By Bola Atta
The Group Chairman, United Bank
for Africa Plc, who also founded the Tony Elumelu Foundation, is not a man who
accepts that boundaries exist to keep you out.
for Africa Plc, who also founded the Tony Elumelu Foundation, is not a man who
accepts that boundaries exist to keep you out.
Sitting in on his meetings, you
will always find a variety of men and women with different interests and
backgrounds as well as age groups. Tony loves the Millennials. He can’t get
enough of them because according to him, ‘You never know where your next best
idea can come from’. He doesn’t consider anything impossible and is very keen
to make other people’s dreams come true.
will always find a variety of men and women with different interests and
backgrounds as well as age groups. Tony loves the Millennials. He can’t get
enough of them because according to him, ‘You never know where your next best
idea can come from’. He doesn’t consider anything impossible and is very keen
to make other people’s dreams come true.
Elumelu himself has always
dreamt big and as much as he respects boundaries, institutions and governance,
he also realizes that boundaries are not meant to be seen as obstacles but
goals.
dreamt big and as much as he respects boundaries, institutions and governance,
he also realizes that boundaries are not meant to be seen as obstacles but
goals.
A student of economics who also
got an MBA degree, he was determined to make a difference at a young age. He
got his first job against the odds. His degree didn’t qualify him for the
position to which he was applying, but he didn’t see this as an obstacle. He
tried for the job and got it.
got an MBA degree, he was determined to make a difference at a young age. He
got his first job against the odds. His degree didn’t qualify him for the
position to which he was applying, but he didn’t see this as an obstacle. He
tried for the job and got it.
A couple of years later, he was
the youngest branch manager at Crystal bank in Nigeria, where he worked.
His boss and now mentor, Chief Ebitimi Banigo, saw the potential in the young
Elumelu and was going to help him through the initial barriers. It wasn’t
long before Elumelu became one of the youngest Bank CEOs in Nigeria at the age
of 34. He had acquired Crystal Bank which was about to go into
receivership and had seen this as an opportunity towards the goals he set for
himself. He named the new bank Standard Trust Bank, which he later merged with
the United Bank for Africa, the biggest bank in Nigeria and remains to date,
one of the biggest African banks on the continent. The merger was a dream
come true. It was the largest ever merger in the financial sector in Nigeria.
Elumelu had conquered a huge barrier.
the youngest branch manager at Crystal bank in Nigeria, where he worked.
His boss and now mentor, Chief Ebitimi Banigo, saw the potential in the young
Elumelu and was going to help him through the initial barriers. It wasn’t
long before Elumelu became one of the youngest Bank CEOs in Nigeria at the age
of 34. He had acquired Crystal Bank which was about to go into
receivership and had seen this as an opportunity towards the goals he set for
himself. He named the new bank Standard Trust Bank, which he later merged with
the United Bank for Africa, the biggest bank in Nigeria and remains to date,
one of the biggest African banks on the continent. The merger was a dream
come true. It was the largest ever merger in the financial sector in Nigeria.
Elumelu had conquered a huge barrier.
I don’t believe he dreamt of
being a billionaire(perhaps he did) but I don’t think this was the objective as
he pursued his career. He is a dreamer and he is a risk taker, but which highly
successful entrepreneur has ever emerged at the top without those two
qualities?
being a billionaire(perhaps he did) but I don’t think this was the objective as
he pursued his career. He is a dreamer and he is a risk taker, but which highly
successful entrepreneur has ever emerged at the top without those two
qualities?
It was a little more than
dreams that got Tony to the place where we know him today: Serial entrepreneur
and philanthropist. We have often heard him say that he has always wanted to
help others achieve their dreams. He wants to cross borders but never alone. He
prefers to take tribes with him; Tribes of rich and successful young
entrepreneurs. It is for this reason that he decided to make his fortunes count
and in a big way. He has committed U$D100 million to making the lives of young
entrepreneurs across the African continent better. An initiative that he
launched over three years ago through his Foundation. The Tony Elumelu
Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme has been changing lives since it was
launched in 2014. Over 3000 lives have been transformed through funding, world
–class mentoring and networking as well as the type of exposure that will grow
businesses and sustain them.
dreams that got Tony to the place where we know him today: Serial entrepreneur
and philanthropist. We have often heard him say that he has always wanted to
help others achieve their dreams. He wants to cross borders but never alone. He
prefers to take tribes with him; Tribes of rich and successful young
entrepreneurs. It is for this reason that he decided to make his fortunes count
and in a big way. He has committed U$D100 million to making the lives of young
entrepreneurs across the African continent better. An initiative that he
launched over three years ago through his Foundation. The Tony Elumelu
Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme has been changing lives since it was
launched in 2014. Over 3000 lives have been transformed through funding, world
–class mentoring and networking as well as the type of exposure that will grow
businesses and sustain them.
