Tony Elumelu was born in Jos, Nigeria, in 1963 and built his early career in banking before leading the transformation of United Bank for Africa into one of the largest pan-African banking groups, now operating across more than twenty African countries. He chairs Heirs Holdings, a pan-African investment company with positions in financial services, energy, hospitality and technology.
Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation he has launched one of the most extensive entrepreneurship programmes on the continent, supporting tens of thousands of young African entrepreneurs through seed capital and mentorship. His 'Africapitalism' framework — long-term private investment as a primary engine of African development — has become a reference point in continental policy debates.
Elumelu is among the most internationally visible voices on African private-sector development.