NIGERIA: Outrage As Stephen Akintayo Demands ₦30 Million For One-Year Mentorship

By Onoja Baba

Nigerian billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Gtext Holdings, Dr. Stephen Akintayo, has stirred a flurry of reactions online after announcing an exclusive mentorship program with a jaw-dropping price tag of ₦30 million.

Akintayo, who is known for his aggressive real estate expansion and personal finance evangelism, shared the news on Wednesday.

He disclosed that only 10 slots are available for the one-on-one mentorship deal, which he says usually costs $20,000 (over ₦30 million), but is now “discounted” to $18,000 (₦27 million).

While he highlighted perks such as monthly private sessions, access to a billionaire business community, 45 of his books, and discounts on Gtext properties and global events, many observers were quick to question the morality of marketing such an elite-priced program in an economy where minimum wage struggles to rise above ₦70,000.

The controversial offer is being positioned as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain direct mentorship from one of Nigeria’s self-made multi-billionaires.

However, critics say the move reinforces an ever-widening gap between motivational entrepreneurs and the people they claim to want to uplift.

Still, Akintayo insists the offer is about “ruthlessly pursuing your goals,” urging followers to make the ₦2.5 million down payment and spread the balance across 12 months.

It is a financial commitment that many say only underscores how tone-deaf elite mentorship has become in today’s Nigeria.

The deal, according to him, expires in 24 hours or as soon as the 10 available slots are taken.

Whether that urgency translates into value or controversy remains to be seen.