The Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has described renowned economist, banker and philanthropist Tony Elumelu as an African business icon and a leading advocate of enterprise on the continent.
President Tinubu stated this while congratulating Elumelu on his 62nd birthday, commending his resilience, dedication to the highest standards, and strong belief in Africapitalism.
In a congratulatory message issued by the Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, to mark Elumelu’s birthday on March 22, the President noted that “his enterprise-driven philosophy continues to inspire economic transformation across Africa.”
He also lauded the chairman of Heirs Holdings for his sustained investment in Africa’s youth through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, particularly its flagship entrepreneurship programme, which provides non-refundable seed capital of 5,000 dollars to emerging entrepreneurs across the continent.
The President noted that “the initiative has trained over 2.5 million young Africans across 54 countries and empowered more than 24,000 entrepreneurs, significantly contributing to job creation and economic inclusion.”
The Nigerian Leader further hailed Elumelu, who chairs Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa, and Transcorp, as a standout advocate of Nigerian and African enterprise.
As he celebrates his birthday, President Tinubu joined family, friends, and associates in wishing him good health, strength, and continued success in his endeavours.