Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu is indeed an amazing person of many parts: high finance (in any currency), banking, insurance, real estate, hospitality, power, oil and gas, healthcare, philanthropy and even style! He is a brand of immense value who is ever vibrant and youthful. His sense of innovation and reach is always evolving. He believes Africa does not need hand outs but investments for true all round prosperity for all.
Very well educated in leading educational institutions worldwide, banking can be said to be where he first made his mark and fortune before branching out to other sectors of the economy based on the needs (not mere wants) of man. He studied Economics as a first degree. Audacious in planning and strategy, he as Standard Trust Bank’s CEO took the very bold step of acquiring the first generation bank UBA which needed the vibrancy and nimbleness of a new generation bank. Today’s UBA blends the newness of a very modern and efficient bank with world class standards and the solidity of a first generation bank! Thus, guaranteeing the best of both worlds. His tenure as CEO of UBA coupled with the past tenure of high achieving CEOs like Ugo Kennedy Uzoka and the current GMD/CEO Oliver Alawuba continues to make UBA shareholders laugh (not just smile) to the bank. Their bank, our bank. It has won all the awards worth winning both locally and internationally. Staff are satisfied with sterling conditions of service. Customers are also satisfied with near zero down time and the presence of branches close by nationwide. And if glitches do occur, it is majorly the fault of the network providers. No other bank in Nigeria has more branches in Africa and the bank has branches in the United Kingdom, Dubai and the United States. The bank operates in over 24 countries and five continents. Full fledged branches all, no half measures.
Heirs holdings is the principal arm of his other investments notably United Capital, Transcorp Hotel and power holdings, Avon Healthcare, Afriland Properties, Heirs Energies, Heirs Life (insurance) and more! Only the Tony Elumelu foundation has single handedly empowered hundreds of young African entrepreneurs with hundreds of thousands of American dollars to found, establish and grow their businesses! In the world of entertainment, his annual Christmas parties are in a class of their own with top performers entertaining guests live, complete with gourmet dishes and exclusive drinks from far and wide. Takeaway gifts are also given to all guests. Till date, one of his regular entertaining performers is Wizkid and his songs are some of TOE’s favourites. He can be generous too, as it is rumored that Wizkid got paid $3m for his UBA endorsement! A discerning employer for whom honesty, diligence and loyalty ranks very highly, he is a devout Catholic Christian and family man happily married to Dr. Awele Elumelu (née Ogbue) and they are blessed with children of both sexes. TOE is a keep fit fan and always looks dapper in his outfits – he definitely loves the colour black. He often reaches out to empower childhood friends and family members. He continues to make a major impact in the lives of many, and he remains an inspiration to our youth who see him as a very befitting role model.
