At 60, Kunle Soname stands out as one of Nigeria’s most prominent entrepreneurs whose journey has stretched across business, sports, aviation, public service and philanthropy.
Born on April 27, 1966, in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, Soname has built a diversified business empire while maintaining a strong commitment to football development and community impact.
An entrepreneur, sports investor and philanthropist, Soname’s career has been defined by bold investments and an enduring interest in creating opportunities for Nigerians, particularly through sports.
Soname studied Estate Management at Obafemi Awolowo University between 1983 and 1988 before proceeding to Lagos State University Business School, where he obtained an MBA in Marketing Management in 1996.
His educational journey also included Federal Government College, Lagos; Government College Eric Moore, Lagos; and Baptist Academy, Obanikoro.
But beyond the classroom, Soname would eventually emerge as a major player in Nigeria’s business and sports ecosystem.
In 2011, Soname co-founded KC Gaming Networks Limited, setting the stage for one of his most recognised business ventures.
Two years later, in 2013, he launched Bet9ja, which grew into one of Nigeria’s best-known sports-betting brands and transformed the scale of sports-wagering business in the country.
His entrepreneurial interests, however, extended far beyond gaming.
Soname’s passion for football took a major international turn in 2015 when he acquired a 70 per cent stake in Portuguese football club C.D. Feirense.
The acquisition marked a major milestone in Nigerian sports investment and positioned Soname as a pioneer of Nigerian ownership in European football.
He had earlier established a football project that evolved into what became Remo Stars, laying the foundation for what would eventually become one of Nigeria’s prominent football clubs.
Soname’s football project continued to grow with the development of Remo Stars and the establishment of Beyond Limits.
The investment in youth development began yielding international recognition, with Beyond Limits winning the Viareggio Cup in 2024 and the Gothia Cup in 2025.
The biggest domestic breakthrough came in the 2024/25 season when Remo Stars won its first Nigeria Premier Football League title.
The achievement represented the culmination of years of investment in football infrastructure, talent development and professional management.
In 2022, Soname also established Remo Stars Ladies, expanding his football investment into the women’s game.
Soname’s entrepreneurial ambitions were not confined to football.
In 2018, he founded ValueJet Airlines, entering Nigeria’s highly competitive aviation sector and adding another major industry to his growing business portfolio.
His interests have also extended into banking, with Soname listed as a co-founder of Optimus Bank.
Before becoming widely known for his business and sports investments, Soname also had experience in public administration.
Between 2003 and 2011, he served as Executive Chairman of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area in Lagos State, where he completed two terms.
Among the projects associated with his tenure was the reconstruction of the Border Stadium in Olowora-Isheri.
For Soname, the story has not been exclusively about business.
He co-founded The Rising Hope Initiative and has supported causes spanning education, healthcare, employment and sports development.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he reportedly distributed more than 10,000 food packs and donated 200,000 COVID-19 test kits to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
In 2024, he further demonstrated his commitment to sports development with a ₦25 million donation to the Paralympics Committee of Nigeria.
Soname’s contributions have attracted recognition from several institutions.
In 2021, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Lagos, recognised his contribution to sports development.
He became a patron of the University of Lagos Football Club in 2022 and received further recognition in 2023, including the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), alongside other honours.
He has also been associated with the Nigeria Olympic Committee as a patron and was recognised as Sports Personality of the Year by the Excellence Recognition Awards.
From Estate Management to entrepreneurship; from local government administration to football ownership; from sports betting to aviation; and from business success to philanthropy, Kunle Soname’s six-decade journey reflects a willingness to venture into industries where few Nigerians have dared to tread.
His story is particularly significant in Nigerian football, where his investments have moved beyond simply owning a club to developing young talents and creating pathways to international competition.
At 60, Kunle Soname’s biggest achievement may not be any single company, trophy or acquisition, but the ecosystem he has built around business, sports, youth development and opportunity.
And with Remo Stars, Beyond Limits, ValueJet and other ventures continuing to evolve, the Soname story appears far from finished.
