A new review highlights 10 private companies founded before Nigeria’s independence that remain operational in 2025 despite decades of economic and policy challenges. The list includes Nigerian Breweries (1946), Union Bank (1917), UAC Nigeria (1879), John Holt (1897), G.B. Ollivant (1899), CFAO (1902), RB (formerly Reckitt & Colman, 1926), Guinness Nigeria (1950), Leventis Group (1937), and UTC Nigeria (1932).
These firms have endured market volatility, inflation, currency swings and shifting business conditions that have forced hundreds of companies to exit Nigeria in recent years. Their longevity reflects sustained adaptation through expansion, mergers, product diversification and evolution across sectors ranging from banking and brewing to retail, manufacturing and trading.