DR. RICHY
DR. RICHY
Accountant · Entrepreneur · Humanitarian — A leader dedicated to transforming Africa through entrepreneurship and compassion.
Amb. Dr. Richy E. Onolememen was born on March 21, 1974, in Uromi, Edo State. An Accountant, Entrepreneur, and Humanitarian who is deeply committed to uplifting the less privileged in our society. He was born into the esteemed family of the late Mr. Augustine Ezewele and Mrs. Comfort Onolememen. His father was a well-respected public official and community leader who worked as a teacher and later as a Forestry Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture. Upon retirement, he transitioned into entrepreneurship. His dedication and discipline left a lasting impression on all.
His brief but enriching experience at Liberty Bank marked an important phase in his professional journey. During his time with the bank, he was exposed to the structured and disciplined world of commercial banking, where he worked closely with both customers and internal teams to deliver quality financial services.
His 5-Year Experience as Accountant at Defence Health Maintenance Ltd. gave him the privilege of serving as the Pioneer Accountant at Defence Health Maintenance Ltd (DHML) for a period of five years, a role that significantly deepened his expertise in financial management within the healthcare and public sector framework.
Exploring the milestones that define Dr. Richy's path
Nigerian-born, Dr. Richy began his career as a young accountant in a small firm. His exceptional skills and dedication quickly set him apart, leading to opportunities that would shape his future. He spent his early career in banking, rising from the position of an analyst to become a respected leader in the financial sector.
His brief but enriching experience at Liberty Bank marked an important phase in his professional journey. During his time with the bank, he was exposed to the structured and disciplined world of commercial banking, where he worked closely with both customers and internal teams to deliver quality financial services.
Growing up in Nigeria, learning the values of hard work and integrity
Chartered Accountant with a passion for financial excellence
Primary School Attended: St. Anthony Primary School, Uromi – 1980-1984
First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC): 1984
Secondary Schools Attended: Esan Grammar School, Uromi – 1985-1991
General Certificate of Education (O/Level): 2004
Higher Educational Institutions Attended:
More than just technical skills, his time at Liberty Bank helped him understand the value of customer trust, service excellence, and regulatory compliance in building a sustainable financial system. It also instilled in him a strong work ethic, as he operated within time-bound processes and performance targets.
After earning his professional accounting certification, Dr. Richy applied to join Liberty Bank. He gained valuable experience in key banking operations, including customer account management, cash transactions, loan processing, and daily reconciliation. The role demanded a high level of accuracy, confidentiality, and responsiveness—qualities that helped shape his attention to detail and professionalism.
His brief but enriching experience at Liberty Bank marked an important phase in his professional journey. During his time with the bank, he was exposed to the structured and disciplined world of commercial banking, where he worked closely with both customers and internal teams to deliver quality financial services.
At DHML, which plays a strategic role in the Nigerian health sector, particularly in the administration of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for military personnel and their families, he was entrusted with managing sensitive financial data and supporting the efficient deployment of healthcare funding. His role demanded a high level of integrity, accuracy, and confidentiality.
This five-year experience not only sharpened his core accounting skills but also shaped his leadership capacity, policy understanding, and strategic thinking—attributes that continue to guide him in his broader career pursuits today.
Dr. Richy has been chairman of many ventures. His entrepreneurial journey began with a vision to create sustainable impact across Africa. His business venture focused on Real estate development, facility management, architectural design, and interior decor. Recognizing the immense potential in Africa's Hospitality and Tourism sector, he established Hotel Guidotti, Genesis Hotel, Whitehart Hotel and REO Apartment. This success was followed by strategic investments also in investment advisory and consultancy.
His business philosophy is rooted in creating long-term value and empowering local communities. Today, his ventures employ thousands of people across multiple African countries and continue to drive economic growth.
In 2010, Dr. Richy established the Richy Empowerment Foundation as an extension of his unwavering belief in the youth as catalysts for Africa's transformation. The Foundation has become a hallmark for Africa's sustainable development and a leading champion of youth entrepreneurship on the continent.
Through its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme, the Foundation has trained over 2.5 million young Africans on its digital platform, disbursed over $100 million in direct funding to more than 24,000 African entrepreneurs, and created over 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs.
The Foundation also focuses on providing quality education to underserved communities, building schools, supporting scholarships, improving healthcare access through medical outreach programs, and empowering vulnerable members of society through skills training and economic support.
Dr. Richy's businesses and Foundation are inspired by his economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly, entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.
He galvanizes support for the Foundation's mandate by addressing world leaders at public and private convenings, as well as serving on sector and issue-specific global, regional, and local councils and committees.
Through this philosophy, Dr. Richy champions the idea that Africa's private sector must drive economic growth while creating social wealth simultaneously. His commitment to Africapitalism continues to inspire a new generation of African entrepreneurs and business leaders.
