Who are the top 10 richest men in Tiv land? Tiv communities in Benue State, Nigeria, have produced wealthy individuals in politics, business, farming, oil-related work, and public service.
In 2026, there is continued interest in the richest people from Tiv land, especially their earnings, assets, and sources of income.
Talks about wealth in the region often mention business people, politicians, and well-known families. Comparisons of influence and money across ethnic groups in Nigeria also appear in these discussions.
In this topic, I’ll include lists of the richest Tiv men, updated rankings, and leading businessmen from Tiv land.
Top 10 Richest Men in Tiv Land
Terry Waya Net Worth: $865 Million – $2.5 Billion
Terry Waya is one of the richest men in Tiv land from Benue State. His early life and education are not well documented.
His wealth is linked mainly to real estate, including early development interests in Banana Island in Lagos and reported investments in London, Dubai, and parts of Europe. He also has farming interests and private business deals.
His estimated net worth is between 865 million and 2.5 billion dollars.
He is associated with a luxury lifestyle, including high-end properties, expensive cars, and private aviation.
He gained wider public attention after his son, Kiddwaya, appeared on Big Brother Naija.
Terry Waya has faced legal scrutiny in the UK in earlier years over financial matters.
Gabriel Suswam
- Estimated net worth: $5 million – $800 million
- Source: Politics, oil & gas, real estate
- Former Governor of Benue State
- Also served as Senator
Gabriel Suswam is from Benue State and grew up in a Tiv community where politics strongly influences social status. He studied law and worked briefly before entering politics through the PDP in the 1990s and early 2000s, building party connections in Benue State.
By 2003, he became a Member of the House of Representatives and later served as Senator for Benue North-East from 2003 to 2007, earning income mainly from official salaries and allowances, with no private business holdings.
In 2007, he became Governor of Benue State and served until 2015, overseeing state administration, infrastructure, education, and agriculture programmes.
His net worth is generally linked to political earnings and property ownership. He is associated with property in Abuja and Benue, and he is married with children who stay outside public politics.
George Akume
- Estimated net worth: $5 million – $700 million
- Source: Politics, agriculture, property
- Former Governor, long-time Senator, federal minister
George Akume was born in Tiv land, Benue State, and studied Sociology in Nigeria before starting his career in the civil service. He entered frontline politics in 1999 when he became Governor of Benue State, serving until 2007. He then moved to the Senate, representing Benue North-West from 2007 to 2019. Afterward, he served as Minister of Special Duties and later rose to Secretary to the Government of the Federation, becoming one of Nigeria’s most powerful political administrators.
His net worth is estimated from around $5 million upward, mainly built through decades in public office, real estate holdings in Abuja and Benue, and likely agricultural interests tied to his home region. Unlike more visibly affluent figures such as Terry Waya, his lifestyle is private and low-profile.
He is married with a discreet family life. Compared with figures like Michael Aondoakaa, he is generally viewed as more strategic than controversial, with lasting political relevance rather than public spectacle.
Samuel Ortom
- Estimated net worth: $4.5 million – $1.3 billion
- Source: Business, farming, politics
- Former Governor of Benue State
Samuel Ortom was born in Benue State, Nigeria. He grew up in a Tiv community and attended local schools.
He started in trading and transport before moving into farming, which he still does.
Ortom worked in government, serving in the House of Representatives. He was Minister of State for Trade and Investments from 2011 to 2014. In 2015, he became Governor of Benue State and stayed in office until 2023.
His earnings come from public service pay and farming. There is no verified record of large private business holdings.
He became known for farming policies and security issues, including the anti-open grazing law.
He owns property in Abuja and Benue, lives modestly, and is married with children. Ortom remains involved in Benue politics.
Barnabas Gemade
- Estimated net worth: $3.5 million – $450 million+
- Source: Politics, agriculture, investments
- Former PDP National Chairman
Barnabas Andyar Gemade is a Nigerian politician from Benue State.
He started in education and administrative roles before moving into politics.
Gemade entered national party politics during the Peoples Democratic Party era. He became National Chairman of the PDP, overseeing party leadership and election organisation.
