi Cubana, Jowi Zaza, Valentine Ozigbo, and business entities like Air Peace as examples of legitimate wealth creation.
Utchaychukwuo went on to reveal that one of the contributors to the over N250 million raised during the burial is the sole distributor of a pharmaceutical drug in Nigeria that records millions in annual sales. “He earns N1,000 from each unit sold at N3,500. With sales running into millions yearly, that’s a legitimate billionaire,” he said.
The media figure further urged young Nigerians to shift focus from salaried jobs to entrepreneurship, noting that Nigeria remains an untapped goldmine for business-minded individuals. He cited the example of Hotels.ng founder, Mark Essien, who returned to Nigeria from Germany and built one of the country’s largest hotel booking platforms. The company attracted a $1.2 million investment from eBay founder Pierre Omidyar in 2015.
“Poverty is vanity,” he concluded, “because living a life without meaning or purpose is in itself, vain. Nigeria has opportunities for those ready to act.”
The statement, now trending with hashtags such as #madamCEO, #DivineFM, and #highchiefadaigbo, has ignited fresh discourse about wealth creation, regional stereotypes, and youth empowerment in Nigeria.
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