Two Nigerians have been named among America’s richest immigrants in Forbes 2025 list. Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi and Tope Awotona were selected from a group of 125 billionaires who were born in 41 different countries. Their achievements show that hard work and smart decisions can lead to global success, no matter where you come from.

Adebayo Ogunlesi, who is worth $2.4 billion, is ranked 77th on the list. He made most of his money through private equity. He runs Global Infrastructure Partners, a company that invests in big projects like airports, energy, and infrastructure. At one point, he was also an advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump. Many Nigerians aren’t surprised by his success because he has always been known for playing at a high level.

Tope Awotona is worth $1.4 billion and sits at number 106 on the list. He created Calendly, a scheduling app that is used all over the world. What’s impressive is that he started the company as a side project. Coming from Lagos and making it big in Silicon Valley, Awotona’s story shows that success in tech is possible for anyone who has the right idea and works hard.

According to Forbes, most of the immigrants on the list didn’t inherit money. In fact, 93% of them built their wealth from scratch. They made their money in areas like tech, finance, pharmaceuticals, and even energy drinks. Their stories show that immigrants bring strong drive and fresh ideas to the U.S. economy.

Nigeria isn’t the only African country represented. Other billionaires from Africa on the list include Elon Musk and Patrick Soon-Shiong from South Africa, Rodney Sacks from South Africa, Haim Saban from Egypt, Marc Lasry from Morocco, and Bharat Desai from Kenya. These individuals show that Africans continue to shine around the world.

The top ten richest immigrants in America this year include names like Elon Musk, Sergey Brin, and Jensen Huang. They’ve made billions through technology, media, and other industries. Their success shows the huge impact immigrants are making in America’s economy.

Seeing Ogunlesi and Awotona on this list is a proud moment for Nigeria. Their achievements remind us that with focus, skill, and determination, Nigerians can compete and win anywhere in the world. Once again, Nigeria proves that it never comes last.