Elumelu and British PM Theresa May
Top Story

Tony Elumelu to Deliver Keynote Address at TICAD Africa Development Conference in Japan

309

Tony O. Elumelu, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), will speak at the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), taking place in Yokohama, Japan from August 28 – 30, 2019. As the leading champion of entrepreneurship in Africa, Mr. Elumelu will ensure that the voice of a new generation of African entrepreneurs, capable of transforming the continent, is heard at the highest level.

Elumelu will speak alongside global and African political and business leaders, including Prime Minister Shinzō Abe of Japan; H.E. Mr. Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria; H.E. Mr. Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt and Chair of the African Union (AU); H.E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa; and H.E. Mr. Paul Kigame, President of Rwanda.

Mr Elumelu will deliver a keynote speech at the Plenary Public-Private Business Dialogue, the core session, that brings together Japanese and African public and private sector leaders at TICAD.  At this event, Elumelu will promote his philosophy, Africapitalism, which posits entrepreneurship being the key to unlocking economic transformation in Africa as he highlights the urgent need to empower young entrepreneurs and how critical it is for governments and other policy makers to create the enabling environment that ensures entrepreneurial led growth.

Following a welcome address by the Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Shinzo Abe, Mr. Elumelu will deliver the keynote address at the official Business Forum, hosted by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). The Conference provides a unique platform for key decision makers from Japan and Africa, both in business and politics, to identify opportunities for investment and knowledge exchange.

At a time when international governments and agencies are increasingly recognising that the route to Africa’s transformation is through African-led solutions and private sector growth, Mr. Elumelu’s track record of success, founding UBA, now one of Africa’s leading financial services groups, with presence in twenty African countries, New York, Paris and London as well as his multi-sector proprietary investment holding company, Heirs Holdings, employing over 30,000 Africans, typifies a new generation of African business dynamism.

Mr. Elumelu during his visit to Japan, will join H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and Co-Chair of the Leaders’ Group of Generation Unlimited (Gen-U), and UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, to co-chair a UNICEF [and Africa Union] breakfast meeting focused on catalysing investment in African youths and developing a specific vision for job creation in Africa.  The event will seek specific commitments from African leaders for the implementation of a business plan for digital connectivity in Africa such as the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s TEF Connect, the largest digital network for African entrepreneurs.

Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Elumelu is forging the new narrative for Africa.  In the first five years of the Foundation’s flagship Entrepreneurship Programme, 7,521 African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries have benefitted from Elumelu’s personal commitment of $100m  seed capital funding, mentorship, and training. Six of the beneficiaries of the Programme have been sponsored to attend TICAD conference, sponsored by the UNDP.

Elumelu will be accompanied by a delegation from the United Bank for Africa and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, including Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Dupe Olusola, Group Head, Marketing, UBA, and Muyiwa Akinyemi, Group Head Corporate Banking, UBA.

Organised by the Japanese Government, TICAD is a three yearly forum for advancing Africa’s development through people, technology and innovation, bringing together government, business leaders, companies and other stakeholders.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Horror as loverboy lures girl to his house, slaughters her for money rituals in Ogun

A young man and suspected ritualist, who specializes in luring beautiful girls...

Abuja, Anambra stampede fatalities: Pres. Tinubu cancels official engagements, mourns

President Bola Tinubu has cancelled his official events in Lagos as a...

Deadly Stampede in Abuja: Police Report 10 Fatalities, Several Injuries

A food distribution event at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama turned...

Breaking: NNPC Ltd. Slashes Petrol Price to N899 Per Litre

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced a significant...

No Shutdown: NNPC Ltd. Denies Report on Old Port Harcourt Refinery

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has dismissed reports that...

Breaking: Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello, Regains Freedom After Meeting Bail Terms

Former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has been released from Kuje Custodial...

Justice Minister slams Edo Gov. Okpebholo over suspension of LG chairmen, declares it illegal

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi,...

Cyber attack hits National Bureau of Statistics website, recovery process initiated

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced on Wednesday night that its...

Alleged N110bln money laundering charge: Court admits Yahaya Bello to another N500m bail

Yahaya Bello, the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, has been granted...

Updated: 32 feared dead in Ibadan funfair tragedy: Ooni’s ex-wife, others arrested

At least, 32 children were feared killed during a stampede at a...

Ibadan Children’s Carnival Turns Deadly: Multiple Fatalities and Injuries Reported

Tragedy struck in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as a devastating stampede...

Breaking: Pres. Tinubu Presents “Budget of Restoration of “N4.96trn for 2025, Allocating N4.9trn for Security

President Bola Tinubu has presented a proposed budget of N4.96 trillion for...

N4.9trn budget presentation: Tinubu presents 2025 budget, declares 10th NASS members re-elected

President Bola Tinubu made a surprising declaration during his 2025 budget presentation...

Just in: Tinubu presents N47.9trn budget amid tight security at National Assembly

A heavy security presence has been deployed at the National Assembly complex...

NNPC Ltd. Secured $1bln Loan to Support Dangote Refinery, Facilitates $3bln Gazelle Loan – Soneye

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has said that it...

Port Harcourt refinery operating smoothly, say labour, oil workers on fact-finding mission

A recent fact-finding visit by labour leaders has dispelled the uncertainties surrounding...

Rescheduled: Pres.Tinubu to present N47.9trn 2025 budget on Dec. 18

President Bola Tinubu has rescheduled the presentation of the N47.9 trillion 2025...

UniAbuja Renamed Yakubu Gowon University in Honour of ex-Nigerian Leader

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has given the green light to rename...

Tragedy as Benue boat mishap claims 20 lives, 11 rescued

A boat mishap on River Benue has claimed 20 lives in the...

Tinubu Chairs 66th ECOWAS Summit to Address Regional Instability

President Bola Tinubu is currently chairing the 66th Ordinary Summit of the...