In a candid revelation from his newly released memoir Making It Big, Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola shared the story of his academic struggles and the moment he chose business over school. Otedola, now 62, recounted how he consistently performed poorly throughout his early education, starting from the University of Lagos Staff School and later at Methodist Boys’ High School and Olivet Baptist High School. Despite his parents’ efforts to improve his academic performance by switching schools, he found himself increasingly disconnected from formal education.
He wrote, “There was something about academia and me; we were not compatible. All I wanted to do was get involved in business.” That turning point came when his father established a printing company, Impact Press, in Surulere, Lagos. Fascinated by the machinery and operations, Otedola abandoned his A-Level studies and joined the business full-time. By age 25, he had risen to become the managing director of the company.
His passion for entrepreneurship quickly outpaced any academic ambition. He later convinced his father to let him work as a sales consultant, earning commissions and building his own network. That early exposure laid the foundation for a business empire that would span oil, energy, finance, and philanthropy. Otedola’s story challenges conventional narratives about education and success, showing how instinct, discipline, and opportunity can shape a remarkable journey.
