Hi,

Happy weekend,

There's a chance that when you were in primary or secondary school, you supported or denied or at least, watched others support or deny, in school debate, the notion that great men are made not born.

Well, philosophers, historians, psychologists have also had to support or deny the notion as well.

Let's first set the precedents.

If you read our piece on the groundnut pyramids, you most likely met their inventor and one of the wealthiest men of the time, Alhassan Dantata (1877–1955). Just today, his son, Aminu Alhassan Dantata, a billionaire and another of the wealthiest men of our time, passed on. Aminu was into construction, petroleum, banking and philanthropy, and was Aliko's grand-uncle. Aliko Dangote is the great-grandson of Alhassan Dantata and grandson of Sanusi or Aminu's brother. He's too well known and we shall skip the meet-and-greet.

In view of this great legacy of the Dantata family, we ask the question again in a way that hits home this time: Are great men born, or are they made?

From the Medici banking dynasty of Renaissance Florence to the Rothschild financial empire that spanned continents, history is filled with families whose names became synonymous with wealth, power and influence.

Yet for every Elon Musk, Steve Jobs or Rockefeller who built an empire from modest beginnings, there's a Walton or an Ambani whose legacy was carefully cultivated across generations.

Already, these examples support basic intuition, and sophisticated psychological research that suggest that both sides of the argument are true. Both nature and nurture play crucial roles in shaping extraordinary individuals. What is still a puzzle is the interplay between these two forces.

Consider the merchant families of Northern Nigeria, where centuries-old trading traditions created a unique ecosystem of commerce, relationships, and accumulated wisdom. Their significance in the development of succeeding generations is that these dynasties didn't pass down only wealth; they transmitted something far more valuable: a deep understanding of markets, an intuitive grasp of human psychology and the patience to think in decades rather than quarters.

Naturally, when children grow up witnessing complex negotiations over evening meals and learning the subtleties of trust and reputation before they can properly spell either word, are they being born into greatness or methodically crafted for it?

Modern psychological research offers fascinating insights into this dynamic. Think of it this way: imagine a child who, by age ten, has already observed hundreds of business negotiations, has heard discussions about market cycles during family dinners, and has watched their father calculate risks that could make or break entire communities. This child inherits money, as well as a sophisticated mental framework for understanding commerce.

There have been studies on ‘inherited entrepreneurship’ that reveal that successful business families often share common traits that go far beyond mere wealth transfer. There's the early exposure to calculated risk-taking, where children learn that fortune favours not just the bold, but the strategically bold. There's also the understanding of long-term wealth building, where patience becomes a virtue practiced across generations rather than a concept taught in textbooks.

And perhaps most critically, there's access to capital, connections and business networks that would take outsiders decades to cultivate.

But here's where the research becomes particularly intriguing: the same family privilege that creates these advantages can just as easily become a liability. Studies consistently show that family fortunes dissipate within three generations. The saying shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations encapsulates the reality. The first generation builds great wealth, the second maintains it and the third destroys it.

The question is why?

The answer is rather simple. Unearned privilege without purpose breeds complacency. When everything is handed to you for free, the hunger that built the empire in the first place can fade into comfortable entitlement. And into that entitlement goes the hard work of others.

Anyway, this brings us to another question:

What happens when two lions are born in the same den?

This brings us to one of the most fascinating case studies in modern African business: two sons of distinguished merchant families from the same northern Nigerian city, born just three years apart, who have spent over three decades locked in what many consider the continent's most explosive corporate rivalry.

We invite you to read the story of the most explosive corporate rivalry in Nigeria's history.

We hope you enjoy!

The SimplVest Team

Dangote Vs BUA: Inside Nigeria’s Most Explosive Corporate Feud

Few feuds have captured public attention quite like the Dangote Vs BUA feud. What began as healthy business competition has evolved into what many observers describe as a destructive corporate war that has dominated headlines, courtrooms and boardrooms across Nigeria for over three decades.

👉 Full Story here: Dangote Vs BUA: Inside Nigeria’s Most Explosive Corporate Feud

The SimplVest Team

ICYMI: What Happened to Nigeria’s Groundnut Pyramids?

The groundnut pyramids were once symbols of northern Nigeria’s wealth and economic power. Originally invented as a way to store groundnuts ahead of transportation for shipment, they became landmarks that defined a city and an era.

When foreign dignitaries visited, they were driven to see them. When the first naira notes, stamps and postcards were printed, the pyramids made it there ahead of other landmarks. But when the oil boom of the 70s came, they gradually disappeared to never be seen again.

Today, they exist only on faded photographs and in the memories of an older generation that saw the last glimpses of them. Here’s the story of what happened to them.

👉 Full Story here: What Happened to Nigeria’s Groundnut Pyramids?

Till Wednesday,

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