Well Done Tony Elumelu!!!
By Sudi Am mba
02/08/2022
Africa is perceived by most people as a burden upon the world with hunger, refugees, wars, violence, corruption, poverty, illiteracy, tribalism, diseases (HIV, Ebola, Malaria), …
This continent is referred for misgovernance, greediness, laziness, instability, lack of development, …The Motherland only has negative characteristics which make people think doing business, traveling, or moving to Africa is very dangerous.
I have been to 50 cities in 16 countries in the world so far. I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with many people from different nationalities and economic backgrounds in rich and poor countries. I can boldly say there is no perfect place in the world.
Today I want to show you a different side of Africa because the propaganda against this continent has left Africans stereotyped, looked down by many in the world as lazy, poor,unreliable.
Nobody is looking to us for anything big or trust us.
The media only shows our worst sides but doesn’t show the progress we are making, the beautiful things we have created.
Today I want to tell a story of one man who has decided to show that Africans are disciplined, hardworking, educated, ambitious, energetic, intelligent…and can compete globally.
His name is Tony Elumelu.
Tony Elumelu is a Nigerian Economist, entrepreneur, philanthropist.
He is the chairman of United Bank of Africa, Transcorp Plc, Heirs Holding and founder of Tony Elumelu foundation.He is into financial services, power, oil &gas, real estate & hospitality, insurance, healthcare, agribusiness…
Mr Elumelu ranked 31st with a net worth of $700m in 2015 on Forbes Africa’s richest. In 2020, Mr Elumelu was named on Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Among his many awards and recognition:
- African banker of the year by African Banker magazine 2008
- African business leader of the year Africa Investor magazine
- Africa’s 20 most powerful people by Forbes magazine 2012
He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Ambrose Alli University and a Master’s degree in economics from the University of Lagos.
On 01.01.2015, Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) was launched with $100 million to help 10.000 African entrepreneurs, startups in 54 African countries with a grant (seed capital investment) in the next 10 years.
Around 25 industries and sectors are represented through TEEP initiative. From agriculture, education &training, commercial, manufacturing, media & entertainment, healthcare, fashion, telecommunication, construction and others.
TEEP aim to create over 1 million jobs, bring $10 billion into Africa’s economic growth. TEEP demographics is between 21-37 years old.
Apart from the financial support, 12 weeks mentoring programme, the pan-African initiative play an advocacy role to policymakers to improve and create the right environment for startups.
Recently, Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund was launched. This is a $30.000 initiative to grant $500-$2000 each to journalists, filmmakers, content producers, bloggers, visual and performing artists selected across Africa to tell the stories of inspiring entrepreneurs and showcase the true and positive spirit of entrepreneurship in Africa.
Tony Elumelu believes in Africapitalism to transform Africa. An ideology that the private sector is a key enabler of economic development and social wealth creation in Africa.
For many Africans, Tony Elumelu represent the United States of Africa, the 21st century African leader of the moment.
What was his success secret? Tony Elumelu explained :
”I started my career as a salesman to be specific, young, hungry, and hardworking, but the reality was that I was just one of thousands of young Nigerian graduates, all eager to succeed. How did I get from there to where I am now? Of course, hard work, resilience, a long-term vision but also luck.”
Key lessons for our readers today?
Dare to dream, act on your dream and be focused.
Believe in Yourself and your Vision.
By Sudi Am mba