Across the world’s major financial and innovation hubs, a quiet but profound shift is underway. From New York to London, Lagos to Los Angeles, Nigerian-born entrepreneurs in the diaspora are building multimillion-dollar companies that rival global competitors and, in doing so, rebranding the country’s image abroad.
These founders are part of a growing network of business leaders who have leveraged international exposure, education, and capital to build enterprises spanning fintech, fashion, infrastructure, and consumer goods. Their ventures are not only contributing to foreign economies but also projecting Nigeria’s soft power and technical acumen on the global stage.
For decades, migration narratives have often centered on remittances and brain drain. Today, that story has evolved. What was once seen as lost potential has become one of Nigeria’s greatest exports, intellectual and entrepreneurial capital. These innovators have turned ambition into industry, marrying Western systems with African ingenuity to create scalable, competitive businesses.
Their rise shows a deeper truth about Nigeria’s economic evolution: while structural challenges persist at home, the country’s global diaspora continues to expand its influence, proving that the Nigerian enterprise spirit knows no borders.
In this regard, Nairametrics spotlights some 10 Nigerians in the diaspora who have successfully built multimillion-dollar businesses.
Oluseun Taiwo is a Nigerian-American engineer-entrepreneur and co-founder of Solideon (formerly Additive Space Technologies), a space-and-aerospace manufacturing startup based in Berkeley, California.
Solideon aims to decentralize rocket manufacturing using robotics, 3D printing (Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing), and autonomous microfactories that can build large aerospace structures much faster than traditional methods.
- Before founding Solideon in 2022, Taiwo worked at prominent aerospace and manufacturing firms like Virgin Orbit, 3D Systems, and Rocket Lab. He holds a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Northern Illinois University.
- As of late 2024, Solideon has raised around $5.1 million in funding in pre-seed / seed rounds. The company has also been recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30 in the Manufacturing & Industry category for 2024.
