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LAGOS, NIGERIA – Renowned African philanthropist and business leader Tony Elumelu is set to focus on transformative economic growth, youth employment, and energy transition as key priorities during this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in late September in New York, USA.
Elumelu will call for urgent action through various engagements, including a roundtable discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, and an event co-hosted by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, led by WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain.
Bringing insights from his extensive experience in building successful businesses across Africa, Elumelu will also highlight the achievements of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which empowers young Africans through its catalytic programs.
A pragmatic leader, Elumelu challenges both Africa and Africans to devise their own solutions, while emphasizing the continent’s responsibility to act proactively.
As Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group and pan-African investment company Heirs Holdings, as well as Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he is a significant advocate for Africa’s transformation agenda, shaping the continent’s narrative on the global stage with innovative strategies for collaboration and growth.
The success of his foundation in promoting youth entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty has been recognized in case studies by prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Chicago Business School, Stanford, and Cambridge.
With over 60% of Africans lacking access to electricity and young people comprising more than 60% of the continent’s 1.3 billion population, Africa faces numerous challenges that have global implications.
Recent tragedies, such as the floods in West Africa, illustrate the climate-driven environmental crises fueled by global emissions, while Africa’s development is hindered by significant infrastructure deficits.
In a recent statement, Elumelu emphasized, “There is nowhere else in the world where you can reap the kind of investments as in Africa. However, I am acutely aware of the fundamental challenges our continent faces.
“Addressing sustainable economic growth, youth unemployment, gender inequality, and Africa’s energy transition is critical for meeting basic developmental needs and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, thereby unlocking Africa’s immense economic potential.”
As an economist and visionary entrepreneur, Elumelu’s philosophy of Africapitalism serves as a blueprint for accelerating economic transformation, advocating for the private sector to lead in creating social and economic wealth, and fostering shared prosperity.
In conjunction with Elumelu’s advocacy, the United Bank for Africa, which he chairs, will host a networking gala on the sidelines of UNGA, showcasing investment opportunities in Africa.
The gala will bring together prominent leaders from across four continents, commemorating UBA Group’s 75th anniversary and its 40 years of operations in the United States.
