The exceptional contributions of Tony Elumelu, the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), to youth development and entrepreneurship in Africa, have been commended by prominent global leaders from the public and private sectors.
These distinguished leaders expressed their admiration for Elumelu, during the TEF-UNDP Breakfast Roundtable meeting, held on the sidelines of the ongoing 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
They hailed Elumelu, who also serves as the Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc. recognising his unwavering commitment to youth empowerment, his advocacy for entrepreneurship, and his dedication to the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) across the continent.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite urged other capable Africans to follow in the footsteps of Elumelu by investing in youth empowerment. She stressed the importance of ensuring that the continent becomes self-reliant and no longer depends on foreign donors.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in agreement with the minister, recognised Elumelu’s efforts in empowering and building the youth. He noted that these efforts align perfectly with Lagos State’s initiatives for economic empowerment and poverty reduction.
UNDP’s Assistant Secretary-General Ahunna Eziakonwa, expressed her immense inspiration from Elumelu’s vision for African youth. She emphasised the shared passion between UNDP and Elumelu in promoting human development and providing opportunities for individuals to shape their destinies.
In his presentation, Elumelu commended all partners, including UNICEF, UNDP, and UBA, acknowledging UBA’s significant support. He reminded the audience of the inception of TEF seed capital funding, emphasising its roots in his vision to effect change in Africa using African solutions.
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