From Politics To Bet9ja: The Kunle Soname Story
From Politics to Bet9ja: The Kunle Soname Story
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The story of how a local government chairman from Ogun State became the founder of Nigeria's largest sports betting brand is one of the most remarkable in African business.
Bet9ja remains the country's leading sports betting brand, but the entrepreneur behind it almost never makes headlines. Kunle Soname, chairman and co-founder of Bet9ja, created the business from a small offline outlet in Ogun State into a $750 million-turnover company.
Soname's background did not follow a straight line. He earned degrees in Estate Management, Political Science, and later finished an MBA before moving into local public office. He served as Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council from 2003 to 2011, giving him real-world exposure in managing large organisations that would later prove valuable in business.
His competitive advantage was more than the technology. He leveraged his experience in public life to connect with mass audiences. Bet9ja grew quickly by mixing offline accessibility with mobile convenience, an approach which few competitors managed to replicate at the time.
Now, Bet9ja generates annual revenue of over $750 million, making it Africa's top-ranked sports betting platform. Soname's wealth is put at more than $100 million, with certain sources placing the figure as much as $500 million, though these numbers are difficult to confirm given his preference to keep business details out of the public eye. For Nigerian bettors, that growth is relevant because it underpins the size of product development that continues to go into improving the experience.
Soname's entrepreneurial drive go well past sports betting. In 2025, Remo Stars became Nigeria's NPFL champions, the first privately-owned side to claim the championship. In aviation, ValueJet launched commercial operations in 2022 and quickly added to more routes. The scope of these businesses speaks to a clear strategy of building assets that serve everyday Nigerians.
Key Statistics On Bet9ja
The platform records more than $750 million in annual turnover, making it Africa's largest sports betting platform by turnover. [BusinessDay]
The Nigerian online gambling market is expected to exceed $3.63 billion by the end of 2025, ranking it as the fastest-growing gambling markets in Africa. [Grokipedia / SportRadar data]
The company runs over 5,000 agents throughout Nigeria, offering employment to an estimated 10,000+ of workers. [Nairametrics]
In 2019, Bet9ja above one billion naira to become main sponsor of BBNaija, one of the most popular television events in West Africa. [BusinessDay]
Nigeria's population of people includes a substantial and increasing base of young consumers, making for a globally competitive large addressable markets for online betting. [BusinessDay]
The platform was identified as Nigeria's second most visited website by Google at the time of measurement, above most major news platforms. [Nairametrics]
Did You Know?
Did you know that Bet9ja was co-founded by Ayo Ojuroye, the executive serves as chief executive officer, while Soname occupies the role of chairman?
The company launched as an physical operation in Sagamu, prior to moving to the web and across Nigeria.
Remo Stars F.C., the club that Soname set up in 2004 under the name FC Dender, relocated from Lagos to Ikenne, Ogun State as an expression of the chairman's attachment to Ikenne.
The YOHAIG bonus code gives first-time bettors a welcome bonus on the initial deposit, which makes it a highly competitive registration bonuses available right now.
Soname became the first Nigerian to hold a stake in a European football club when he bought a 70% ownership in Clube Desportivo Feirense in 2015 through his company Tavistock Global Resource Limited.
Bet9ja partnered with Sportradar and NetEnt to strengthen both data quality and virtual sports and casino content.
Kunle Soname also founded the Beyond Limits Football Academy, a community initiative for young players designed to develop young Nigerian footballers as a social intervention.
Kunle Soname's rise is proof that reading a market correctly and committing early are enough to build a lasting enterprise. Bettors looking to sign up to the platform may want to enter the YOHAIG promo code to claim a welcome bonus at sign-up. Visit the latest Bet9ja promo code listing for the latest welcome deal before you register.
Sources
BusinessDay Nigeria — How Bet9ja's Kunle Soname Left Politics to Bet on a Billion-Dollar Industry (accessed March 2025)
Nairametrics — Meet Bet9ja's Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
Billionaires Africa — 9 Companies Owned by Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
Legit.ng — Full List of Companies Owned by Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
Grokipedia — Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
BusinessDay Nigeria — How Kunle Soname is Redefining Nigeria's Football Club Management (accessed March 2025)
