Melaye: I raised funds for my education through Goat Breeding

Former Kogi State senator Dino Melaye explained that his upbringing as a goat breeder provided the financial foundation for his education. At the age of 12, Melaye began his business, purchasing a single goat that would ultimately give birth, and subsequently sold its offspring to fund his secondary school tuition. The profits from this venture also covered his admission exams, such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), as well as the first and second years of his studies at Ahmadu Bello University.

Melaye admitted to starting investments internationally as a 18-year-old, albeit on a modest scale. He emphasized that significant wealth is not necessary to begin investing, stating, "You do not need to have all the money on earth to start investing." As his goat-rearing business expanded, Melaye ventured into other commercial and investment opportunities, including money market investments and holdings in international corporations.

Thirty years ago, he made his first money market investment, purchasing Eurobonds while the euro was trading at N60. Despite his claim, he maintained his investments without withdrawing profits.

Melaye's financial journey extended to investments in global companies like Apple, Microsoft, Uber, and Zoom. Some of his acquaintances mocked his decisions, particularly his initial investments in these tech companies. However, Melaye pointed to Zoom's 400-fold increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of the potential for growth.

Even after stepping away from public office in 2019, Melaye reported that his financial status had not diminished. He attributed his investment strategies to divine guidance and a philosophy of starting small and progressively building up. He dismissed allegations that his wealth stemmed mainly from his political career, asserting that his financial standing remained steady since leaving public office.