![40 Nigerians Under 40: Ladi Delano [19]](https://businesscabal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ladi.jpg "40 Nigerians Under 40: Ladi Delano [19] 1")
Founder and CEO, Bakrie Delano Africa
The jet-setting Nigerian serial entrepreneur made his first millions as a liquor entrepreneur while living in China. In 2004, at age 22, he founded Solidarnosc Asia, a Chinese alcoholic beverage Company that made Solid XS, a premium brand of vodka. Solid XS went on to achieve over 50% market share in China and was distributed across 30 cities in China, and pulled in $20 million in annual revenue. Delano subsequently sold the company to a rival liquor company for over $15 million and ploughed his funds into his next venture – The Delano Reid Group, a real estate investment holding company focused on mainland China.
Today, Delano is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA) – a $1 billion joint venture with the $15 billion (market cap) Bakrie Group of Indonesia. Bakrie Delano Africa serves as the investment partner of Bakrie Group in Nigeria. The Indonesian conglomerate has provided $900 million worth to invest in Nigeria and Bakrie Delano Africa is responsible for identifying investment opportunities in mining, agriculture and oil & gas and executing them
