…Celebrating a Vision That Empowers Millions
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated renowned economist, banker and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu, on his 62nd birthday, describing him as a towering figure in African enterprise and a relentless advocate of economic transformation.
In a statement marking the milestone, Tinubu praised Elumelu’s resilience, commitment to excellence and his enduring belief in Africapitalism, a philosophy that promotes private sector-led development as a catalyst for Africa’s prosperity.
The president highlighted Elumelu’s leadership across key institutions, including Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa and Transcorp, noting that his influence continues to shape the continent’s economic landscape.
Central to this legacy is the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), which Tinubu commended for its transformative impact on youth empowerment through entrepreneurship.
According to the president, the foundation has trained millions of young Africans across 54 countries and provided thousands of entrepreneurs with seed capital, significantly advancing job creation and inclusive growth.
He described Elumelu’s sustained investment in youth development as critical to unlocking Africa’s economic potential and addressing unemployment challenges across the continent.
Tinubu joined family, friends and associates in wishing the business leader continued good health and greater accomplishments in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, TEF is intensifying efforts to align African entrepreneurship with global development priorities, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of the 2030 deadline.
The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Somachi Chris-Asoluka, disclosed this during a virtual media engagement ahead of the unveiling of 3,200 new beneficiaries for the 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme.
She explained that the selection framework now prioritises ventures that demonstrate measurable impact in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, climate action and digital innovation.
According to her, the goal is to ensure that African entrepreneurs are not only profit-driven but also actively contribute to closing development gaps and accelerating sustainable growth.
Reaffirming TEF’s commitment, Chris-Asoluka said the foundation would continue to provide training, mentorship and funding support, positioning young entrepreneurs as the driving force behind Africa’s long-term transformation.