From Politics To Bet9ja: The Kunle Soname Story

Bet9ja Founder Kunle Soname's Billion-Dollar Journey














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Kunle Soname left a promising political career to build Bet9ja, and the gamble paid off in a big way — his platform now leads Nigeria's sports betting market.






The green-and-white Bet9ja name appears on football jerseys and billboard spaces across Nigeria. The chairman who put it there, Kunle Soname, does not seek public attention — still his journey is one of the most interesting in Nigerian commerce.




Soname's background was anything but a single track. He studied Estate Management, Political Science, and later completed an MBA before entering local politics. He held the position as Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council between 2003 and 2011, earning him practical experience in mobilising people that turned out to be critical in business.




When Soname founded Bet9ja in September 2013, he chose deliberately to go offline first rather than launch purely online. He recruited agents across Ogun State and establishing physical shops for local football fans, he grew a loyal user base before rolling out nationally. Bet9ja eventually added better odds than rivals, virtual games, and an easy-to-use user experience to attract tech-savvy customers nationwide.




The platform's growth has had real knock-on benefits for users. Soname's significant spending in technology, retail outlets, and sponsorship deals translates into a well-rounded platforms available in Nigeria. The platform integrates all major Nigerian bank payment options, so moving money simple and quick.




Away from Bet9ja, Soname has assembled a wide-ranging business empire. He founded Remo Stars F.C., a top-flight Nigerian football club from Ikenne, Ogun State, the club that won the NPFL championship in 2025 making it the first private club to do so. He also acquired Clube Desportivo Feirense in 2015, becoming the first Nigerian national to own a European football club. Soname's businesses also cover aviation via ValueJet, banking through a shareholding in Optimus Bank, tile and sanitary ware via Ceramco Trading, and agriculture via Kuker Farms based in Abeokuta.




Nigerian Betting By the Numbers

Bet9ja reports over $750 million in annual turnover, placing it the continent's largest sports betting operator by income. [BusinessDay]
Nigeria's online gambling market is expected to exceed $3.63 billion by the end of 2025, cementing it as one of the fastest-growing gambling markets globally. [Grokipedia / SportRadar data]
Bet9ja runs over 5,000 retail agents spread across Nigeria, offering livelihoods to many thousands of young Nigerians. [Nairametrics]
In 2019, Bet9ja spent over N1 billion to become main sponsor of Big Brother Naija, a programme widely considered the most watched TV shows in West Africa. [BusinessDay]
The country's population of residents includes a substantial and increasing youth demographic, producing a globally competitive largest addressable audiences for betting. [BusinessDay]
The platform was ranked as Nigeria's second most visited website according to Google at the time of measurement, ahead of many Nigerian commercial websites. [Nairametrics]





Did You Know?

Did you know that the platform was co-founded alongside Ayo Ojuroye, the executive currently holds the role of chief executive officer, while Soname occupies the position of company chairman?
The company began as an agent-based operation in Ogun State, before expanding online and nationally.
Remo Stars, which Soname set up in 2004 with the name FC Dender, was moved from Lagos to Ogun State as an expression of the chairman's commitment to his hometown.
The YOHAIG promo code offers first-time bettors a sign-up bonus on their first deposit, making it a highly competitive sign-up offers on the market at present.
He became the first Nigerian national to hold a stake in a club when he bought a 70% share of Clube Desportivo Feirense in 2015 through his company Tavistock Global Resource Limited.
Bet9ja partnered with global data provider Sportradar and casino content provider NetEnt to deepen both the quality of its odds and the breadth of its gaming content.
Kunle Soname also set up BLFA, a grassroots talent development programme set up to invest in youth talent as a community project.





Soname's story is proof that knowing your audience and acting on instinct are what it takes to build a lasting enterprise. Bettors looking to join Bet9ja should use the YOHAIG bonus code to get a first-deposit bonus when they register. Head to a trusted Bet9ja promotion code page for the latest bonus offer before you register.




Sources

BusinessDay Nigeria — How Bet9ja's Kunle Soname Left Politics to Bet on a Billion-Dollar Industry (accessed March 2025)
Nairametrics — Meet Bet9ja's Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
Billionaires Africa — 9 Companies Owned by Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
Legit.ng — Full List of Companies Owned by Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
Grokipedia — Kunle Soname (accessed March 2025)
BusinessDay Nigeria — How Kunle Soname is Redefining Nigeria's Football Club Management (accessed March 2025)