Billionaire Femi Otedola has revealed in his memoir Making It Big that he never completed high school and did not attend university a surprising truth given his vast business success.
He began education at the University of Lagos Staff School in 1968, where he struggled academically and repeated a class, consistently placing low in exams. After finishing primary school in 1974, he joined Methodist Boys’ High School in Lagos, but his academic performance did not improve.
In 1977, he was transferred to Olivet Baptist High School in Oyo. Otedola grew captivated by his father’s printing business and continued to work toward A-levels. However, after Lower Sixth, he decided to leave school permanently to pursue business interests.
Despite his mother’s tears, he dove into the family printing business, eventually becoming managing director of Impact Press at age 25. Leveraging that early experience, he launched Centre Force Ltd in 1994 and went on to build a business empire spanning oil and gas, shipping, real estate, finance, and later, power generation through Geregu Power Plc.
In Making It Big, Otedola reflects that real-world experience not classrooms shaped his path to success. His story underscores that formal education isn’t the only route to achievement his instincts, drive, and industry learnings were equally critical.
