Biography
Widely acknowledged as one of the most influential CORPORATE LEADERS IN NIGERIA, Mr. Elumelu epitomizes a new generation of prolific African entrepreneurs. A proponent of Public-Private-Partnership for nation building, he serves on the Presidential Committee on The Global Financial Crisis. He is the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Chairman of Board of ValuCard Nigeria Plc, Chairman of Board of UBA Metropolitan Life Insurance Nigeria Ltd, Member of the Advisory Board of Development Partners International LLP (Financial Services Authority regulated), London, Chairman, UBA Capital (Europe) Limited (Financial Services Authority regulated), Member, Presidential Council for the Promotion of Investments (CPI), Burkina Faso and President of the West African Bankers Association (WABA) among many others. He is passionately afro-centric in his beliefs and is driven by his vision of creating an enterprise that will be a role model for African businesses.He was recently made a member of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Agenda Council for Africa. This Council consists of 15-20 members and acts as an informal think tank and advisory board to the WEF. The WEF is an Independent International organization made up of eminent world leaders, scholars and entrepreneurs charged with improving the world order by “engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas”
He conceived and managed the merger of Standard Trust Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc in a union that created and remains the largest financial services group in West, Central & East Africa.
Under his leadership, United Bank for Africa has been positioned as one of Africa’s leading financial institutions offering universal banking services to more than 7 million customer accounts in 16 African countries including London, New York and Paris. The rapid expansion of its branch and product network has positioned UBA as “Africa’s Global Bank”.
A research economist with degrees at both graduate and post graduate levels, Tony is an Alumnus of University of Lagos, where he obtained a Masters of Science degree in Economics after an earlier Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Bendel State University. He is also an Alumnus of Harvard Business School and Institute of Management Development (IMD), Lausanne, Switzerland. He has won numerous awards, most recent of which was African Banker of the Year at The African Banker Awards 2008. Elumelu holds the prestigious National Honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (”MFR”).
