The Business World of Ghanaian Billionaire, Henry Djaba Jnr

His name may not be a familiar one in Nigerian social circles, since he is not keenly pursuing a reputation as a socialite, but Ghanaian billionaire businessman, Henry Djaba Jnr has been quietly and discreetly operating big in the Nigeria business sector and several African countries for decades.

His family, the Djaba family is famous in Ghana, counting among the richest families in the country. Henry was born into wealth, as his late father, Mr. Henry Djaba Snr was a renowned Ghanaian industrialist and heavily into property investment. He was one of Ghana’s richest men as far back as the 1960s, owning several high-value properties in the UK, Germany and the USA.

It wasn’t a surprise that his son, Djaba followed his father’s footsteps in business, and soon expanded his business portfolio to include oil and gas, besides his involvement in construction.

Just like in his home country, Djaba has been a familiar face in the highest Nigerian business circles with friends among the movers and shakers across the country, one of whom is Prince Adetokunbo Sijuwade, the son of the late Ooni of Ife.

Djaba’s involvement in the business sector in Nigeria saw him registering a business in the country with Sijuwade serving as its Chairman. He is the founder, owner and current CEO of Lakeland International Commodities Nigeria Ltd, a special purpose vehicle company for Lakeland Oil and Gas International Trading and Supply Company Limited.

With over two decades of experience in the oil and gas business, Djaba has represented the largest independent oil trading companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) such as FAL Oil in Sharjah and collaborated with the state-owned Oil Company of Fujairah, Link Energy.

His company is the local partner of CRCC International, whose parent company is one of the largest integrated construction groups both in China and in the world with a turnover of over USD110 billion. The company was ranked 59th among the Fortune Global 500 with a presence in more than 79 countries all over the world, covering engineering procurement and construction, energy and resources, investment and financing, logistics, trade etc.

This silent but well-exposed businessman equally boasts extensive experience in corporate finance, engineering procurement and contracts (EPC), as well as international banking.

Indeed, Djaba was well-groomed for the business world. His father provided him with an exceptional education and exposure to the world of business, preparing him for success in this field. He sent Djaba to one of the world’s top and most expensive schools, Millfield, located in the United Kingdom. The school has produced an impressive list of alumni, including the King of Thailand, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Crown Prince of Yugoslavia, and the Sultan of Hadhramaut, among many others. Notably, many families of Sheiks, Emirs, Sultans, rulers, and heads of states in the Middle East and Africa have attended Millfield.