Omoyele Sowore is a 53-year-old Nigerian human rights activist, pro-democracy campaigner, blogger, and writer with an estimated net worth of $10 Million. He is best known as the founder of the news site Sahara Reporters.
Sowore was also a Presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 Nigeria Presidential elections under the African Action Congress (AAC), and he was the Initiator of a protest tagged “RevolutionNow.” Over the years, his continuous agitation for a better Nigeria and utter hatred for looters of Nigeria’s wealth have seen him arrested, detained, and sometimes brutalized. Despite the controversies surrounding him, he is still one of the wealthiest people in Nigeria.
Summary of Omoyele Sowore’s Bio
- Full name: Omoyele Sowore
- Nickname: Yele
- Gender: Male
- Date of birth: 16 February 1971
- Omoyele Sowere’s Age: 53 years old in 2024
- Ethnicity: Yoruba
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Marital Status: Married
- Omoyele Sowere’s Husband (Wife): Opeyemi Oluwole Sowore
- Omoyele Sowere’s Parents: Mr Sowore and Madam Esther Kehinde Sowore
- Siblings: Felix Olajide Sowore
- Omoyele Sowere’s Net worth: $10 million
- Famous for: Sahara Reporters
- Omoyele Sowere’s Instagram: @yelesho
- Twitter: @yelesowore
Omoyele Sowore’s State of Origin
Omoyele Sowore hails from Ese-Odo, Ondo State, in South West Nigeria. He was born in the Niger Delta region, although the exact state of the region where he was born is unknown. Raised in a polygamous home, Sowore was one of the sixteen children born to his father. His mother, Madam Esther Kehinde Sowore, is one of the many wives of his father, Mr Sowore.
There are no details of Sowore’s siblings, however, we know of his younger brother Felix Olajide Sowore, who was reportedly assassinated by herdsmen in Edo State. The incident allegedly happened in the Okada area of Ovia North-East Local Government of Edo State, in September 2021. Felix was a student of Pharmacy at Igbinedion University before the unfortunate incident.
How Old Is Omoyele Sowore
Omoyele Sowore is 53 years old in 2024. He was born on 16 February 1971 to his Yoruba parents, and his zodiac sign is Aquarius. When Sowore was 12 years old, he learned how to ride a motorcycle so that he could go to the lake every morning before going to school and fish for food for his entire family.
Sowore’s Educational Background
Omoyele Sowore began his formal education at an early age, first at a fundamental elementary school, then at Kiribo Community High School in Ondo State, and then at Okitipupa Ofedepe Comprehensive High School in Ondo State, where he finally bagged his WAEC certificate.
Between 1989 and 1995, Sowore was a student at the University of Lagos, where he studied Geography and Planning. While he was still an undergraduate, he participated in student protests in 1989 over the conditional loan of $120 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an oil pipeline in Nigeria.
The IMF’s condition for accessing these loans demands a reduction of Nigeria’s 28 universities to 5. Sowore also led a 5,100-student demonstration against the Nigerian government, which led to the death of several students and his arrest in 1992. On June 12, 1993, he partook in the democratic administration to replace military rule.
As a result of his activism, Sowore was expelled twice before earning his degree. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Colombia University. He teaches Modern African History at the City University of New York and Post Colonial African History at the School of Art, New York.
How Omoyele Sowore’s Net Worth Accrued
Sowore’s net worth is estimated at $10 million. He accrued his net worth from various sources as he advanced in his political and business career. His fast-growing net worth makes him one of the wealthiest people in Nigeria and a testament to his success as a politician and entrepreneur. This is evidenced by Forbes’ inclusion of Sowore in its 2019 edition of ‘Africa’s 50 Richest People’.
He accepted a position as a lecturer in Post-Colonial African History at the School of Art, New York, as well as Modern African History at the City University of New York, driven by his desire to make a big difference in people’s lives.
He Is the Founder and CEO of Sahara Reporters
In 2006, Sowore founded Sahara Reporters, a website dedicated to providing independent news coverage of Nigeria and the African continent. The news agency is based in New York City and is focused on promoting citizen journalism by encouraging everyday people to report stories about corruption, human rights abuses and other political misconduct in Nigeria and Africa.
The website has become a popular source of information and has earned Sowore a significant income with well over 3 million page views per month. Sahara Reporters is funded by the Ford Foundation and Omidyar Foundation, which donated $175,000 and $450,000 respectively.
His Writing and Speaking Fees
Sowore has written several books and articles on Nigerian politics and social justice. Most of his writings have been published in several publications and have earned him significant money over the years. One of his latest books, Beyond the Broken Chains, which was published on February 16, 2021, cost around $52.00 on Amazon.
He has also received speaking fees for his appearances at conferences and events. This Nigerian pro-democracy campaigner has also been a vocal advocate for the rights of the Nigerian people and has served as a spokesperson for various non-profit organizations. He has also been a vocal critic of the government and has been involved in several high-profile court cases against the government.
In addition to his work in media and the books he’s written, Sowore has also earned money through his investments and business ventures, including a media consultancy business, a technology start-up, and a venture capital firm.
He is also the co-founder of the Nigeria-based investment firm Sahara Group, which has investments in energy, real estate, and other sectors. He has also served as a consultant for a number of investment firms and has invested in various companies in Nigeria. Through his various sources of income, Sowore has been able to amass a sizable net worth over the years.
His Political Career
Sowore’s advocacy for democracy and human rights has earned him international recognition and has made him a powerful figure in Nigerian politics. His political career has been characterized by his commitment to justice and willingness to stand up to the government and its policies.
In 2018, Sowore joined the presidential race in the Nigerian general election. He ran on a platform of reform and was seen as a viable alternative to the incumbent government. His candidacy was ultimately unsuccessful, but his campaign earned him a level of respect and admiration from across the country.
Controversies Involving Sowore Over the Years
Omoyele Sowore’s life and career have not been free of controversies. Even before his emergence in the political scene, his activities as a human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner continued to get him into trouble with political bigwigs. Below are some of the many controversies involving Sowore
- During his tenure as SUG President in Unilag, he drew resentment from members of other cults who thought he was a member of a cult, and they apparently injected him with the poison “Lead.” In 1999, he required air transportation to America for necessary medical care, but he lived.
- In the wake of the 2014 general election, Sowore was charged with accepting payments from President Buhari during the 2014 election to make fun of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
- On August 3rd, 2019, he was detained by the DSS after leading a nationwide protest called #RevolutionNow. His arrest attracted criticisms from co-campaigners like Wole Soyinka and Oby Ezekwesili. Subsequently, he was accused of “conspiracy to commit treason and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari.”
- After many tussles with the Nigerian government, he officially regained his freedom on December 24, 2019, with the Federal High Court ordering the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja to pay him 2 million Naira by December 8, 2021.
Facts about OmoYele Sowore’s Wife and Children
Sowore is happily married to his wife, Opeyemi Oluwole Sowore, and their marriage is blessed with children, including a son and a daughter. Sowore’s wife is a 51-year-old Nigerian-American and the Vice President and head of Consumer Engagement at Teladoc Health. She holds a BA from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1995 and an MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester in 1997.
Sowore’s wife became popular only after staging a protest at the UN plaza in support of her husband’s release in 2019. Although there are no details of how Sowore met his spouse and for how long they’ve been married, We know for sure that the couple is living happily with their children.