Today, I turn a year older. And each year on this day, I find myself reflecting on something far greater than myself. For a long time, I believed luck was something that simply happened to you. Then I came to understand: luck can be engineered. Opportunity can be democratised. Hope

Last night in Paris, I sat with President Emmanuel Macron and fellow leaders of the Africa France Impact Coalition, and our conversation kept returning to the same truth: Africa’s greatest asset is her youth. But potential without opportunity is a promise broken. To me, joblessness is the betrayal of a

There are people who walk into your life and quietly become part of its foundation. My Father-in-law, Chief Israel C. Ogbue was one of those people for me and his passing leaves a space that cannot be filled. In January 2005, I led the merger between Standard Trust Bank and

On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, we held our first executive knowledge-sharing session for 2026. A time to reflect and rethink how we lead. The world around us is constantly shifting, creating opportunities and threats. Leadership cannot be passive, cannot be complacent. Neither arrogant nor distant. Leadership is often about simplicity

Over the weekend, Heirs Energies sealed a $750 million financing agreement with Afreximbank, refinancing existing borrowing and accelerating business expansion.  The deal was more important than just the money. It was a vindication of our bold acquisition back in 2021. It was a tribute to how far Heirs Energies and their superb management team have come. A truly indigenous

The relationship between Nigeria and the United States has long been defined by friendship, shared values, economic ties, and deep connections. As an entrepreneur, my role models have been those business titans who shaped modern America. Their philanthropic model drives my own philanthropic philosophy. I studied in the U.S.; my

Good to speak at CNN’s Global Perspectives on Africa in London with my good friend Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild and moderator Eleni Giokos. Great that CNN chose Africa for their first Global Perspectives – there is no greater global priority. It was good to see my friends Richard Quest,

Earlier today at the Board of Changemakers: “Financial Markets” plenary at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I discussed Africa’s readiness for AI adoption and ways it will transform financial markets. It was an engaging session discussing this with fellow panellists Tareq A. Al-Sadhan, CEO, Saudi

My speech in Abuja, the heart of Nigeria, our nation’s window to the world, spoke of how far we have come and how much further we must go. There is so much to be optimistic about – but my optimism requires public and private sectors to unite, for good. I

Africa and the Nordic countries share priorities. We came together this week to share, learn and partner.  Both regions are rich in natural resources and face demographic challenges: Africa grapples with a young growing population, the Nordics face an aging demographic.  These experiences and challenges are significant opportunities for equitable

It takes years to build a trusted brand and seconds to destroy it. When I speak with young entrepreneurs, I tell them that the power of brand is critical, it is the beginning of trust, the engine of loyalty, the foundation of that personal relationship between the consumer, the product

Heirs Holdings, the family-owned pan-African investment group created by Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, marks its 15th anniversary this month, celebrating a decade and a half of transformative, long-term investment in Africa. Established in 2010, Heirs Holdings was founded on a mission: to transform Africa, creating economic and social wealth; a

This weekend, Heirs Holdings Group’s senior management gathered.  We had one objective – strengthening our resilience, probing our own capacity to be resilient, testing our responses as individuals and as a business. We wanted to leave stronger, more certain, more sure of our ability to respond to all that a

Africa came to Abuja this week, hosted by the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, to mark a significant milestone: 32 years of Afreximbank, a pan-African institution that has shaped trade on the continent, and transformed lives through visionary capital deployment and strong public-private collaboration.  When I say only Africans will build Africa,

Sometimes we worry about the next generation. Are they up to the task? Will they lead and inspire? Most of us have heard something similar from our elders! A few years ago, I met a young man. He was humble and very sharp. He introduced himself as Rabiu Olowo.  I

I’m a determined and hardworking person with big dreams and a thirst for knowledge. I was born, raised, and educated in Africa. Millions of Africans share these traits. My personal journey would be incomplete without acknowledging the role luck played in my success. In 2010, my wife Awele—a doctor—and I

We know technology is transforming our world – we know that the transformation is getting ever faster.  Where is Africa? In the conversation or left outside?  Young Africans are digitally native, entrepreneurial, and hungry to build. What we need are more opportunities for partnership, more belief in our potential, and

From Dubai to Paris, and now Doha, I have brought Africa’s voice to some of the world’s most influential stages, championing a message I hold dear: Africapitalism.   At the Qatar Economic Forum, I spoke on the future of banking and finance. Representing the United Bank for Africa (UBA), and the

This week, I joined global leaders in Paris to support a cause that is very dear to me: inclusive prosperity for all.  At the invitation of my good friend, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, I participated in the 2025 Steering Committee Meeting of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, and a