If you have lived in Nigeria for a long time, you already know the name Baba Ijebu even if you have never placed a single bet in your life. It is everywhere. In conversation, on walls, on billboards. But there is a 90-year-old man behind this nickname who created one of the most lasting business empires in Nigeria from nothing. Now, let’s properly discuss Kessington Adebutu’s biography, as this is more than a betting company’s story. This is a masterclass on wealth creation in Nigeria.
Who Is Kessington Adebutu?
Sir Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu, popularly known as Baba Ijebu, is a Nigerian businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is also the founder and Chairman of the Nigeria’s modern betting culture, the lottery and gaming company (Premier Lotto Limited). He is also the traditional Odole-Oodua and Balogun of Remoland, a testament to the community’s respect for him over the years, rather than his business achievements.
Kessington Adebutu biography is truly the tale of patience. He is a man who has been acquiring a fortune and influence since the 1960s, long before most Nigerians who read of him today were born.
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Age and Early Life
Kessington Adebutu was born on 24th October, 1935 into “a modest background” in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria. He is a descendant of Alhaji Karimu Folarin and Alhaja Seliat Olasimbi of the family. He is now 90 years old (2026) and remarkably is still active in his businesses and philanthropic activities.
Education
He attended Wesley Primary School in Iperu Remo followed by Ijero Baptist School, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. By today’s standards, his formal schooling was modest at best, making his later business success even more astounding. He is a self-made entrepreneur and a very hard worker, who worked, was persistent and had a good business sense, but he did not have top level academic qualifications.
Career and Path to Business
The career of Kessington Adebutu before he became the lottery king of Nigeria has been divided into several phases, each of which has helped to mould his business brain. He served with the former state telecommunications company, NITEL, and later in sales with Classic Chemical Limited, manufacturers of Andrews Liver Salts and Cafenol. He eventually made his way all the way to Sales Manager there, and throughout the experience he gained insights into business management, customer relations and marketing strategy, all of which would prove vital to his lottery empire.
Adebutu formed his own business, Kessington Industries Nigeria Limited in 1963. In 1971 he then registered the Face-to-Face Pools Betting company along with Chief Adebayo Ayoku, which was the first lotto company to be formally established in Nigeria. This is a very important historical detail in Kessington Adebutu’s biography. He not only understands how to bet well but he is the originator of the country’s entire betting industry.
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Baba Ijebu Empire
Kessington launched Premier Lotto in 2001, which eventually became a popular brand known to all Nigerians as Baba Ijebu. Today, it is one of Nigeria’s biggest and most popular gaming firms, operating in the country and having survived numerous rivals that have joined the betting game since him.
That’s not all in Kessington Adebutu biography. Over the years, he has branched out with an impressive array of activities such as construction, real estate and banking. One of the notable recent developments is his interest in Wema Bank Plc through a special purpose vehicle called Neemtree Limited, which he incorporated in 2013. His shareholding in Wema Bank alone was estimated to be valued at the tune of N314.6 billion, about N224.74 million dollars, as of April 2026, and counted as one of the highest single bank shares on the Nigerian exchange by the bank.
Think about that. A man who began his career as a salesman at a chemical firm now owns a banking position valued at hundreds of billions of naira, in addition to an entire lottery scheme. That is not luck. That’s 50 years of purposeful and consistent wealth building.
Family Life
Kessington Adebutu has been a loyal family man all his life. He is a polygamist which is common among the males of his generation and culture in Nigeria. Dame Caroline Oladunni Adebutu (one of his wives) died in January 2023. He is also married to Chief Mrs. Kofoworola Adebutu Kessington, another prominent wife.
He has fathered numerous children, and many have gone on to occupy director level roles within one of his companies or have had successful business and political careers of their own. His son Segun Adebutu is the founder, Chairman and CEO of one of the big integrated energy conglomerates, Petrolex Oil and Gas and is also on the board of Premier Lotto. That is a level of business continuity that is hard to come by, and reflects how much Kessington Adebutu has invested in a family business legacy.
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Net Worth
The exact amount of money Kessington Adebutu has in his possession has not been officially authenticated but his net worth has been estimated to be one of the highest amongst the citizens of Nigeria. As of 2019, one estimate placed his net worth at approximately 700 million dollars, however, his net worth may now exceed 1 billion dollars as it is estimated that his holdings in Wema Bank (over 224 million dollars), construction interests, properties, and his own holdings of the Premier Lotto assets puts his net worth beyond the 1 billion dollar mark.
His business empire, which has been valued at billions of naira by the financial media in Nigeria, is not far from being accurate when you take into account the magnitude of his role in the Wema Bank, which was revealed in 2026.
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Philanthropy and Legacy
The story of Kessington Adebutu would be incomplete if he was not mentioned in his capacity for philanthropy; indeed, this is one of his defining traits. He is also very active in the fields of education, healthcare and humanitarianism in Nigeria through the Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF). It is reported that his foundation has an average monthly outlay of 150 million naira in humanitarian activities.
He has donated libraries, e-libraries, science laboratories and whole buildings to Crescent University, Baptist Academy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, and the University of Lagos, amongst others. Olabisi Onabanjo University awarded him the honorary Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) degree for his contributions to the economy of Nigeria in October 2015. In addition, he holds traditional honors such as Babalaje of Lagos and Asoju Oba of Lagos for his generosity.
Sir Kessington Adebutu, 90, is no longer in his prime. His influence and respect extend beyond his business ventures, he is sought after and trusted by successive Nigerian governments for his advice and assistance. His legacy isn’t just Premier Lotto or his bank accounts. It’s the decades of regular giving, the scholarships awarded and the libraries constructed that have made a difference in people’s lives nationwide.
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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 founding chairman of Premier Lotto Limited (popularly known as Baba Ijebu) the leading lottery and gaming company in Nigeria.
Does Adebutu Kessington have a wife?
Yes. He is a polygamist. He has been married to two wives; the first one, Dame Caroline Oladunni Adebutu, died in January 2023 and the second wife is Chief Mrs. Kofoworola Adebutu Kessington, who he was married to in 2005.
How many children does Kessington Adebutu have?
He has numerous children, several of whom work at the director level in his companies such as his son Segun Adebutu, the founder and CEO of Petrolex Oil and Gas.
What other businesses does Kessington Adebutu have apart from Premier Lotto?
He is a major stakeholder in Wema Bank Plc with over 314 billion naira worth of shares, among others, and also owns significant blocks in construction and real estate holdings, as well as in banking.
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