Kehinde OLULEYE
Actors, artistes, On Air Personalities (OAPs) and athletes are some of the most diverse investors and side hustlers that you are likely to come across. Piracy, our poor economy and the general disposition of most people to be entertained for free are some of the reasons artistes look beyond the screen for extra income and athletes also look beyond the field.
From fashion labels, drink shops to night club businesses, quite a number of our beloved celebs and Nollywood A-listers are using their spare time away from the camera, film locations, sporting fields, television and radio studios to make the extra buck while also building successful careers in their first love.
One major advantage that these celebs have over other side hustlers and entrepreneurs is that, unlike their lesser-known contemporaries on the screen, in sports and politics, their visibility and popularity can always come handy as a useful marketing tool.
With strong social media presence, they come across as likeable, familiar and trustworthy; the masses feel like they know them better and are already friends with them. With a penchant for attention and widespread name recognition, celebrities have a unique advantage in business, where simply getting noticed is the first step towards a successful business venture.
Some of the best known celeb entrepreneurs and business persons include Dr Kola Oyewo , Sola Sofudo, Mikel Obi, Genevieve Nnaji, Wiz Kid, Yemi Alade, Burna boy, 2Face Idibia, DBanj, Chika Ike, , Yul Edochie, Agbani Darego, Rugged Man, AY Makun and others. We are sure that the number of celebs with side businesses is likely to become bigger and bigger as we go on.
Read also: Male Nollywood celebrities unmarried at 40 and above
Wiz Kid (Starboy Jersey)
Popular Nigerian artiste, Wizkid, launched his jersey line in collaboration with international sportswear brand, NIKE, in 2018 and Amsterdam-based menswear brand Daily Paper in 2019. His line includes a limited edition collection of special clothings and accessories.
Burna Boy (Space Puff cereal)
In 2018, Nigerian Afro singer, songwriter and rave of the moment, Burna Boy, successfully launched his limited edition Space Puff Cereal during his sold-out concert at the O2 Brixton Academy in London. The limit cereal has only 50 of its kind in the world.
Dr Kola Oyewo (lecturer)
Veteran Nigerian actor, dramatist and scholar, Dr. Kola Oyewo, in 1996, joined the services of Obafemi Awolowo University, where he rose to the rank of senior lecturer before retiring in September 2011. After his retirement from the Obafemi Awolowo University, he joined the services of Redeemer’s University, where he served as Head of the Department of Dramatic Art. He is currently working at Elizade University Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, as a performing arts lecturer.
Emmanuel Emenike (E-29 Records)
Sources say ex-Eagles striker,Emmanuel Emenike, is a very wise investor with hands in several economic pies. Emenike also owns E-29 Records and he has been deeply investing in real estate.
Genevieve Nnaji (St Genevieve clothing brand)
Gorgeous Nollywood actress, producer, and director, Genevieve Nnaji, has a clothing line, St Genevieve, a clothing line named after her very famous name. It was launched in 2014.
Yemi Alade (The Yemi Alade Collection-Jewellery line)
Beautiful from whatever angle you look at her, Yemi Alade, sexy, smart and highly talented Nigerian Afropop singer and songwriter is one of Nigeria’s best musical ‘ambassadors’. Yemi Alade, in partnership with an online jewellery retailer, Bland2Glam, launched jewellery collection in 2015.
2Face Idibia (Night clubs)
Innocent Idibia, fondly called 2Baba by fans, owns two very successful night clubs in Lagos and has his hands in other pies apart from producing music.
Ruggedman (20th September Wears)
Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, known professionally as Ruggedman, is a Nigerian rapper and UN peace ambassador. Ruggedman launched his clothing line, which produces sporty shirts and footwear in 2016.
AY ( MVP night club)
AY is one of the most enterprising and talked-about celebrity CEOs in Nigeria, from the A.Y show to A.Y’s Crib. In 2014, he diversified into an unusual line of business, something different from what he has always done, to set up the first non-smoking nightclub in Lagos, MVP in 2014.
Agbani Darego (AD by Agbani Darego)
Beautiful 31-year-old ex-beauty queen has moved on to greater heights after winning the Miss World Beauty pageant in 2001. She has been a model for several local and international fashion brands and in 2014, she launched her own denim range called AD by Agbani Darego, offering jeans, dresses, sunglasses and bags.
DBanj (Koko garri)
The Nigerian international music superstar is quite business savvy. Apart from founding DB Records, Dbanj also dabbled into reality shows and has investment in agriculture. He is said to own, among others, a garri processing plant.
Annie Idibia (Be Olive Hair collections)
The gorgeous Annie Idibia is not merely the better half of Nigeria’s R n B superstar, Tu Face Idibia. Annie, an actress, also runs Be Olive Hair collections where she sells human hair. She also runs a salon located in Atlanta, USA, BeOlive Hair Studio.
Yul Edochie (Politics & Film Academy)
Actor and politician is an efficient businessman, along with being a great actor and politician. He has a film academy which goes by the name Yul Edochie Academy.
Rita Dominic (BK Unique Hair)
In addition to films, the bold and beautiful Rita Dominic is a businesswoman. She owns BK Unique Hair, which was launched in 2016.
Mike Obi (Transport & record label business)
Apart from the transport company run by his father in Jos, Nigerian professional footballer,John Mikel Obi, who plays as a midfielder for Turkish club, Trabzonspor, also bankrolls the record label, MMM record.
Sola Fosudo (lecturer)
Veteran Nollywood prolific dramatist, scholar, critic, film actor and director, Sola Fosudo, is the head of the Department of Theatre Art, Lagos State University and the university’s Director of Information.
