D B Zang. Source: Zang's family library
In the heart of Plateau, among the highlands that once glittered with tin
and promise, rose a man who defied convention, beat the odds, and carved his
name into the annals of mining history—D. B. Zang.
What makes Zang’s story extraordinary isn’t just the fortune he built or the
empire he commanded—it’s the journey he took without formal education, without
privilege, and without ever leaving behind his roots. His life is a testament
to raw ambition, street-smarts, loyalty, and contradiction.
The Self-Made Mogul D. B. Zang came from humble beginnings. He had no
academic degrees to hang on his wall, no formal training in business or
geology. Yet, in a state historically known for its rich tin deposits, Zang saw
opportunity where others only saw hardship. With grit and intuition, he worked
his way through the ranks—from the dusty periphery of Plateau’s mining fields
to becoming the biggest mining mogul in the state.
While other businessmen operated from city centers and global connections,
Zang built his fortune from the ground up—literally. His mining ventures
thrived, and at his peak, he commanded not only wealth but influence, respect,
and fear in equal measure. He employed hundreds and impacted thousands, providing
livelihoods in communities where the government barely reached.
A Man of Contrasts Zang was not a conventional man, nor did he try to be. He
was a polygamist in the traditional sense, married to several women. Yet among
them, one stood apart: his light-skinned wife, whom he openly favored—a fact
that stirred emotions both inside and outside his household. She was not just
his companion, but a symbol of his preference, perhaps even his soft spot in a
life otherwise ruled by steel will and discipline.
Despite his fortune, Zang refused to leave his ancestral home. Where others
would have moved to mansions in Jos or even Abuja, he stayed firmly rooted in
his village. His compound was modest by the standards of his wealth, but it was
his kingdom. The tin king chose tradition over luxury, familiarity over
flamboyance.
Those who visited him were often struck by this paradox—a man of enormous
means living among his people, hosting business partners and dignitaries from
the same compound where he played as a child.
The Final Chapter D. B. Zang passed away in 2008, but his story continues to
echo through Plateau State. He left behind not only wealth, wives, and
children—but a legacy of possibility. He proved that success doesn’t always
wear a suit or speak English fluently. That a man with no formal education
could outmaneuver trained professionals, and that you don’t have to leave home
to build an empire.
In many ways, Zang embodied the soul of Plateau—rich, grounded, resilient,
and unpolished. His life is both a celebration and a caution, depending on
which part of it you focus on. But no matter where you stand, one thing is
certain:
D. B. Zang was no ordinary man.
He was one of the Extraordinary Men of Plateau.
