Tony Elumelu: A Man Who Hardly Backs Down From Any Challenge – Dangote

Tony Elumelu: A Man Who Hardly Backs Down From Any Challenge – Dangote

TIME named Tony Elumelu as one of Africa’s leading investors and philanthropists, in the 2020 TIME100, the annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world a few days ago.

The Chairman of UBA Group who is one of only four Africans on the 2020 list, was recognized for his track record of business turnaround and value creation, and economic empowerment of young Africans.

In a tribute to Elumelu, billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote described him as a man who hardly backs down from any challenge, an attribute that has propelled him into becoming one of the most innovative and ambitious business leaders of his generation.

Below is what Alhaji Aliko Dangote wrote about Mr Tony Elumelu, founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading African philanthropy committed to empowering African entrepreneurs,  on the 2020 TIME 100 list.

“A mere handshake says a lot about Tony Elumelu. His gritty grip underlines his charming, tenacious personality: a man who hardly backs down from any challenge. The same engaging qualities have propelled him from a modest beginning in Nigeria to becoming chair of the United Bank of Africa, and one of the most innovative and ambitious business leaders of his generation.

He is a leading proponent of “Africapitalism,” a belief that Africa’s private sector can and must play a leading role in the continent’s development through long-term investments, as well as entrepreneurship and regional connectivity.

After deepening the financial market in Africa, he has found an equally important niche: giving a voice of hope to millions of youths across Africa. Tony has harnessed Africa’s youth bulge to catalyze development and protect the future, committing to investing $5,000 each in 1,000 young entrepreneurs per year across 54 countries in Africa. Having come so far, Tony still forges on, striking a fine balance between personal satisfaction and societal impact.”

Aliko Dangote is the president of Dangote Industries Ltd