Tony dreams of creating over a
million jobs and U$D10 billion in revenues on the African continent by 2024.
These are goals! And Elumelu when he sets his goals, doesn’t see any barriers
that cannot be crossed.
million jobs and U$D10 billion in revenues on the African continent by 2024.
These are goals! And Elumelu when he sets his goals, doesn’t see any barriers
that cannot be crossed.
Africa is proud of the
achievements of this billionaire as he allows many to share in his fortunes. He
is keen to alleviate poverty on the continent. He is also keen to energise the
youths and make them demand of their governments what they are entitled to at
the minimum. (https://www.facebook.com/tonyelumelu/photos/a.10152570216216949.1073741828.17335426948/10154876879631949/?type=3&theater)
achievements of this billionaire as he allows many to share in his fortunes. He
is keen to alleviate poverty on the continent. He is also keen to energise the
youths and make them demand of their governments what they are entitled to at
the minimum. (https://www.facebook.com/tonyelumelu/photos/a.10152570216216949.1073741828.17335426948/10154876879631949/?type=3&theater)
Tony believes in
Africapitalism. He founded this ideal which presupposes that the private sector
has a pivotal role to play in the development of any nation. However, private
sector needs to be able to work with governments in order to create wealth.
Africans can help take the continent out of the barrier of poverty. Sustainable
growth according to the theory of Africapitalism, will only occur if
governments and the private sector work together to ensure the necessary
elements are in place.
Africapitalism. He founded this ideal which presupposes that the private sector
has a pivotal role to play in the development of any nation. However, private
sector needs to be able to work with governments in order to create wealth.
Africans can help take the continent out of the barrier of poverty. Sustainable
growth according to the theory of Africapitalism, will only occur if
governments and the private sector work together to ensure the necessary
elements are in place.
Elumelu has received a lot of
accolades and awards for the crusade he has embarked upon across the continent.
A crusade of change and of poverty alleviation. A crusade that doesn’t know
barriers but success. Tony has crisscrossed the continent on what can be best
described as a leadership tour, motivating and energizing the youths. He has
taken this leadership tour further out of Africa too. He recently spoke with a
group of young fellows at MIT in Massachusetts; gave a speech at Chatham house
in London and to young Entrepreneurs in Chicago on the invitation of President
Obama and his foundation.
accolades and awards for the crusade he has embarked upon across the continent.
A crusade of change and of poverty alleviation. A crusade that doesn’t know
barriers but success. Tony has crisscrossed the continent on what can be best
described as a leadership tour, motivating and energizing the youths. He has
taken this leadership tour further out of Africa too. He recently spoke with a
group of young fellows at MIT in Massachusetts; gave a speech at Chatham house
in London and to young Entrepreneurs in Chicago on the invitation of President
Obama and his foundation.
This month on December 4, 2017,
Elumelu was honoured in New York city by the Business Council for International
Understanding(BCIU). He became the first African to receive the prestigious
Dwight D. Eisenhower Global Entrepreneurship Award. On the same night he was
honoured, Bill Marriott, the Chairman of Marriott International Inc also
received the Dwight D Eisenhower award for Leadership. Past recipients include
Carlos Slim, Lakshmi Mittal, Ratan Tata, Lord John Browne and many other world
successful leaders who are making a
difference in the lives of people.
