Meet Adebayo Ogunlesi: The Nigerian Billionaire Who Owns 3 Major Airports in the UK!
From humble beginnings in Sagamu, Ogun State, to owning not one—but three major UK airports, Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi has rewritten Nigerian success on a global stage. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
🎓 Stellar Education & Career Launch
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Born December 20, 1953, son of Nigeria’s first professor of medicine, Ogunlesi studied at King’s College, Lagos, before earning a first-class PPE degree from Oxford.
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At Harvard Law and Business Schools, he distinguished himself by serving on the Harvard Law Review, then clerking for Justice Thurgood Marshall at the US Supreme Court
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His early legal and banking career paved the way for top roles at Credit Suisse First Boston, eventually launching Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) in 2006 .
🛫 Airport Acquisitions That Made History
Under Ogunlesi’s guidance, GIP acquired:
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London City Airport (2006)
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London Gatwick Airport (2009) for £1.455 billion
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Edinburgh Airport (2012)
This trio of UK airports earns him the nickname “the man who bought Gatwick” and cements his legacy as the first Nigerian to own multiple international airports .
🌍 Beyond Airports: A Global Powerhouse
Beyond aviation, GIP under Ogunlesi has diversified into energy, rail, and other major infrastructure projects — even expanding into Italy’s high-speed rail network . His estimated net worth today stands at around US$2.4 billion .
🎵 From Business Mogul to Cultural Icon
Even Burna Boy gives Ogunlesi props in his hit “Wonderful”:
“As I dey hustle like Adebayo Ogunlesi…”
A fitting shout-out—his story of rising through global hustle mirrors the success celebrated in modern Afrobeats.
✨ Why His Story Inspires
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Trailblazer: First-Succeeding Nigerian to own multiple UK airports
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Visionary Leader: Transformed struggling airports into thriving hubs
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Global Connector: Bridges African talent with world-stage infrastructure
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Cultural Symbol: A living example of “African kings in foreign castles,” immortalized in popular music