{{Short description|Nigerian business executive (born 1947)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Mohammed Indimi | honorific_suffix = OFR | image = Indimi.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Mohammed Indimi | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|08|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria | education = | occupation = Businessman, philanthropist | years_active = 1963-present }}
'''Mohammed Indimi''' OFR (born 12 August 1947) is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist. He is the founder and chairman of Oriental Energy Resources (OER),<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 December 2021 |title=Billionaire Indimi bags KASU's Doctorate Degree Causa in Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/12/billionaire-indimi-bags-kasus-doctorate-degree-causa-in-entrepreneurship/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=7 March 2022 |newspaper=Vanguard|language=en-US}}</ref> a privately held Nigerian oil exploration and production company.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Business in Emerging Africa: Indimi shares lessons at Harvard |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/business-emerging-africa-indimi-shares-lessons-harvard/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard|access-date=27 September 2020 |date=6 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mohammed Indimi |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mohammed-indimi/?list=africa-billionaires#2c28ecc23be8 |website=Forbes |access-date=27 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> As of October 2023, his net worth was estimated at US$500 million by Forbes.<ref name="Forbes profile">{{cite web |title=Forbes profile: Mohammed Indimi |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mohammed-indimi/ |access-date=6 October 2023 |website=Forbes}}</ref> His net worth plummeted due to crashing oil prices as well as the floating of the Naira.
==Early life and background== Indimi was born 12 August 1947, in Maiduguri the capital of Borno State, north-east Nigeria. His father, late Alhaji Mamman Kurundu was also a Hausa businessman who traded in hides and skins.<ref name="Dailytrust.com">{{Cite news |last1=Abubakar |first1=Uthman |title=Reminiscences with Muhammad Indimi |url=https://dailytrust.com/reminiscences-with-muhammad-indimi |newspaper=Daily Trust|access-date=28 September 2020 |language=en |date=8 September 2019}}</ref> Indimi attended traditional Qur’anic school as it is the general practice of Muslim communities in the Northern Nigeria. He could not attend formal school because his father could not afford to sponsor his formal western education but still managed to learn how to speak, read and write in English.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mohammed Indimi Says He Never Went To School |url=http://www.nigerianmonitor.com/mohammed-indimi-says-he-never-went-to-school-nigerian-monitor/ |website=Nigerian Monitor |access-date=27 September 2020 |date=23 October 2017}}{{dead link|date=February 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
==Career== At the age of 10, Indimi followed his father to local markets around Borno to trade animal hides and skins. In 1963, he became independent and started his own business after he collected 100 pounds loan from his friend Alhaji Umar Tela which he used as a start-up. Eventually, he decided to expand into selling clothes which were imported from Chad and Cameroon.<ref name="Dailytrust.com" />
In 1990, Indimi got oil prospecting license granted by the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida regime. He established an oil and gas firm named Oriental Energy Resources (OER). Indimi served as chairman and board member of several companies including Jaiz Bank.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Anaeto |first1=Emeka |title=Dr Indimi: Businessman with tenacity and perseverance |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/dr-indimi-businessman-tenacity-perseverance/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard|access-date=28 September 2020 |date=14 April 2018}}</ref>
==Philanthropy== Indimi established Muhammad Indimi Foundation (MIF), which focuses on vulnerable families through the poverty alleviation, fight against hunger, illiteracy and health challenges.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rebuilding North-east Nigeria: Along came a Foundation {{!}} Premium Times Nigeria |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/promoted/241411-rebuilding-north-east-nigeria-along-came-foundation.html |website=Premium Times News |access-date=27 September 2020 |date=24 August 2017}}</ref> He has sponsored native of Borno state to study at the International University of Africa (IUA) on scholarship in Sudan.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Lagos |first1=Mohammed Shosanya |title=Indimi Foundation gives scholarships to Borno students |url=https://dailytrust.com/indimi-foundation-gives-scholarships-to-borno-students |newspaper=Daily Trust|access-date=27 September 2020 |language=en |date=15 September 2016}}</ref> Through the MIF, Indimi has empowered and supported people affected by the Boko Haram crisis in the North East. He built a 100-unit N600 million housing estate, provided food, clothing, schools and clinics for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Muhammadu Indimi Foundation builds N600m housing estate for IDPs |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/10/muhammadu-indimi-foundation-builds-n600m-housing-estate-idps/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard|access-date=28 September 2020 |date=13 October 2017}}</ref> Muhammad Indimi foundation, has built a 100 unit N700 million modern residential estate in Enwang, Mbo LGA Akwa Ibom.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Udoma |first1=Dennis |last2=Onuegbu |first2=Chioma |title=Oriental Energy builds N700m housing estate for host communities in A-Ibom |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/08/oriental-energy-builds-n700m-housing-estate-host-communities-ibom/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard|access-date=28 September 2020 |date=3 August 2017}}</ref> He awarded over 470 scholarships in Akwa Ibom State and created a sponsorship program for University of Uyo's Department of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering. Indimi donated a multi-million-dollar International Business Centre to Lynn University in the United States, which was named after him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lynn dedicates Mohammed Indimi International Business Center |url=https://www.lynn.edu/news/2014/lynn-dedicates-mohammed-indimi-international-business-center |website=Lynn University |date=16 October 2014 |access-date=28 September 2020}}</ref>
==Recognition== * Indimi was awarded with Nigerian National Honours, Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR) in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |title=2012 National Honours Award List |url=https://dailytrust.com/2012-national-honours-award-list |newspaper=Daily Trust|access-date=27 September 2020 |language=en |date=10 September 2012}}</ref> * He received an honorary doctorate from Lynn University, Florida in 2013 * He received an honorary doctorate from University of Uyo in 2017<ref>{{Cite news |title=University of Uyo Honours Oil Magnate, Indimi |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/11/15/university-of-uyo-honours-oil-magnate-indimi/ |newspaper=This Day|access-date=27 September 2020 |date=14 November 2017}}</ref> * He won the Vanguard (Nigeria) Businessman of the Year in 2017 <ref>{{Cite news |last1=Anaeto |first1=Emeka |title=Dr Indimi: Businessman with knack for social investments |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/01/dr-indimi-businessman-knack-social-investments/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard|access-date=27 September 2020 |date=1 January 2018}}</ref> * He received an honorary doctorate from Nigeria Defense Academy in 2018<ref>{{Cite news |title=NDA hails Indimi for contributions to nation's economy |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/10/nda-hails-indimi-for-contributions-to-nations-economy/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard|access-date=27 September 2020 |date=4 October 2018}}</ref>
==Personal life== Indimi is married to Fatima Mustapha Haruna. He has 20 children including Jibrila, Yakolo, Ibrahim, Ahmed, Ameena, Mustapha, Rukaiya, Hauwa, Amina, Zara, Mairama, Amouna, Meram, Habibi, Tijjani, Aya, Abdulrahman, Abdullah, Fatima and Adama.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Daniel |first1=Dorcas |title=Things you don't know about Zahra Buhari's billionaire husband-to-be, Ahmed Ndimi |url=https://dailytrust.com/things-you-dont-know-about-zahra-buharis-billionaire-husband-to-be-ahmed-ndimi |newspaper=Daily Trust|access-date=27 September 2020 |language=en |date=23 November 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Indimi, Mohammed}} Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Kanuri people Category:People from Maiduguri Category:People from Borno State Category:Nigerian Muslims Category:Nigerian businesspeople in the oil industry Category:Nigerian billionaires Category:Nigerian company founders Category:Founders of charities Category:20th-century Nigerian businesspeople Category:21st-century Nigerian businesspeople Category:Nigerian philanthropists