Chairman, UBA, Heirs Holdings and Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony O. Elumelu, CON, yesterday charged journalists of the State House Press Corps to begin planning a future around entrepreneurship as a sustainable retirement plan. He made this statement while speaking to a cross-section of journalists at the State House Press Corps End of Year Seminar in Abuja with the theme “Journalists and Retirement Plan”.
Elumelu acknowledged the important role journalists play in the society. He said: “Information is power and access to credible real-time information empowers citizens. Empowered citizens can hold leadership accountable. Your job is critical and supportive to what we do in the private sector. What you do daily shapes what we do every day”.
He went on to encourage the cross-section of journalists present to plan a retirement built around entrepreneurship to not only develop the mind but build a career fuelled by passion and purpose. “Retirement should be a stepping stone to a higher calling. Don’t just retire. Begin a new phase,” he said.
Elumelu approached entrepreneurship from the angle of Africapitalism which he defined as the intersection of business, passion and purpose. He encouraged the journalists to pursue an after-retirement plan that combines all three. “Africapitalism is business driven by passion and purpose. Retire into what you are passionate about. Use your passion to drive your purpose,” he summarised.
The event was graced by the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Osinbajo who gave the opening remarks. Other guests present included Nasarawa State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Honourable Abdulhamid Yakubu Kwarra; Chief Host, Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; the representative of the Nasarawa State Governor, Mallam Abdulhamid Kwarra; Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Chairman State House Press Corps, Mallam Ubale Musa; and the Permanent Secretary State House, Mr. Jalal Arabi.
