Mohammed Abdillahi Ogsadey
Encyclopedia
Mohammed Abdillahi Kahin 'Ogsadey (b.1920s-2006) was a Somali
business
tycoon based in Ethiopia
, where he established MAO Harar Horse, the first Africa
n corporation
to export coffee
.
, Somalia
in the mid-1920s. His father Abdillahi Kahin was a poor trader that would die at a very young age and his mother would come to fill in the gaps of raising four sons and a daughter. Three of his brothers; Ali Abdillahi and Adan Abdillahi, would be greatly involved in the coffee business and Haji Askar Abdillahi remain in Gabiley, eventually building his own name. Ogsadey and his two brothers would eventually move to Ethiopia in search of a job and a better future. Ogsadey had a very humble beginning as a truck driver. Later, they would start the M.A.O. Corporation in 1942, a coffee import and export empire, believed to be one of the largest in East Africa
, going back almost six decades. Ogsadey dealt with the Coffee, Ali took care of the management of the day-to-day transactions while the youngest Adan handled the transportation of the goods. Ogsadey has 20 children and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, who are either closely involved in his vast empire or studying abroad. A man who made sure anyone related to him was taken care of and the less fortunate were employed, Ogsadey would often attribute his love of family as the principal reason behind his success. Nicknamed "Ogsadey" for his hard work which paid off, he eventually stretched his business to three continents.
is, though most estimate it must have been a minimum of $275 million U.S. Dollars
(over 3 billion Ethiopian Birr
) at the time of his death. At one point in the 1980s, he was the richest person in Ethiopia, a position that would later be occupied by the billionaire Mohammed Al-Amoudi.
Ogsadey's net worth could easily surpass that, since the above estimation comes from his ready to see properties around the Horn of Africa
and North America. He is believed to have owned numerous companies, factories, oil companies and gas stations
around the world. Throughout his long career, he had become a dominant figure in different industries including coffee, real estate
, gas stations and banking to name a few.
Ogsadey is believed to be the second largest share holder
in Wegagen Bank which he would open a branch in Wajaale, Somalia. His investment in the bank alone is rumored to be in the tens of millions of Ethiopian Birr. He is also believed to be one of the largest land owner in Ethiopia, though the previous regime of Mengistu Hailemariam
had confiscated vast amounts of lands that could easily be worth millions of Ethiopian Birr today. At one point his coffee business was taken away from him in 1977, based on the accusation that he supplied money to Somali rebels, but it would be returned when the price of coffee and the export quota dropped. That is one reason why he has never entered politics or supported anyone in it.
over the next coming 5 years. It would open its doors in 2007 by his family in his honor to serve the poor.
outside of Jijiga
on his way to Somalia after the death of his sister Halimo Abdillahi in Gabiley, Somalia. His legacy and his business will thrive through his family.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
tycoon based in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, where he established MAO Harar Horse, the first Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n corporation
Corporation
A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
to export coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
.
Biography
Ogsadey was born to a poor family in GabileyGabiley
Gabiley is a city in the northwestern Woqooyi Galbeed province of Somaliland, a self-declared republic that is internationally recognized as an autonomous region of Somalia.Gabiley is located 54 km west of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
in the mid-1920s. His father Abdillahi Kahin was a poor trader that would die at a very young age and his mother would come to fill in the gaps of raising four sons and a daughter. Three of his brothers; Ali Abdillahi and Adan Abdillahi, would be greatly involved in the coffee business and Haji Askar Abdillahi remain in Gabiley, eventually building his own name. Ogsadey and his two brothers would eventually move to Ethiopia in search of a job and a better future. Ogsadey had a very humble beginning as a truck driver. Later, they would start the M.A.O. Corporation in 1942, a coffee import and export empire, believed to be one of the largest in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
, going back almost six decades. Ogsadey dealt with the Coffee, Ali took care of the management of the day-to-day transactions while the youngest Adan handled the transportation of the goods. Ogsadey has 20 children and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, who are either closely involved in his vast empire or studying abroad. A man who made sure anyone related to him was taken care of and the less fortunate were employed, Ogsadey would often attribute his love of family as the principal reason behind his success. Nicknamed "Ogsadey" for his hard work which paid off, he eventually stretched his business to three continents.
“A good name is far better than a good deal of money.” –M.A.Ogsadey
Wealth
Ogsadey never discussed his wealth in public. There is a great deal of debate as to how much Ogsadey's net worthNet worth
In business, net worth is the total assets minus total outside liabilities of an individual or a company. For a company, this is called shareholders' preference and may be referred to as book value. Net worth is stated as at a particular year in time...
is, though most estimate it must have been a minimum of $275 million U.S. Dollars
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
(over 3 billion Ethiopian Birr
Ethiopian birr
The birr is the unit of currency in Ethiopia. Before 1976, dollar was the official English translation of birr. Today, it is officially birr in English as well....
) at the time of his death. At one point in the 1980s, he was the richest person in Ethiopia, a position that would later be occupied by the billionaire Mohammed Al-Amoudi.
Ogsadey's net worth could easily surpass that, since the above estimation comes from his ready to see properties around the Horn of Africa
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
and North America. He is believed to have owned numerous companies, factories, oil companies and gas stations
Filling station
A filling station, also known as a fueling station, garage, gasbar , gas station , petrol bunk , petrol pump , petrol garage, petrol kiosk , petrol station "'servo"' in Australia or service station, is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants...
around the world. Throughout his long career, he had become a dominant figure in different industries including coffee, real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, gas stations and banking to name a few.
Ogsadey is believed to be the second largest share holder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
in Wegagen Bank which he would open a branch in Wajaale, Somalia. His investment in the bank alone is rumored to be in the tens of millions of Ethiopian Birr. He is also believed to be one of the largest land owner in Ethiopia, though the previous regime of Mengistu Hailemariam
Mengistu Haile Mariam
Mengistu Haile Mariam is a politician who was formerly the most prominent officer of the Derg, the Communist military junta that governed Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987, and the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia from 1987 to 1991...
had confiscated vast amounts of lands that could easily be worth millions of Ethiopian Birr today. At one point his coffee business was taken away from him in 1977, based on the accusation that he supplied money to Somali rebels, but it would be returned when the price of coffee and the export quota dropped. That is one reason why he has never entered politics or supported anyone in it.
Charity work
Ogsadey has given generously for the past 60 years to make a difference in Ethiopia. Building schools, hospitals, and a mosques in every city he has stayed in Province 5. He even sponsored cycle and soccer clubs to compete over-seas for Ethiopia. He has always lived amongst his country men rather than abroad only leaving once a year for check-ups to America. His last charitable work was donating $254,000 USD to Dil Chora Hospital in Dire DawaDire Dawa
Dire Dawa is one of two chartered cities in Ethiopia . This chartered city is divided administratively into two woredas, the city proper and the non-urban woreda of Gurgura....
over the next coming 5 years. It would open its doors in 2007 by his family in his honor to serve the poor.
Death
Ogsadey died on February 9, 2006 of a massive heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
outside of Jijiga
Jijiga
Jijiga is a city in eastern Ethiopia and the capital of the Somali Region of that country. Located in the Jijiga Zone approximately 80 km east of Harar and 60 km west of the border with Somalia, this city has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 1,609 meters above sea...
on his way to Somalia after the death of his sister Halimo Abdillahi in Gabiley, Somalia. His legacy and his business will thrive through his family.