How I Turned $35 into $3.2 Billion: Meet The Entrepreneur Who Built His Empire From Scratch

The power of vision cannot be overemphasized. Vision is the foundation of every successful individual and this is realized with determination, diligence, and hard work.

One of the successful businessmen that climbed the ladder to the top, building from the scratch is Senator Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.

The Man

He is a Nigerian businessman born 21st of April 1960 into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Eunice Kalu. He attended Christ the King School, Aba, and proceeded to Government College, Umuahia.

He later studied at Barewa College, Zaria, and Political science at the University of Maiduguri where he became a student activist. He engaged in the “Alli Must Go” riot which led to his suspension from the school.

At the age of 26, he became the youngest Nigerian to receive the National Merit Award from President Ibrahim Babangida in the year 1986. He received so many awards including the EU Special Award in Brussels and the World Bank Leon Sullivan Award.

His quest for knowledge made him badge a degree from Abia State University, Business Administration from Harvard University, and Honorary Doctorates from the University of Maiduguri and Abia State respectively.

The Entrepreneur

Returning home, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s borrowed $35 from his mother and started trading with it. He bought oil from the east in Nigeria and resold it to the Northern regions. Gradually, his income increased and he ventured into buying and selling large-scale furniture.

He was dedicated to his business and established SLOK Holding consisting of successful companies which include the Ojialex Furniture Company, SLOK Nigeria Limited, SLOK United Kingdom Limited, SLOK Vegetable Oil Aba, SLOK Paper Factory, Aba, SLOK United States Incorporated, SLOK Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Botswana, SLOK Korea, Supreme Oil Limited, SLOK Airlines, Sun Publishing Limited, News Telegraph Newspaper, and First International Bank Limited.

He officially stopped using commercial airlines between 1985-1986 since he had money to board Private Jets. Senator Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu bought his house in Aso Villa in the year 1996 when general Sani Abacha the president of Nigeria and built his mansion in his country home Igbere in 1998 which has 37 Rooms which he named after the 37 states as a symbol of unity in Nigeria.

His Impact

Senator Kalu later got involved in Nigerian politics in 1999 to use his influence and business experience to contribute to the development of his state, Abia. Nevertheless, Senator Kalu sponsored former president Olusegun Obasanjo with the sum of 1 million dollars for his campaign and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with the sum of 5 million for the campaign and primaries. This financial support prompted his support to pilot the affair of Avians, the Executive Governor of the state of which he was the youngest among others.

Using his business strategy, he gave students in his state Palm fronts to plant in their houses provided free education at all levels, built hospitals, roads, and stadiums, and paid salaries to civil servants in Abia state. As a governor then, he was responsive, accessible, and close to the people. He formed the Enyimba Football club of aba and led them to carry the cap champions league back to back. Most of the roads tarred by Senator Kalu include talent road, market road, Ehi road, Ngwa road, Clifford road, Eche road, Ogbor hill, Bende road, Ahia Uhuru, Ariaria Market Etc.

He had his share of down moments where he was wrongly accused of 7 million fraud, tried and convicted for 6 months sometime in 2020. He was vindicated and released in the court of competent jurisdiction in Abuja.

He’d have returned the $35 borrowed and given more to his mother. He is married to one wife with beautiful children.

His journey to success was intentionally fuelled by hard work and determination. As a Nigerian youth, never give up on your dream. Have a vision and build on it without cutting corners. That vision will someday become a big empire.

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