Femi Otedola Goes To School

Not many people knew that billionaire businessman Femi Otedola recently enrolled at the London Business School . The business bigwig has now completed an executive leadership programme, Leading Businesses for the Future, in the school.

Otedola announced the milestone via his official social media platforms, describing the experience as a powerful reminder that humility remains central to lifelong learning.

According to him, “no knowledge is wasted,” adding that he remains committed to becoming the best leader possible.

The completion of the executive programme marks another milestone for Otedola, who is widely known for building successful businesses across multiple sectors. He has previously stated that he achieved his early entrepreneurial success without obtaining a formal university degree.

The 63-year-old businessman, whom Forbes estimates to be worth more than $1.5 billion, explained in his 2025 memoir, Making It Big, that he did not complete a university degree.

In the book, he disclosed that he struggled academically and eventually left school during his Advanced Levels (Lower Sixth) to focus on business opportunities.

Otedola began his education at the University of Lagos Staff School in 1968 and completed his studies there in 1974 after repeating a class. 

Due to poor performance, his parents switched him to Methodist Boys' High School and then Olivet Baptist High School in Oyo State.

Femi Otedola had, in separate interviews, revealed that academia and he "were not compatible" and that he dropped out of high school because he struggled academically and kept failing exams. Instead of attending a university, he realized he was not as gifted in formal education as his siblings and chose to dive straight into business.

He eventually moved into the family business. He asked his father to let him handle practical work and was put in charge of the family's printing company. By rebranding it and working for a commission, he made enough money to set up his own businesses.

"I did not complete secondary school. My father wanted me to go to the university like my siblings, but I was not that smart in school,” he once stated.

He went on: “I kept failing exams and repeating classes, and at some point, I felt school was not for me. I realised I was not as smart as many of my siblings. I decided to drop out and asked my father to give me a business to handle.

“He put me in charge of his printing company. From there, I told him to make me the sales representative so I could earn 15% of every customer I brought in. My father’s printing company was very big, one of the best in Nigeria, with so many loyal clients. I decided to brand and market it so well that I attracted more customers and earned my 15% commission. With that money, I was able to set up my own company and create my own path to becoming a billionaire.”

Despite not earning a university degree, Otedola went on to build a business empire spanning the oil and gas, finance, and power sectors. He currently serves as Chancellor of Augustine University.

however, the burning desire to complete his education was always there and in spite of his age, social status and other factors that could have pulled him back, the business mogul went ahead to make that desire a reality.