Elumelu was honoured in New York city by the Business Council for International
Understanding(BCIU). He became the first African to receive the prestigious
Dwight D. Eisenhower Global Entrepreneurship Award. On the same night he was
honoured, Bill Marriott, the Chairman of Marriott International Inc also
received the Dwight D Eisenhower award for Leadership. Past recipients include
Carlos Slim, Lakshmi Mittal, Ratan Tata, Lord John Browne and many other world
successful leaders who are making a
difference in the lives of people.
 |
| Chairman UBA Group, Tony O. Elumelu receiving his Dwight D. Esienhower Global Entrepreneurship award on December 4, 2017Grand daughter of former US President Dwight Eisenhower, Anne Eisenhower; Tony O. Elumelu; Executive Chairman, Marriott International, Inc, Bill Marriott and Peter Tichansky, CEO of Business Council for International Understanding |
Africa has woken up to the fact
that they have a son of whom they can be proud. The world is taking note of the
achievements of Tony Elumelu. At the gala in honour of Elumelu and J.W
Marriott, George W Bush (Former President of the United States of America) said
of Tony: ‘I am impressed with Tony’s philanthropic initiatives which are
powering job creation and entrepreneurship in a region (Africa), that is very
dear to Laura and me. To receive an award founded by President
Eisenhower, has added meaning. Eisenhower provided example in leadership, which
we can all learn from.’
We all can certainly learn from
the fact that Tony Elumelu will continue to break down the barriers as he sets
new goals each time. He has always had a strong admiration for Michael Jackson
as have many in his generation. But Tony’s admiration comes from the point of
view that not only is MJ possibly the best artist of all time, he was such an
ardent worker who put his best foot forward all the time. According to Elumelu ‘Michael
Jackson to me is an epitome of hard work and perfection. He never left anything
to chance and always worked double hard in his endeavours’.
the fact that Tony Elumelu will continue to break down the barriers as he sets
new goals each time. He has always had a strong admiration for Michael Jackson
as have many in his generation. But Tony’s admiration comes from the point of
view that not only is MJ possibly the best artist of all time, he was such an
ardent worker who put his best foot forward all the time. According to Elumelu ‘Michael
Jackson to me is an epitome of hard work and perfection. He never left anything
to chance and always worked double hard in his endeavours’.
Elumelu got a chance to break
yet another barrier this past weekend at the End of year party for his group of
companies, Heirs Holdings. He isn’t an artist. That’s not one of the titles we
would ever add to his name. However, Tony Elumelu became Michael Jackson for
three minutes when he made a surprise stage appearance as non other than his
hero, Michael Jackson. It was not spontaneous. Tony worked tirelessly to become
MJ for three minutes. He would get off work, rest for a bit and have his dance
lessons from midnight to 4am. He did this for 4 straight days and still woke up
to get to the office at 8 am. As I watched him rehearse, I learnt
something yet again from Mr. Elumelu. It started off for me as just a stage
appearance. A fun skit to add some colour to the event. But Tony took this so
seriously. No amount of ‘you are good to go’ was good enough for him. He wanted
it to be perfect. He wasn’t just going to do a skit, he was going to be
perfectly MJ. Elumelu had broken another barrier. He performed against the
odds, on stage in front of 2000 people as Michael Jackson, and held the
audience spell bound. It was no easy feat.
yet another barrier this past weekend at the End of year party for his group of
companies, Heirs Holdings. He isn’t an artist. That’s not one of the titles we
would ever add to his name. However, Tony Elumelu became Michael Jackson for
three minutes when he made a surprise stage appearance as non other than his
hero, Michael Jackson. It was not spontaneous. Tony worked tirelessly to become
MJ for three minutes. He would get off work, rest for a bit and have his dance
lessons from midnight to 4am. He did this for 4 straight days and still woke up
to get to the office at 8 am. As I watched him rehearse, I learnt
something yet again from Mr. Elumelu. It started off for me as just a stage
appearance. A fun skit to add some colour to the event. But Tony took this so
seriously. No amount of ‘you are good to go’ was good enough for him. He wanted
it to be perfect. He wasn’t just going to do a skit, he was going to be
perfectly MJ. Elumelu had broken another barrier. He performed against the
odds, on stage in front of 2000 people as Michael Jackson, and held the
audience spell bound. It was no easy feat.
 |
| Tony Elumelu performing on stage as iconic star Michael Jackson, before an audience of 2000 guests |
We congratulate the Group
chairman of UBA, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder of the Tony Elumelu
Foundation, as we remain very proud of him. There are still many boundaries yet
to cross and no doubt Tony Elumelu will be making strides to remove obstacles
along the way.
