Tinubu celebrates Tony Elumelu at 62, applauds Africapitalism vision

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm congratulations to Tony Elumelu on the occasion of his 62nd birthday, lauding his contributions to business, philanthropy and economic development across Africa.

Elumelu, who chairs Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria, marks the milestone on March 22, 2026.

In a statement released on Saturday, the president described Elumelu as a leading figure in African enterprise, praising his resilience, pursuit of excellence and steadfast promotion of Africapitalism — an economic philosophy that emphasises private sector-driven growth and shared prosperity.

Tinubu also highlighted the impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, noting its role in empowering millions of young Africans through entrepreneurship. He said the foundation has trained about 2.5 million youths across 54 countries and provided more than 24,000 entrepreneurs with $5,000 in non-refundable seed funding.

According to the president, Elumelu’s sustained investment in youth development remains vital to job creation and the continent’s broader economic transformation. He joined the celebrant’s family, friends and associates in wishing him continued good health and greater achievements.

Meanwhile, the Tony Elumelu Foundation is intensifying efforts to mobilise young entrepreneurs in support of Africa’s progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of the 2030 target.

Speaking during a virtual media briefing on Saturday, the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Somachi Chris-Asoluka, said the organisation is prioritising businesses that align with the SDGs as part of efforts to accelerate development across the continent.

The briefing preceded the announcement of the 2026 cohort of 3,200 young African entrepreneurs selected for the foundation’s flagship entrepreneurship programme, scheduled for Sunday, March 22.

Chris-Asoluka explained that the selection process places strong emphasis on impact, encouraging applicants to demonstrate how their ventures contribute to key development areas such as education, healthcare, climate action and digital innovation.

She stressed that aligning business ideas with global development priorities is essential to addressing Africa’s development challenges and ensuring sustainable growth.

“Our goal is to see African entrepreneurs play a central role in achieving the SDGs, so that by 2030, the continent can meet and even exceed these targets,” she said.

She added that the foundation remains committed to supporting early-stage businesses through training, mentorship and funding, while promoting enterprises capable of delivering both economic returns and measurable social impact.