Elumelu named 2017 ‘Philanthropist of the year’

Mr Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings and founder Tony Elumelu Foundation, (TEF) has been named Per Second News 2017 “philanthropist of the year”, in recognition of his tireless charitable work.

Mr Elumelu was selected by a blue-ribbon panel of judges comprising notable religious, business, government and leaders from the non-profit sector.

The Per Second News recognizes the Tony Elumelu Foundation, TEF, whose grant programs, donations and exceptional generosity significantly enrich the community.

In 2017, the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s focus on impact investing, socioeconomic development and making thousands of Africans self-reliant stands out amongst other foundations.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) in 2017 selected 1,000 entrepreneurs across 54 countries in Africa for the year’s edition of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP), the third in the 10-year $100 million programme.

The selected entrepreneurs  over the course of nine months were mentored, trained and they used the skills acquired to develop a business plan, following which they were eligible to receive up to $10,000 in seed capital.

With Sierra Leone facing the staggering effects of a devastating mudslide in August 2017, Mr Tony Elumelu, donated $500,000 to help alleviate the suffering of people affected by the flood and mudslide.  At least 499 people died , with over 600 missing and over 3,000 people losing their homes in the disaster.

Along with Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Elumelu visited survivors at the Connaught Hospital, the principal adult referral hospital in Freetown, the country’s capital, calling on other wealthy individuals and organizations around the world to support relief efforts in Sierra Leone.

The founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, four years ago, donated about $300,000 towards Ebola containment and relief across Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

He also donated N1 billion towards the rehabilitation of victims of Boko Haram in Nigeria.

” The Tony Elumelu Foundation has taken our children off the streets, said Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III,  last July, in recognition of Mr Elumelu’s   contribution to entrepreneurship and creation of jobs for young people in the North.

Mr Elumelu was also part of the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation that provided N250 million as relief assistance to victims of the devastating floods in Benue State in 2017.

The dates for the award ceremony will be announced soon and will be chaired by Former Senate Leader, and current Chairman Board of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, (SAN).