Mohammed Indimi
Mohammed Indimi | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 12, 1947 Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founder and chairman of Oriental Energy Resources |
Mohammed Indimi OFR (born 12 August 1947) is a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder and current chairman of Oriental Energy Resources (OER), a privately owned Nigerian company specializing in oil exploration and production. As of October 2023, Forbes estimated his net worth at approximately US$500 million, highlighting reductions linked to declining oil prices and the weakening of the Naira.
Early life and background
Born on 12 August 1947 in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State in northeastern Nigeria, Indimi is the son of the late Alhaji Mamman Kurundu, a Hausa businessman involved in the trade of hides and skins. Although financial difficulties prevented him from receiving formal Western education, Indimi attended a traditional Qur’anic school where he acquired literacy skills in English, including reading, writing, and speaking.
Career
Indimi commenced his entrepreneurial journey at age 10 by trading animal hides and skins within Borno markets. In 1963, he established his own enterprise with an initial loan of £100 from Alhaji Umar Tela, subsequently broadening his business activities to include importing and retailing clothing sourced from Chad and Cameroon.
In 1990, during Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida’s administration, Indimi obtained an oil prospecting license which led to the creation of Oriental Energy Resources (OER). He has held leadership roles such as chairman and board member across various organizations, including Jaiz Bank.
Philanthropy
The Muhammad Indimi Foundation (MIF), founded by Indimi, focuses on assisting disadvantaged families through efforts aimed at poverty reduction, hunger alleviation, education support, and healthcare services. The foundation provides scholarships specifically for natives of Borno State to study at the International University of Africa in Sudan.
MIF has supported victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeast Nigeria by developing a housing estate comprising 100 units valued at N600 million for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno State. The foundation also supplies essential resources such as food, clothing, educational facilities, and medical clinics. Furthermore, MIF constructed another residential estate with 100 units worth N700 million located in Enwang, Akwa Ibom State.
Indimi has facilitated over 470 scholarships within Akwa Ibom and sponsors a program for the Department of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering at the University of Uyo. Additionally, he contributed a multi-million-dollar International Business Centre to Lynn University in the United States, which carries his name.
Recognition
- In 2012, Indimi was honored with Nigeria’s Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) national award.
- He has received honorary doctorate degrees from Lynn University, Florida (2013), University of Uyo (2017), and Nigeria Defence Academy (2018).
- In 2017, he was recognized as Vanguard Businessman of the Year.
Personal life
Indimi is married to Fatima Mustapha Haruna and is father to 20 children, among whom are prominent business personalities like Ahmed Indimi.