Anthony Onyemaechi Elumelu also known as Tony Elumelu is every bit an Ivory Icon. With dedication, hardwork and share will to succeed, he prioritised his academic studies, excelled and with that foundational knowledge and the zeal to succeed he soared to the zenith of the corporate world. For youths seeking to excel through the IVORY TOWERS he is a role-model that needs studying to obtain life tips from.
He was born on the 22nd of March 1963, in Jos, Plateau, Nigeria, to Suzanne and Dominic Elumelu from Onicha-Ukwu in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. He is an economist and philanthropist. He chairs Heirs Holdings, Transcorp, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and is the founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation.
He studied Economics at Bendel State University (now Ambrose Alli University) were he obtained a Bachelor of Science with a Second Class Degree with lower Division (2.2). Afterward, he studied and received a Master of Science Degree in Economics at the University of Lagos.
As a Youth Corper in 1985 he worked with Union Bank of Nigeria before starting his career as a salesman. In 1997, He led a small group of investors to take over a struggling Crystal Bank (later renamed Standard Trust Bank). He turned it profitable within a few years and in 2005, he led one of the largest mergers in the banking sector in Sub-Saharan Africa by acquiring United Bank of Africa (UBA).
He grew UBA from a local bank to an international bank with subsidiaries in Africa, France, the U.S and U.K, eventually stepping down in 2010. In 2010, he founded Heirs Holdings, his family-owned investment holding company, that same year he established the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an African-based foundation championing entrepreneurship in Africa. Heirs Holdings maintains a portfolio of investments across several sectors. Through Heirs Holdings, Elumelu holds a controlling interest in Transnational Corporation, a diversified conglomerate with business interests in Power, Hospitality and Energy.
He has received recognitions for his contributions to business and entrepreneurship: In 2003, the Federal Government of Nigeria awarded him the title of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic MFR, a national honour. 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 amongst TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020. In 2022, he received the National honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic.
He is happily married with children.
Culled from Wikipedia.
Watch out for our online interview with Anthony Onyemaechi Elumelu to learn first-hand and from the horse’s mouth the steps he took and the mind-set he cultivated to succeed in life with the Ivory towers as a springboard to success.
