President Bola Tinubu has celebrated Tony Elumelu on his 63rd birthday, praising the economist, banker, and philanthropist for his contributions to enterprise development and youth empowerment across Africa.
Elumelu, the chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa (UBA), and Transcorp, is also the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which has become a leading platform for nurturing African entrepreneurs.
In a statement issued through his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described Elumelu as a “business icon” whose dedication and resilience have set a benchmark for African enterprise. The President highlighted Elumelu’s philosophy of Africapitalism, which promotes private sector-driven growth and long-term investment in Africa’s economy.
Tinubu also recognized the impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s entrepreneurship programme, which has trained over 2.5 million young Africans across 54 countries and provided more than 24,000 entrepreneurs with $5,000 in non-repayable seed funding to grow their businesses.
The President lauded Elumelu’s efforts to foster innovation, economic inclusion, and opportunities for young Africans, noting that his work continues to inspire emerging business leaders across the continent.
He extended best wishes to Elumelu for continued health, strength, and success in his future endeavours, joining family, friends, and associates in celebrating the milestone.
