I received notice from usually very reliable sources within the UBA Group of the appointment of Mr Elumelu by the IMF into its Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth convened by its MD, Kristalina Georgieva late last night.
On scanning through the document, I saw that he was to join such massive global personalities like HRH Reema Al-Saud, Prof Ufuk Akcigit, co-founder of Salesforce, Mr Benioff, Executive Chair Santander Ms Ana Botin, Chairman Tata Group, Mr N. Chandrasekaran and CE of Vodafone Group, Ms Margherita Della Valle to mention a few. It is in such distinguished gatherings that we find Tony these days.
I remember that Sunny day when the CBN made the announcement rendering him and his other colleagues jobless. It was as if he was waiting for it and was first to announce a successor and went ahead to build what is today one of the most terrific international careers; forging a new pathway straddling the triplet tombstones of Philanthropy, impact and entrepreneurship.
I have always wanted to sit down with Tony to better understand how he evolved from a swash-buckling Bank CEO to an internationally regarded persona who has massively leveraged thought leadership into a veritable vehicle of massive global impact. A foray which has now given him facial recognition within the hallowed halls of global power.
Most Nigerian bank CEOs would retire into the Ministry, go into Real Estate, fight for political appointments, struggle for Board seats or go for the most slavish of all – set up a Finance house or start up a microfinance bank to start all over again.
What we have seen in most cases has been the end of the road for vision once the top post in a financial institution has been achieved. But for Tony, it seems as if that end was just the beginning – the energy surged, the spark to engage at an international level was ignited, and today, we see a figure bigger in stature than most and even more respected than some African Heads of Government where it matters the most.
The undying push for media exposure, which sometimes could be draining being a little side effect to all of this energy but a tiny speck in this white cloth of gallant engagements
The document says he has empowered over 25,000 African Entrepreneurs since 2015 on the back of his ‘concept of Africapitalism’ and his belief in a private sector-led role in Africa’s economic reformation puts him in stead for this highly distinguished appointment.
For me, it’s the unique crystallization of the tripod in building a superb personal branding that is the niche for me. Pushing on philanthropy, engaging with visibly captivating entrepreneurial pursuits with manifest and penetrative effects on such varied sectors like Oil and Gas, Power, Finance and Hospitality and then pushing the impact button with the training and mentoring all now wrapped around a robust aptitude towards thought leadership stands Tony out as a serious African figure.
You would be surprised at my effusive praise of thus fellow but then again, you would be more understanding of my praise, if you as I have, taken the time to study this trajectory from its humble beginnings at the All State Trust Bank through to the guilded halls of global finance and leadership to where we see Tony in a front row of a picture taken with International Heads of Governments perched at the back row, you will then see very clearly the reason behind this uncharacteristic splash of praise this hot afternoon.
What spices it all up is his playful approach towards Fashion and music, where he has been known to dance with the biggest African stars while adorned in some very chic ensembles, which makes me salivate throwing up an image of a fun loving, jet set African James Bond like character but with the focus and the eagle eyed passion for ethical fulfilment.
Let me now calmly send my congratulations to Mr Elumelu even as I look forward to discussing the very urgently needed push to attempt an institutionalisation of this newfound pathway to building an enduring and very influential global brand from the aforementioned tripod with nothing but passion and genuine interest as fuel.
Well done, my brother. Well done
Thanks
Duke of Shomolu
