Tony is a Nigerian known for his popularity as one of Africa’s most powerful people. He is one of Nigeria’s top richest men with his source of wealth from clean investments and non-shady dealings.
Tony is an Economist and Entrepreneur. He founded Heirs Holdings. He has invested in an integral part of Nigeria’s economic sector.
Tony is a philosopher whose focus is majorly on the economic development of Africa through the private sector.
Tony is a philanthropist who helps people through The Tony Elumelu Foundation. The objective was to prove that his philosophy is realistic and to enhance competitiveness amongst private sectors.
Tony Elumelu is a member of the World’s Economic Forum’s Regional Agenda Council in Africa. He is a fellow of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI). He is a part of the committee of Bretton Woods, a gathering that brings together senior leaders in the global banking industry in recognition of his work on African Development. He is a co-chair of the Africa Energy Leader’s Group(ACLG). He is a trustee of the Infant Jesus Academy in Delta State, Nigeria. He is involved with the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative(AGI). This Tony Blair Elumelu fellowship programme is to further strengthen the mission of his foundation. He is also one of the Augural Board members of Generation Unlimited, an initiative of the United Nations Refocused Youths Agenda.
Early Life and Educational Background
Tony Elumelu was born on the 22nd day of March 1963 to Dominic and Suzanne Elumelu in Jos, Plateau State. He hails from Onicha-ukwu in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. He has four siblings including Ndidi Elumelu, a member of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives.
He has a Bachelor’s degree from Ambrose Alli University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Lagos.
Career Life
In his early career, Elumelu acquired Standard Trust Bank with the help of a group. In 2005, it became profitable and futuristic which led the acquisition of a larger United Bank for Africa (UBA), which was as at then a bank with a presence in one country, Nigeria and is now spread through 19 countries in Africa.
In 2010, Elumelu founded Heirs Holdings after his retirement. In the same year, he started the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an African organisation set to magnanimously support his philanthropic acts.
In 2011, Heirs Holdings acquired a controlling interest in the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), which led to his appointment as Chairman of the corporation.
Elumelu serves as an advisor to the USAID’s Private Capital Group for Africa (PCGA) Partners Forum. He sits on the Nigerian President’s Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council (ATIC). He is also vice-chairman of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria (NCCN), whose formation he was a key driver in, and serves as Co-Chair of the Aspen Institute Dialogue Series on Global Food Security. He additionally chairs the Ministerial Committee to establish world-class hospitals and diagnostic centres across Nigeria, at the invitation of the Federal Government and the Presidential Jobs Board, engineered to create 3 million jobs in one year. He also serves as a member of the Global Advisory Board of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL) and USAID’s Private Capital Group for Africa Partners Forum.
He was one of the co-chairs of the 26th World Economic Forum on Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, from 11 to 13 May 2016.
Personal Life
Tony is married to Doctor Awele Vivien Elumelu. The solemnization of the holy matrimony took place in the year 1993. They have 7 children together.
Assets
– Heirs Holding
Transnational corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp): A company that invests in financial services, energy, real estate and hospitality, agribusiness, and healthcare sectors.
– Stakeholder
He is also a minority stakeholder in MTN mobile telecommunication firm, Nigeria.
– He owns real estate across Nigeria
Awards and Recognitions
In 2003, Tony got the title of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), a national honour by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
In 2006, Elumelu was voted African Business Leader of the Year by Africa Investor magazine. In the same year, he won the African Business Leader of The Year award given by the Africa Investor, United Kingdom-based magazine.
In 2007, he was elected Banker of The Year by a Nigerian Magazine, Global Excellence and also Chief Executive Officer of the Year in 2008 by the same magazine.
In 2008, He was recognized African Banker of the Year by African Banker magazine.
In 2009, He served the then Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s Presidential Committee on request on analyzing Global Financial Crisis.
In 2012, he was awarded the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) for his service in promoting private enterprise. He was also recognised as one of “Africa’s 20 Most Powerful People” by Forbes magazine. In addition, New African magazine featured him in their list of the “100 Most Influential Africans in Business”. He was awarded an honorary doctorate of science degree from Benue State University and an honorary doctorate of business administration from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
In 2013, Elumelu received the Leadership Award in Business and Philanthropy from the Africa-America Institute (AAI) Awards. He was also named African Business Icon at the 2013 African Business Awards.
In 2015, ESI-Africa, commonly called “Africa’s power journal”, named Elumelu in its 2015 “ESI Most Influential Figures in African Power” list.
In 2016, At the 5th edition of the annual Economic Forum of the Ivorian National Council of Employers, CGECI Academy, (CGECI) in Abidjan in April 2016, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award. In the same year, ‘Daily Times’ awarded him ‘Nigerian man of the year.’
In 2018, He was awarded the ‘2017 Philanthropist of the year’ award on February 28, 2018, by media publisher, Per Second News.
Tony Elumelu won The Seven Stars Man of The Year award in 2019.
Legacy
He has written these books from his wealth of experiences:
– How to Excel at Work
– The Power of Vision
