Africa as a continent has got a host of billionaires who get little to no appraisals for their achievements. Some of these people acquired their wealth by been smart, dedicated, identifying opportunities, taking advantage of them at the right time, and leveraging on their networking talents to grow their businesses.
An example of such a billionaire is Cletus Ibeto, estimated to be worth about $3.7 billion dollars by Ventures Africa, as at 2013. His story teaches that no matter how your financial situation seems at any point in life, seeing and taking opportunities when others don’t, smart-hard work, perseverance, and the right network can change your status for good.
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Here’s how Ibeto started out:
How Did Cletus Ibeto Start His Childhood Years? 
Cletus Mmadubugwu Ibeto was born in Nnewi, Anambra state, Nigeria, on November 6th, 1952. Growing up as a child, he was enrolled in a secondary school to acquire a good education.
On January 22, 1966, at age 13, the highly spirited Ibeto got his school box and provisions all packed and set for school. Unknown to him, the academic phase of his life was about to crash, as his father decided that since he had multiple sons, he’d be better off sending some of them to school and sending one off to be a trader, so as not to put all his eggs in one basket.
Cletus was the unfortunate one who got booted from school, and was sent off to learn a trade. While his two elder brothers, Cyril and Louis continued their education.
This exclusion got Cletus angry and triggered a mild protest in him; by not eating for days, crying, begging, and climbing trees as though he planned to end his life.
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His Apprentice Years 
His father sent him off to a John Akamelu in Onitsha. He got to his master’s place in his school uniform. This prompted people to make funny jokes of him and eventually tag him with the name, “schoolboy”. The people in the market enjoyed their mockery because they believed people who go to school were weaklings seeking refuge, and could not compete in the world of trade.
Ibeto’s master decided to ensure he never thought of school again, and didn’t fail to use the rod when appropriate. Till this day, a mark of his masters whip remains on his arms, and he views it as a trophy, because the discipline he received brought out the best in him.
His time as an apprentice with his master was filled with a thorough study of the trade and an inculcation of sheer brilliance in him, which made him a formidable competitor in the market.
At the age of 17, his apprenticeship was shortened by the civil war. Since he was forced to join the army, his life was only saved because, he was sent on an errand by his superiors to go and get food. This little trip was the beginning of his path to greatness.
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Another Trial
After the war, Cletus Ibeto decided to pursue his dreams of becoming a successful trader once again. To raise capital for his business, one of his elder brothers, Louis, gave him a leather handbag and a round neck suit, which Ibeto sold along with a packet of APC tablets he picked up at an evacuated hospital.
With the little he raised from the sales of these items, Ibeto was able to start and gradually grow his business in smart baby steps.
The Rise Of Cletus Ibeto 
The government of Sehu Shagari triggered the big break for Cletus Ibeto. At the time, a policy in the country enabled the importation of goods without an import licence. This period helped Ibeto amass a great deal of fortune, which he subsequently put back into his business to grow it sporadically till the import licences were then reintroduced.
With the new development and his short quick success, he was able to secure an import licence worth 3 million Naira, at a time when when the value of a dollar was equal to 68 kobo.
With this scarce licence, he proceeded to import 65 containers of motor spare parts. His promptness to secure a licence greatly favoured him yet again because, shortly after he had secured his, the country made it almost impossible for anyone to secure an import licence, and to make matters worse for budding entrepreneurs, the government changed hands and the borders closed, temporarily shutting down all forms of importation.
His already available containers give him an upper hand, as he traded when others could not, and so enjoyed a great monopoly the system had unconsciously provided him.
This unexpected situation gave Cletus Ibeto an exceptional edge. In his interview with the Sun Newspaper, he said this: “That was the turning point for me.” he said. “Come and see the line-up of people who wanted the spare parts. I was packing money with cartons. There was no armed robbery then, no kid- napping. It was a seller’s market. And the mark-up was almost 500%, but people were buying! In fact, within two days of the arrival of the containers, I made four million pounds!!”
Today, Cletus Ibeto is not just a billionaire, but a patron to many other billionaires. According to Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Motors, he said: “If you run into financial problems and go to him for help, he would help you out. Ask any of the big business persons from Nnewi and they would tell you the same thing. He has helped me too.”
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The Growth Of His Empire
By the year 1995, the Ibeto group built a manufacturing factory and became the largest indigenous manufacturer of auto spare parts in Nigeria. The following year in October 2, 1996, he setup another manufacturing company called Ibeto Petrochemical Industries Limited; which manufactures oil lubricants and other various petroleum products both for local and international trade. The company has the largest liquid storage facility for petroleum products in Nigeria, with a large capacity to store over 60,000 metric tons, and is located at the Apapa Warf and the Ibru Jetty Complex in Lagos, Nigeria.
Today, Cletus Ibeto is one of the wealthiest people in Nigeria with a net worth in an excess of 3 billion dollars according to Ventures Africa (2013) and a vast conglomerate heavily placed in various sectors of the economy, such as cement, automotive parts, petrochemicals, hospitality, real estate, banking & finance, and oil & gas.
To Sum It Up
Cletus Ibeto’s success story just like many others, depicts the story of a man who sets himself on a journey to greatness and knows exactly how and when to take advantage of an opportunity.
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What are your thoughts on this success story of Cletus Ibeto? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
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Ibeto’s success story is a proof that anything is possible when recognising good opportunities become a priority.
You’re right indeed Gabriel.
Thank you for the contribution.
A great and inspirational story. It reminds me of the parable of the ten virgins, always have extra oil for your lamp. He saved his gains when importation was free. I am sure others were taking more wives and chieftaincy titles at that time. When it was time to acquire a license, he could afford it. And he did it quickly. Before others could raise the required funds, it was too late.
Thank you for the contribution Chinedu.
Like one the most reputable clergy man in the world -Oyedepo- will always say “Life is an adventure in Opportunities”. I’ve come to terms with this truth, and only those in their prepared state are alert enough to seize them. Working on my perspective to see things differently from others.
How come they never include his family( first wife and three children and the second wife) what’s he hiding