Tinubu hails Elumelu as African business icon on birthday

Abdullateef Fowewe

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Tony Elumelu, the renowned economist, banker, and philanthropist, on his birthday today.

In a statement issued on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu praised Elumelu’s leadership across major enterprises.

Elumelu chairs Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa (UBA), and Transcorp, and founded The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

“President Bola Tinubu congratulates Mr Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu… on his birthday, March 22,” the statement reads.

Tinubu described Elumelu as “an African business icon and a standout advocate of the Nigerian and African enterprise.”

He commended the businessman’s “resilience, the excellence that governs his entire enterprise and his staunch belief in Africapitalism.”

The President highlighted Elumelu’s commitment to youth empowerment, especially through the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s entrepreneurship programme. It has “trained 2.5 million young Africans in 54 countries and empowered over 24,000 budding African entrepreneurs with non-refundable seed capital of $5,000 each.”

Tinubu joined Elumelu’s family and friends in wishing him “good health and strength and continued success in his pursuits.”