Elumelu, UBA chairman bags prestigious Dwight D. Eisenhower Global honours
United States based Business council for International Understanding (BCIU), a non-profit Business association dedicated to forging relationships and promoting dialogue between business and government communities across the globe, has crowned chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony O. Elumelu with the prestigious Dwight D. Eisenhower Global Entrepreneurship Award.
Leading global hotel mogul, Bill Marriott, chairman, Marriott International Inc. was also honoured with same prestigious award
Details showed that the award was conferred on Elumelu in recognition of his outstanding work in promoting Entrepreneurship on the continent of Africa and across the globe. Elumelu, himself a serial entrepreneur, through his Tony Elumelu Foundation, has funded over 3,000 African entrepreneurs to date with his U$D100 million ccommitment to 10,000 entrepreneurs over a period of 10 years.
These entrepreneurs are expected to create a million new jobs and over U$D10 billion in revenue as a result of the initiative of Elumelu’s Foundation.
At the award’s gala, former American President George W. Bush, acknowledged the efforts of the African entrepreneur saying ‘I am impressed with Tony’s philanthropic initiatives which are powering job creation and entrepreneurship in a region(Africa), that is very dear to Laura and me. To receive an award founded by President Eisenhower, has added meaning. Eisenhower provided example in leadership, which we can all learn from. Additionally, his belief in promoting international understanding is a vitally important responsibility.
Earlier in his remarks, Peter Tichansky, the CEO of BCIU said “Mr Elumelu’s bold approach and can-do mindset are exemplary characteristics of a visionary entrepreneur. He embodies the idea that companies must take the lead in bringing business and society together. His advocacy is proving that businesses, acting as businesses and not charitable donors, are the most powerful force for addressing social challenges and economic development”
He further linked the honours to Elumelu’s drive and campaign towards the concept of Africapitalism, which essentially states that Africa’s private sector must play a leading role in the development and growth of the continent.
