To Our Future Leaders: Four Guiding Pillars of Success
Last week, I addressed the 2024 graduating class of Bridge House College, Ikoyi. Entering the hall, catching the anticipation on those faces, it took me back to my childhood. I grew up with limited means and few privileges, my mum was an entrepreneur, running a restaurant, but there was love
2023: A landmark year for UBA
This year marks a defining chapter for us at UBA – celebrating a landmark anniversary, superlative financial results, and remarkable impact across Africa and beyond. Earlier this week, we formally announced the kick-off of our 75th anniversary celebrations and recognition of the numerous innovations pioneered by UBA. Today, at the
Building to Last: Celebrating Milestones and Transformation
Today marks a very proud moment in our journey of growth, value creation, and transformation.Celebrating UBA’s 75th anniversary and Transcorp Power’s Annual General Meeting, the first since listing on the Nigerian Exchange. These are two significant milestones in our journey of building lasting legacies and upholding exceptional corporate governance. Creating
Leadership Lessons – From 47,000 Feet
The future of Africa lies in the hands of our youth. I am constantly amazed by the young disruptors I meet. Take Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, who leads Flutterwave, one of Africa’s fintech unicorns. We met recently at a conference in India, where he invited me to speak with his employees.
Worker’s Day: Recognition and Reward for our HH People
Worker’s Day this year made me reflect. It has been a tough year – and we know things are not getting easier. The Group has made great strides – but our success is more than just figures, it is the success of all of us. We are a family –
Take Off! Six Insights from the 2024 UBA GMAP Graduation Ceremony
Last week, I led the induction with UBA’s newest cohort of graduate trainees – our GMAP Class of 24! I love these sessions, I meet new members of our UBA-Tribe, I hear their stories, answer their questions and welcome them to our Group. I vividly recall starting my career as
Uniting Talent – Delivering Opportunity – Transforming Lives
Today, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Academy graduates the 8th cohort of our “Graduate Management Accelerated Program (GMAP)” — a program focused on nurturing young African professionals and equipping them with the skillset to drive the deepening of the financial services sector in Africa. Moments like this remind me
Empower an Entrepreneur, Empower a Community, Empower a Continent.
Entrepreneurship catalyses. Entrepreneurship catalyses people, communities, countries. Entrepreneurship can change a nation, can change a continent. Earlier this week, while in South Africa, I visited one of the beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and was blown away by the impact that had been created. I always love meeting entrepreneurs,
Empowering Africa: Collaborative Solutions for Youth Empowerment and Economic Development.
Earlier this week, I joined Jutta Urpilainen, European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships, to discuss the EU’s approach to the Sahel. Impressive engagement by the EU – it was refreshing, there was mutual respect – TEF and European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships have worked closely together on female entrepreneurship.
Oramah’s Developmental Commercial Banking Idea needs Elumelu’s Africapitalism.
Professor Benedict Oramah’s recent articulation of Development Commercial Banking is very compelling. According to him, Development Commercial Banking is “… a careful blend of investment banking and commercial banking aimed at delivering three outcomes, namely positive socioeconomic impact to society, as well as solid financial returns and goodwill to the
Growth, Gratitude, and Impact.
Today is about impact, reflection, and gratitude. In 2015, Awele and I made a commitment to empower 10,000 African entrepreneurs, over 10 years, through the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme. I recall vividly that full room, as I shared my dreams of changing the lives of young Africans. I remembered
Illuminating Nigeria’s Future: Transcorp Power’s Milestone Listing on the NGX.
Yesterday, was a proud day for me: Transcorp Power listed its shares via introduction on the Main Board of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), adding more than N1.8 trillion to the market capitalization of NGX. Transcorp Power gained 10% and closed its first day of trading at N264 per share up
Transcorp Power Lists on the Nigerian Exchange; Gains 10% First Day of Trading
Transcorp Power Plc, a power subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group), has listed its shares via introduction on the Main Board of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), adding more than N1.8 trillion to the market capitalization of NGX and further boosting liquidity in the Nigerian capital market. The listing was
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL LAUNCHES TONY ELUMELU FOUNDATION CASE STUDY
Spotlights Role of African Philanthropy in Transforming the Development Agenda in Africa At a time of renewed geopolitical interest in Africa, and an increasing questioning of traditional development finance models, Harvard Business School today released a case study examining the role and impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), and
The Tony Elumelu Foundation: An Empowering Journey Towards Entrepreneurial Impact
Today is a proud day for me and the entire team at the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and Heirs Holdings (HH). Harvard Business School (HBS) launched its case study on the work of TEF, documenting our 14 years of impact, across all 54 countries in Africa. Titled “The Tony Elumelu
From Harvard to Full Circle: A Leadership Journey in Transformative Philanthropy
2004, Harvard Business School. I had just completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP 166) at Harvard. Continuous learning has always been my guiding principle, a commitment to self-improvement that every leader should embrace. During my tenure as CEO of Standard Trust Bank (STB), following the acquisition of Crystal Bank, my
The Business of Philanthropy: A Conversation with Badr Jafar.
In 2021, I sat with Badr Jafar, Founding Patron of the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy to discuss ways to alleviate the socio-economic challenges in Africa, and the relationship between entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Click to watch. To listen to the audio version, click here. #TOEWay
Standard Trust Bank Reunion: Nurturing a Legacy of Excellence, Enterprise, and Execution.
I reunited some of my team from Standard Trust Bank (STB) days. Our first reunion!It was an amazing get-together: Some now work elsewhere; or have become entrepreneurs, something I love to see, and some, of course, work with Heirs Holdings or UBA Group. STB was born in 1997 and quickly
New Year Interactive Session With Group Staff.
On Sunday, I had an interactive session with Group Executives across Heirs Holdings and UBA Group to commend the team on the successes achieved in 2023 and set the agenda for 2024.Here are the 6 points I shared with leaders across our Groups to adopt for success: 1. Vision Alignment.
Nurturing Excellence: Building a Community of Purpose-Driven Leaders.
In the companies I lead, we don’t just welcome new hires; we induct trailblazers into a community driven by a shared purpose. Reflecting on our induction sessions, where I have the privilege of engaging with the newest members, I will share my thoughts on the importance of nurturing excellence through
