tony elumelu

Anthony Onyemaechi Elumelu CFR (born 22 March 1963) is a Nigerian economist and philanthropist. He chairs  Heirs Holdings, Transcorp, and is the founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

In 2020, Elumelu was named on Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Elumelu was born in Jos, Plateau, Nigeria, on 22 March 1963, to Suzanne and Dominic Elumelu from Onicha-Ukwu in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State. He grew up with four siblings.

He studied economics at Bendel State University (now Ambrose Alli University), obtaining a Bachelor of Science with a Lower Second Class (2:2). Afterwards, he studied and received a Master of Science degree in Economics at the University of Lagos.

Following his retirement from the United Bank for Africa in 2010, Elumelu founded the Tony Elumelu Foundation. The Tony Elumelu Foundation promotes entrepreneurship in Africa. The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s belief that the private sector’s role is critical for Africa’s development is hinged on the economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which was introduced by Elumelu; "that the African private sector has the power to transform the continent through long-term investments, creating both economic prosperity and social wealth."
In 2015, Elumelu committed $100 million to create 10,000 entrepreneurs across Africa over the next 10 years through the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme - a Pan-African entrepreneurship initiative designed to empower African entrepreneurs through a multi-year programme of training, funding, and mentoring.