Mr. Tony Elumelu
1 Name: Anthony Onyemaechi Elumelu globally known as Tony Elumelu.
2 He is the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF).
3 Mr. Elumelu is the chairman of UBA Group.
4 The banking guru is also the chairman of Heirs Holdings Group.
5 He is equally the chairman of Transcorp Group.
6 This revered economist was born today, March 22, 1963, in Jos, Plateau State.
7 For his invaluable contributions to Nigeria, Mr. Elumelu was decorated with the prestigious national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, (CFR).
8 In 2020, Mr. Elumelu, a national icon was named on the Time’s list of 100 most influential persons in the world.
9 Aside being an accomplished banker and economist, Mr. Elumelu is also a globally acclaimed and celebrated philanthropist extraordinaire.
10 A great family man, Mr. Elumelu is happily married to the elegant and amiable Awele Vivian.
11 Mr. Elumelu is a graduate of the highly revered Harvard Business School, Ambrose Alli University and the University of Lagos, respectively.
12 He began his now very illustrious banking career at Union Bank, during his NYSC programme in 1985.
13 Unknown to many, Mr. Elumelu started his career first, as a copier salesman, at a very young age, prior to embracing the world of banking, where he currently rules and reigns supreme.
14 He also worked at the defunct All States Trust Bank founded by Ebitimi Banigo.
15 1n 1997, highly focused and visionary Mr. Elumelu, led a small team of investors to take over a struggling Crystal Bank, which was later renamed Standard Trust Bank (STB).
16 Amazingly, Mr. Elumelu the banking Czar turned STB around and made it very profitable within a few years of taking over.
17 Interestingly too, Mr. Elumelu again led one of the largest mergers in the banking sector in sub-Saharan Africa by acquiring United Bank for Africa (UBA), in 2005.
18 The Tony Elumelu Foundation primarily exists to promote entrepreneurship in Africa.
19 The economic philosophy of Africapitalism was coined and introduced by Mr. Elumelu.
20 Generous and large-hearted Mr. Elumelu in 2015, committed $100m to create 10,000 entrepreneurs across Africa for over the next 10 years, through his TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
21 Currently, Mr. Elumelu has granted 2.5 million Africans with access to training on TEFConnect.
22 Also, through TEF, Mr. Elumelu has equally lifted over two million individuals out of poverty.
23 Mr. Elumelu’s TEF has disbursed more than USD 100 million in direct funding to over 21,000 beneficiaries
24 The above beneficiaries from Mr. Elumelu’s TEF have created 1.5 million jobs and generated USD 4.2 billion in revenue across the continent.
25 In 2003, the federal government of Nigeria bestowed on Mr. Elumelu, the national honour of the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR.
26 In 2012, this unassuming billionaire was awarded the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, for his service in promoting private enterprise.
27 In 2018 and 2019, Mr. Elumelu was awarded the All-Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) Philanthropist of the Year Award.
28 Cerebral and celebrated Mr. Elumelu was honoured with the National Productivity Order of Merit Award in 2019.
29 In 2020, the Kingdom of Belgium conferred its Highest National Honour, the honorary distinction of Officer in the Order of Leopold, the country’s oldest and most important National Honour, on Mr. Elumelu.
30 For his unending giant strides in the nation’s private sector, Bayero University Kano (BUK) decorated Mr. Elumelu with a Honorary Doctor of Business degree in 2019.
31 Erudite Mr. Elumelu goes by the initials TOE, which stands for Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu.
32 He hails from Onicha Ukwu, in Aniocha North LGA of Delta State.
33 Mr. Elumelu grew up with four wonderful siblings.
34 One of his siblings is the famous politician and federal lawmaker, Ndudi Elumelu.
35, As a child growing up, Mr. Elumelu helped out at the small restaurant ran by his dear mother, Ma Suzanne.
36 Mr. Elumelu and his darling wife, Dr. Awele are blessed with seven lovely and beautiful children.
37 The banking guru is an adored and cherished mentor to many, especially African youths.
38 Mr. Elumelu, a living legend cum genius, became a banking CEO at the young age of 34.
39 He is also a proud father of twin sons.
40 Meticulous Mr. Elumelu is a strong advocate for women empowerment.
- He also has women at top and leadership positions in most of his companies.
42 His darling and delectable wife, Dr. Awele is the Chairperson of Avon Medical Practice Limited and Avon Healthcare Limited.
43 Mr. Elumelu’s TEF recently partnered UAE entities to empower African entrepreneurs.
44 The new partnership signed by Mr. Elumelu’s TEF with UAE entities will provide business training, mentorship, access to networks, and non-refundable $5,000 seed capital to an additional 1,000 young African entrepreneurs.
45 Mr. Elumelu, a calculated risk taker is also the chairman of Heirs Energies.
46 He is the globally celebrated and revered son of Pa and Ma Dominic and Suzanne Elumelu.
47 Mr. Elumelu recently delivered a topic titled Democratising Luck, in Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
48 He believes luck and opportunity should not be reserved for a select few.
49 Mr. Elumelu, a firm believer and proud promoter cum supporter of youths says they inspire him by creating jobs and eliminating poverty.
50 Mr. Elumelu says: My greatest fulfilment comes from the legacy we are building, the lives we are transforming, and the profound impact of what the Tony Elumelu Foundation now represents.
51 In the banking world, Mr. Elumelu’s mentor is the veteran banker, Ebitimi Banigo, founder of the defunct All States Trust Bank.
52 For his first degree, Mr. Elumelu studied Economics at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.
53 He later obtained an MSc in the same field of Economics, from the University of Lagos.
54 Mr. Elumelu is very passionate about the Nigerian entertainment industry and equally supports its growth and expansion financially.
55 He married the love of his life and mother of his lovely children, Dr. Awele in 1993.
56 Mr. Elumelu retired from UBA as GMD/CEO, in 2010, after taking the bank to its peak in the banking firmament.
57 A report published by Moneycentral estimated Mr. Elumelu’s net worth at $2.15 billion as of March 10, 2025.
58 Mr. Elumelu, who never stops reading and learning completed his Advanced Management Program (AMP 166), at Harvard Business School, US, in 2004.
59 Mr. Elumelu says: “Continuous learning has always been my guiding principle, a commitment to self-improvement that every leader should embrace”.
60 Mr. Elumelu’s Heirs Holdings, is his family-owned investment company.
61 Mr. Elumelu, a loving husband, caring father, proud Africapitalist and renowned African investor, is a true Nigerian hero, undisputed national treasure and African pride.
62 All of us at leading online newspaper, DAYLIGHT (www.daylightng.com), are wishing Mr. Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu, a happy and scintillating birthday as he clocks and celebrates 62 years of impactful services and contributions to Nigeria, Africa and indeed, humanity, today, Saturday, March 22, 2025.
Once again, happy birthday sir, enjoy your special day with smiles and more generosity cum philanthropy to humanity.
Azuh Amatus, a multiple award winning journalist, is the publisher of leading online newspaper, DAYLIGHT (www.daylightng.com) and author of FAMOUS FACES…Interactions With Nollywood Stars And Stakeholders (1&2).
He can be reached via: 08023380008, 08099400130 or azuhamtus@yahoo.com
