Stories of greatness forged from the fires of humble beginnings are a dime a dozen these days. They are as predictable as they are passé. But an account of Abdulkadir Aliu’s rise from obscurity, suitably embellished, is worthy to serve as script to the greatest coming-of-age movie ever made.

Scarcely does a youth of hardship spent in a time of toil translate into a young, wealthy and confident adult. Yet that is exactly the grand stature of Alhaji Abdulkadir Aliu, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Matrix Energy Limited. His uncanny combination of verve, energy, savvy and street sense has enabled him to crash the oil & gas party and become one of its mainstays.

It no coincidence and no mean feat either that under his leadership Matrix Energy has become a force to reckon with in that notoriously volatile sector. The man whose interests span the diverse fields of finance, engineering, petroleum, trading and logistics quietly fought and clawed his way to the top, making hay away from the public glare while others hugged the spotlight.

Thanks to many years spent putting in the hard yards, the Matrix Energy head honcho is now in a position to place his feet on the laps of luxury. His fleet of exotic cars and collection of high-rise mansions, safely tucked away from prying eyes, testify of his stature as a nouveau riche.

Unlike some of his peers who allow indolence to follow swiftly on the heels of luxury, Aliu goes the extra mile to ensure his well of wealth never runs dry. His entrepreneurial skills are matched only by his ability to cultivate contacts with Nigeria’s top elites