Elumelu rallies leaders to unite public and private sectors for African prosperity

Tony Elumelu, Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, rallied policymakers, business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs to unite the public and private sectors as partners in progress, igniting a vision for a prosperous African future.

Speaking at the Abuja Business & Investment Summit & Expo 2025,Elumelu reflected on the continent’s remarkable journey, tempered with a call to action: “Sustainable change begins when the public and private sectors come together, not as adversaries, but as partners in progress,” he declared, emphasizing optimism rooted in collaboration amidst challenges like youth unemployment, infrastructure gaps, and climate change.

The summit catalyzed shaping a new African economy driven by private sector leadership, with Elumelu urging attendees to seize the moment as Africa’s youngest continent, brimming with natural resources, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit.

As the visionary behind Heirs Holdings and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Elumelu showcased his group’s transformative investments in Abuja, epitomized by the revitalization of the Transcorp Hilton Abuja into a world-class hotel and the 2025 launch of the ultramodern 5,000-capacity Transcorp Event Center, cementing the city’s status as a business and tourism hub.

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Through the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), his conglomerate is powering productivity by enhancing power distribution, while employing over 7,000 Nigerians in the Federal Capital Territory, restoring dignity and unlocking potential with each job created.

Elumelu’s TEF has empowered 24,000 young Africans, including 641 in Abuja, with $5,000 non-refundable seed capital, training, and mentorship, proving that true prosperity hinges on uplifting the many. Advocating for a new social contract, he called on governments to provide stable policies and infrastructure, while urging the private sector to invest ethically and locally, asserting, “When you create one job in Africa, it is equivalent to a hundred elsewhere, because here, every opportunity transforms a family, and every success inspires a generation.”

Challenging African investors to keep wealth on the continent, Elumelu concluded, “Building economies, investing in society, this must be the new African business ethos,” as he inspired a mandate to align capital with vision, writing Africa’s story through homegrown innovation and excellence.