Peter OgbemudiaIf you have lived in Nigeria for any length of time, you already know the name Baba Ijebu even if you have never placed a single bet in your life. It is everywhere. On walls, on billboards, in everyday conversation. But behind that nickname is a 90 year old man who built one of Nigeria’s most enduring business empires from absolutely nothing. Let us talk about Kessington Adebutu biography properly, because this is not just a betting company story. This is a Nigerian wealth-building masterclass.
Who Is Kessington Adebutu?
Sir Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu, popularly known as Baba Ijebu, is a Nigerian businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the founder and chairman of Premier Lotto Limited, the lottery and gaming company that effectively created Nigeria’s modern betting culture. He also holds the traditional titles of Odole-Oodua and Balogun of Remoland, titles that reflect decades of community respect, not just business success.
Kessington Adebutu biography is really the story of patience. This is a man who has been building wealth and influence since the 1960s, decades before most Nigerians reading about him today were even born.
Age and Early Life
Kessington Adebutu was born on October 24, 1935, in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria, in what is described as a humble family background. He hails from the family of Alhaji Karimu Folarin and Alhaja Seliat Olasimbi. As of 2026, he is 90 years old, and remarkably, he is still actively involved in his businesses and philanthropic work.
Education
He received his elementary education at Wesley Primary School in Iperu Remo before moving on to Ijero Baptist School in Ebute-Metta, Lagos. His formal education was relatively modest by today’s standards, which makes his eventual business success even more remarkable. He built his empire through hard work, persistence, and sharp business instincts rather than elite academic credentials.
Career and Path to Business
Before becoming Nigeria’s lottery king, Kessington Adebutu’s career path went through several stages that shaped his business mind. He worked at NITEL, Nigeria’s former state telecommunications company, before moving into sales at Classic Chemical Limited, the company known for producing Andrews Liver Salts and Cafenol. He rose all the way to Sales Manager there, and that experience exposed him to business management, customer relations, and marketing strategy, skills that would later become the backbone of his lottery empire.
In 1963, he established his own company, Kessington Industries Nigeria Limited. Then in 1971, he registered the Face-to-Face Pools Betting company alongside Chief Adebayo Ayoku, becoming the first person to formally start a lotto business in Nigeria. That is a significant historical fact in Kessington Adebutu biography. He was not just successful at betting, he literally pioneered the entire industry in the country.
Premier Lotto and The Baba Ijebu Empire
In 2001, Kessington founded Premier Lotto, the company that would become a household name across Nigeria under the nickname Baba Ijebu. Today it remains one of Nigeria’s largest and most recognized gaming companies, with a presence across the country and a reputation that has outlasted countless competitors who entered the betting space after him.
But Kessington Adebutu biography does not stop at betting. He has diversified significantly over the decades into construction, real estate, and banking. One of the most striking recent developments is his stake in Wema Bank Plc, held through a special purpose vehicle called Neemtree Limited, which he incorporated in 2013. As of April 2026, his Wema Bank shareholding alone was valued at approximately 314.6 billion naira, or roughly 224.74 million dollars, making it one of the most valuable individual shareholdings in any single Nigerian bank on the exchange.
Think about that. A man who started as a sales manager at a chemical company now holds a banking stake worth hundreds of billions of naira, on top of an entire lottery empire. That is not luck. That is five decades of consistent, deliberate wealth building.
Family Life
Kessington Adebutu has been a devoted family man throughout his life. He is a polygamist, a structure not uncommon among men of his generation and cultural background in Nigeria. One of his wives, Dame Caroline Oladunni Adebutu, passed away in January 2023. Another prominent wife is Chief Mrs. Kofoworola Adebutu Kessington, whom he married in 2005.
He has fathered many children, and notably, many of them now hold director level positions within his companies or have built successful careers of their own in business and politics. His son Segun Adebutu, for example, is the founder, Chairman, and CEO of Petrolex Oil and Gas, a major integrated energy conglomerate, and also serves on the board of Premier Lotto. That kind of multigenerational business continuity is rare and speaks to how intentionally Kessington Adebutu has built not just a company, but a family business legacy.
Net Worth
There is no single officially confirmed figure for Kessington Adebutu’s total net worth, but available estimates place him firmly among Nigeria’s wealthiest individuals. One estimate placed his net worth at around 700 million dollars as of 2019, while more recent assessments suggest his total wealth, accounting for his Premier Lotto holdings, real estate, construction interests, and his Wema Bank stake alone worth over 224 million dollars, likely places him well above the 1 billion dollar mark when all assets are combined.
His business empire is frequently described in Nigerian financial media as being worth billions of naira, and given the scale of his Wema Bank position revealed in 2026 alone, that description feels conservative rather than exaggerated.
Philanthropy and Legacy
Kessington Adebutu biography would be incomplete without talking about his philanthropy, because this is genuinely one of the most defining parts of who he is. Through the Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation, known as KAAF, he focuses heavily on education, healthcare, and humanitarian causes across Nigeria. His foundation reportedly spends an average of 150 million naira monthly on humanitarian activities.
He has donated libraries, e-libraries, science laboratories, and entire buildings to institutions including Crescent University, Baptist Academy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, and the University of Lagos. In October 2015, Olabisi Onabanjo University honored him with an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration for his contributions to Nigeria’s economy. He has also earned traditional titles like Babalaje of Lagos and Asoju Oba of Lagos in recognition of his generosity.
At 90 years old, Sir Kessington Adebutu shows no signs of slowing down. Successive Nigerian governments continue to seek his counsel and support, a clear sign of how much influence and respect he commands beyond his business empire. His legacy is not just Premier Lotto or his banking holdings. It is the libraries built, the scholarships funded, and the decades of consistent giving that have touched lives across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Kessington Adebutu?
He was born on October 24, 1935, making him 90 years old as of 2026.
What company is Kessington Adebutu known for?
He is the founder and chairman of Premier Lotto Limited, popularly known as Baba Ijebu, Nigeria’s pioneering lottery and gaming company.
Is Kessington Adebutu married?
Yes. He is a polygamist. His wives have included Dame Caroline Oladunni Adebutu, who passed away in January 2023, and Chief Mrs. Kofoworola Adebutu Kessington, whom he married in 2005.
How many children does Kessington Adebutu have?
He has many children, several of whom hold director level positions in his companies, including his son Segun Adebutu, founder and CEO of Petrolex Oil and Gas.
What other businesses does Kessington Adebutu own besides Premier Lotto?
He has major holdings in construction, real estate, and banking, including a significant stake in Wema Bank Plc worth over 314 billion naira as of April 2026.
What is Kessington Adebutu’s net worth?
No single officially verified figure exists, but estimates place him among Nigeria’s wealthiest individuals, with his business empire described as being worth billions of naira.
What philanthropic work is Kessington Adebutu known for?
Through the Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation, he funds education, healthcare, and humanitarian causes across Nigeria, including donating libraries and laboratories to several universities
Peter Ogbemudia
