Tinubu, UNDP, others applaud Elumelu over youth empowerment initiatives

A gathering of prominent global leaders, including Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, representatives from the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund, as well as numerous leaders from the public and private sectors, came together to commend the exceptional contributions of Tony Elumelu, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, to youth development and entrepreneurship in Africa.

These distinguished leaders expressed their admiration for Tony Elumelu, who also serves as the Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, recognizing 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.

A statement issued by UBA on Thursday, said, “the accolades were bestowed upon Tony Elumelu during the TEF-UNDP Breakfast Roundtable meeting, held on the sidelines of the ongoing 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.”

It hinted that the gathering also served as the platform for the launch of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Impact Report titled “The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme: A Decade of Impact.”

The PUNCH was told that President Tinubu, represented by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, urged other capable Africans to follow in the footsteps of Tony 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, highlighting Tony Elumelu’s role in driving investments, supporting SMEs, and promoting youth entrepreneurship and start-ups.

“Sanwo-Olu, in agreement with the minister, recognized Tony 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,” UBA disclosed.

UNDP’s Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, expressed her immense inspiration by Tony Elumelu’s vision for African youth. She emphasized the shared passion between UNDP and Tony Elumelu in promoting human development and providing opportunities for individuals to shape their destinies.