He later served as Senator for Benue North-East, taking part in national legislative work.
His income is linked to long political service, farming interests, and private investments, with no record of a large corporate empire.
He owns property in Abuja and Benue State. His family life is kept private. He is also linked to constituency-based charitable work.
His influence is mainly in politics and governance rather than business.
Atser Kyausu
- Estimated net worth: $3 million – $200 million
- Source: Oil & gas, hospitality
- CEO of Kyabiz company
Athanasius Atser Kyausu is a businessman from Vandeikya in Benue State and is linked to Kyabiz Group. There is no clear record of his formal education.
He started out in contracting before moving into oil and gas, hospitality, logistics, and real estate. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Kyabiz Group, associated with Kyabiz Hotel in Makurdi and Kyabiz Nigeria Limited, which handle procurement and supply contracts.
Reports place his estimated net worth between $3 million and $200 million, but no audited financial statements confirm this.
He does not hold political office. His business activities are connected to contracting networks in Benue State.
Details about his family are not much. His father was mentioned in connection with kidnapping-related incidents.
Innocent Idibia
- Estimated net worth: $20 million
- Core businesses: Music, endorsements, investments
- One of the most commercially successful Tiv entertainers globally
- Wealth driven by brand deals and entertainment
Innocent Ujah Idibia (2Baba) was born in Jos, Plateau State, and is from the Idoma community in Benue State.
He attended school in Makurdi and Enugu before moving to Lagos, where he performed in clubs and campus shows.
He rose to fame in the early 2000s with Plantashun Boiz. After the group ended, he went solo and released albums, toured widely, and earned from streaming.
His estimated net worth is about $10–15 million, with income from royalties, brand endorsements, live concerts, Hypertek Digital, and event projects.
He used to be married to Annie Macaulay-Idibia and has children from different relationships.
He has joined peace campaigns, voter awareness drives, and youth programmes across Nigeria.
Michael Aondoakaa
- Estimated net worth: $1.5 million
- Source: Law, politics
- Former Attorney-General of Nigeria
Michael Aondoakaa is a Nigerian lawyer from Benue State. He built his career in legal practice before entering government.
He trained in law, worked privately, and later became Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice from 2007 to 2010 under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. In that role, he handled federal legal matters, constitutional interpretation, and executive legal advice.
His net worth is estimated at about $1.5 million. His income is linked to legal work, consultancy, and advisory roles after leaving office. No major business ownership.
He keeps his personal life private, with little public information on family or assets. No registered foundations or major philanthropic projects are publicly tied to him.
He is known for his role in government legal affairs and for debates around some of his decisions while in office.
Terhemba Shija
- Estimated net worth: $1.2 million
- Source: Academia, administration
Terhemba Shija was born on 23 November 1960 in Gboko, Benue State, in a Tiv community. He studied English literature and became a lecturer, later a professor at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, where he taught and carried out research in literary studies.
He also worked in public service. In the early 1990s, he served in the House of Representatives. Later, he became Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Benue State. He also ran for governor but was not elected.
His work centred on academia, writing, consulting, and government service rather than private business activity.
His influence is strongest in Benue politics and academic circles tied to Tiv affairs.
He is married with two children.
Paul Enenche
- Estimated net worth: $10–12 million
- Core businesses: Publishing, media, education, large-scale organisation management
- Though primarily known as a religious leader, he has significant business structures and assets
Paul Enenche was born in Benue State and trained as a medical doctor before leaving hospital work for Christian ministry.
He founded Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja, which expanded into a large church with the Glory Dome, media operations, training units, and the Dunamis School of Ministry.
His wealth and income are linked to church activities such as offerings, books, conferences, and media work, not private companies or outside investments.
He is married to Becky Enenche, who works alongside him in the ministry. His role is mainly religious, with public commentary on moral issues, but he has no political office. The church also runs outreach and scholarship programmes.
He is recognised as a leading Pentecostal pastor in Nigeria, with influence built through ministry growth rather than business or government positions.