Former Nigerian senator Dino Melaye has revealed how a single goat he bought at the age of 12 helped him pay his school fees from secondary school through his early years at university.
Melaye made the disclosure during an appearance on the KAA Truths podcast on Thursday, August 14, 2026, where he spoke about his journey to financial independence and his investment decisions.
According to him, he bought the goat as a 12-year-old and made money from selling its offspring.
“At the age of 12, I bought a goat. And this goat would give birth, and I would sell the offspring of the goat to pay my school fees in secondary school.
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“From the offspring of that goat, I paid for my WAEC, paid for my JAMB, I paid for my first year and second year in Ahmadu Bello University.”
The former senator said his interest in investments continued as he grew older, revealing that he started investing internationally at the age of 18.
He also spoke about purchasing Eurobonds about 27 years ago when the euro was trading at about N60.
Melaye said he left the investment untouched and continued to reinvest the dividends.
He further claimed to have invested in major global companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Uber and Zoom.
Speaking about his Zoom investment, he said the company’s value surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Then COVID came, and Zoom went times 400.”
Melaye also disclosed that he had been running franchise businesses in the United States for more than 20 years, saying he expanded from one outlet to several.
The former lawmaker also rejected suggestions that his financial standing was mainly the result of his time in political office.
According to him, he has remained financially comfortable despite leaving public office in 2019.
“I’ve been out of public office since 2019. Seven years ago, my standards have not dropped.”