Tonye Cole Biography, Education, Career, Controversies, And Net Worth

Tonye Cole is a Nigerian businessman Co-founder and former Group Executive Director of Sahara Group, an energy empire with operations spanning the entire energy chain in Nigeria and neighboring West African countries to East Africa and beyond.

He was directly responsible for building the Group’s global expansion and upholding its corporate governance principles, maintaining its status with global institutions like the World Economic Forum, where he was a key member of the Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI), The United Nations), where he was a pioneer member of the advisory board of the Private Sector Advisory Group for the UNDP Sustainable Development Group Fund (SDG-F), The African Philanthropy Forum amongst others.

In September 2018, Mr. Cole pursue a career in politics when he formally resigned from all board and executive roles held in Sahara Group to contest for the gubernatorial seat in his home state of Rivers, He won the primaries under the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared the flag bearer but due to an inter-party legal clash, the party was removed from the ballot and prevented from contesting in the elections by the courts.

He is presently a Governorship Aspirant under the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State for the 2023 general election. He was born on the 11th of January 1967  to the former Managing Director of the Daily Times Newspaper and former Ambassador of Nigeria to Brazil Patrick Dele Cole and Pastor Mrs. Mina Dugoabere Cole. He is happily married to Dr. Sylvia Cole and they are blessed with three children.

1. Tonye Cole Profile 2. Educational Background 3. Career 4. Controversies 5. Tonye Cole’s Social Media handles 6. Personal life 7. Tonye Cole’s Net Worth

Tonye Cole Profile

Name	Tonye Cole
Real Name	Tonye Patrick Cole
Date of Birth	11 January 1967
Age	56 years
State of Origin	Rivers State
Tribe	Kalabari
Religion	Christian
Occupation	Business Man and Politician
Political Party	All Progressives Congress (APC)
Wife	Dr. Sylvia Cole
Children	Vanessa Cole Serena Cole TJ Cole
Net Worth	$1.4 billion
Copied from	contents101.com

Educational Background

Tonye Patrick Cole, attended the Corona School, Victoria Island and later King’s College in Lagos before proceeding to King’s School Ely, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. He is also an alumnus of the University of Lagos and Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil where he received a degree in Architecture and Engineering, B.Es/B.Arch, with honors in Architecture and a Certificate of Proficiency in Portuguese respectively. He also went further to Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program in 2014.

Career

The Brazilian Architectural Firm Grupo Quartro SA in Goiania Brazil was where he started his career as an Architect from 1990 to 1992. He was also involved in the design and implementation of the Urban Planning and City Development of Palmas, the capital city of the state of Tocantins miles away from South America.

He was also the architect responsible for the design of The Ministry of Justice Building, Palmas, Tocantins, and the various residential houses in Goiania, Palmas, and Brasilia among others. Tonye returned to Nigeria in 1993 and was quickly employed as the Director of Operations with the Nigerian office of Empressa Sul Americana de Montagens S.A.(EMSA) a Brazilian Civil Engineering Company from 1993 – 1996, which is allegedly the 7th largest engineering firm in Brazil that was awarded a World Bank for the Lagos Water Corporation.

Tonye Cole is an ordained Minister of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and leader of Team Nehemiah. He is a Motivational Speaker, Writer, Teacher, and Mentor. He is the Author of “Morning Reflections” a Daily Devotional published in 2013. Tonye Patrick Cole is the co-founder and former Group Executive Director of Sahara Group, an energy conglomerate with operations spanning the entire energy chain in Nigeria and neighboring West African countries to East Africa and beyond.

He formally resigned from all board and executive roles held in Sahara Group as well as all his board positions elsewhere to contest for the gubernatorial seat in his home state of Rivers. He won the primaries under the National ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and was declared the flag bearer but due to a protracted inter-party legal tussle, the party was removed from the ballot and prevented from contesting in the elections by the courts.

The Group operates in 38 countries around the world with over 4,000 employees and an annual turnover of $11 billion. He continues working to inspire the youth of Africa through charities such as his NGO, Nehemiah Youth Empowerment initiative, which aims to influence change in Africa. He served as a board member for Atlas Mara, Bloomberg TV Africa, Enactus Nigeria, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, and Digital JewelsHe is also a member of the Private Sector Advisory Group of the United Nations Sustainable Development Fund (UN SDG-F) This is an Elective Political Position in Nigeria.

Tonye Cole will now be consolidating on the political gains made to build a formidable team ahead of future elections in the country. He is presently a Governorship Aspirant under the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State for the 2023 general election.

Controversies

A Court of Appeal crossed out a suit by the People’s Democratic Party against Tonye Cole, challenging his credibility to contest the 2023 governorship election in the state. The PDP had also in the suit against APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, claimed that the APC did not comply with the Electoral Act in getting their guber candidate. The Appeal court in the judgment that set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt over the alleged dual citizenship of Tonye Cole, described PDP as an interfering body.

The Appeal Court said the PDP cannot challenge APC, its Governorship Candidate, and INEC on the conduct of the congresses and primary election that brought in their candidate. Governor Wike also alleged that Tonye Cole sold State assets worth $50 million, the money which was taken from Rivers State Government Access Bank account and taken to Sahara Energy account. Tonye Cole has said he had no case to answer regarding the alleged $50 million state assets sales allegations against him by Governor Nyesom Wike.

Tonye Cole Social Media Handles

Instagram: TonyePatrickCole Twitter: TonyeCole1

Personal Life

Tonye Cole was born on the 11th of January 1967  to the former managing director of the Daily Times Newspaper and former Ambassador of Nigeria to Brazil Patrick Dele Cole and Pastor Mrs. Mina Dugoabere Cole. His mother, Pastor Mina Cole died in London on Friday 1st of October, 2021, after an illness. He is happily married to the love of his life, Dr. Sylvia Cole, and they are blessed with three adult children.

Tonye Cole Net Worth

He is estimated to be worth over $1.4 billion