Banking Magnate, Tony Elumelu Shines Brightly At The COP28

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu is unarguably one dynamic business magnate with a lot of global acclaim. 

At every important forum in the country or overseas, you are most likely to find Elumelu there promoting worthy causes that affect Africa and entrepreneurship.

As the world keeps expressing concern on how to confront dire consequences of climate change, Elumelu is one of Africa’s leading advocates for an equitable agenda for climate action. His recent actions speak louder.

Elumelu represented the African private sector at the 2023 New Global Financing Pact in Paris at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, and the Climate Finance Mobilisation Forum in London, at the invitation of King Charles III and US President Biden. Even at the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York, his Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) launched a first-of-its-kind Green Entrepreneurship Programme, the #BeGreenAfrica Initiative, in partnership with the IKEA Foundation, Dutch Government and UNICEF GenU, to support green entrepreneurship and youth development.

Through his Foundation, Elumelu has also consistently advocated for the move towards clean energy and has empowered thousands of green entrepreneurs, shaping a more sustainable future for Africa.

As global luminaries gathered at the annual COP UN Climate Change Summit in Dubai, UAE —head by Sultan al-Jaber, CEO of one of the World’s largest oil companies as COP 28 president— to meet minds on how to divert climate change catastrophe, Elumelu, through his Foundation, in partnership with the United Bank for Africa, hosted a high-level session, bringing together Africans, and key players in the Gulf, Europe, and Americas, where UBA operates.

The laudable initiative underscores the urgent need for innovative approaches to climate adaptation and mitigation, while fostering sustainable development, and bringing attention to Africa’s unique position.

At another series of events across COP28 in Dubai, UAE, Elumelu delivered a single message to world leaders: Africa needs to be heard, Africa’s future is the world’s future and the continent that is most impacted by and the least contributor to climate change needs our attention.

Elumelu offered the infrastructure and experience of his own Foundation’s 10 year $100 million entrepreneurship programme to partners to catalyse a further generation of African entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, as Elumelu made his way to the venue of the climate summit —where a battery of photographers were busily shooting a stream of guests spanning politics, business, fashion and the arts— his legendary moves attracted so many eyeballs.

He was a cynosure of all eyes as many foreign dignitaries took turns to have chit-chats and took selfies with the 60 year-old dandy banking magnate who is so famous with his profile all over the internet as an achiever and helper of so many destinies.