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As an entrepreneur who made it to the top despite all hurdles and lifting others to the top, it’s obvious Tony O. Elumelu, the Chairman of United Bank for Africa and Heirs Holdings always thinks long term. Elumelu has established himself as one of the top five multi-sectoral big players in the continent’s economy. He has broken grounds and holds sway at the commanding height in various sectors unrelated to his core skills as a banker including hospitality, power, oil and gas, health and real estate. Indeed, as one of Nigeria’s most prominent businessmen, the billionaire is also one of the most consistent philanthropists around.
Even though he has earned his reputation as a successful investor, Elumelu has severally been honoured for his enterprising work through his Tony Elumelu Foundation. Like a great force surging the ground, Elumelu’s foundation, for over a decade, has been responsible for initiatives creating millions of jobs and employment for young Africans across the continent, through his philanthropy.
On the account of Elumelu’s pedigree as an intentional and strategic philanthropist —which is indeed worthy of commendation and emulation— the billionaire has been ramping up honours in recognition of his contributions to humanity. In March, the Delta State-born banking guru was honoured with the TIME100 Impact Award for his efforts towards empowering African entrepreneurs to create jobs on the continent. In 2020, he was also conferred with the honorary distinction of Officer in the Order of Leopold by the Kingdom of Belgium. While at home, Elumelu received his third national honours recently from President Muhammadu Buhari who once presented him the National Productivity Order of Merit Award. Just on Monday December 5, he got his latest recognition at the Annual Chief of Army Staff Conference in Sokoto. But the torrent of honours is not ceasing yet as it has been a season of back-to-back honours for the philanthropist.
Early this week, Elumelu was honoured by Presidents of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the laureate of the 2022 ECOWAS Prize of Excellence Award for Deserving Citizens of the Community. “It is such an honour to be the laureate of the 2022 ECOWAS Prize of Excellence Award for Deserving Citizens of the Community, conferred by the Presidents of the ECOWAS states. This award is a recognition of our contribution to promoting regional integration, peace and socio-economic development across Africa, through our work at Heirs Holdings and the impact of our philanthropy, the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Thank you ECOWAS Presidents for the honour,” Elumelu announced gleefully in a social media post.
