Early Life
Mohammed Dewji was born on May 8, 1975, in Singida, Tanzania. He is the second of six children of Gulamabbas Dewji and Zubeda Dewji. His family's roots trace back to Gujarati traders who migrated to East Africa in the late 1800s. Dewji received his primary education in Arusha and continued his secondary education at the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He furthered his studies in the United States, attending the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy and Trinity Preparatory School. He then attended Saddle Brook High School in New Jersey. Dewji graduated from Georgetown University in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in international business and finance, and a minor in theology.
Rise to Success
After graduating from Georgetown University, Dewji returned to Tanzania and joined Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL Group), a commodities trading business founded by his grandmother and expanded by his father. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) within two years. Dewji played a key role in expanding MeTL Group, acquiring and turning around several underperforming companies during Tanzania's privatization in the early 2000s. Under his leadership, MeTL's revenues surged from $30 million in 1999 to over $1.5 billion by 2018. As of 2022, revenue was over $2 billion. MeTL Group operates in 11 countries and employs over 28,000 people.
Key Business Strategies
Dewji's business strategies focused on expanding MeTL Group through acquisitions and strategic investments across various sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, trading, finance, and mobile telephony. His leadership enabled MeTL Group to contribute approximately 3.5% of Tanzania's GDP. Dewji’s vision has expanded employment opportunities for Tanzanians and East Africans.
Philanthropy
Dewji is committed to philanthropy through the Mo Dewji Foundation, established in 2014, supporting education, healthcare, and community development initiatives in Tanzania. He also joined The Giving Pledge in 2016, promising to donate at least half of his wealth to philanthropic causes. His philanthropic work also includes investing in Simba Sports Club, a leading football team in Tanzania, to inspire youth and promote the country.