•By Tony Elumelu
March is women’s month from International Women’s Day (IWD) to Mother’s Day. I am dedicating the rest of this month to celebrating our women from my mum to my wife, sisters, HH Group female CEOs, Directors, and female colleagues, you have all been impactful in my life story and business. I have been influenced by women all through my life, and always positively. I am and will be a strong advocate for inclusion in every area of life. I have witnessed first-hand the impact of investing in, working with, and learning from women.
I am a product of strong female forces in my life. My first influence was my mother, whose experience as an entrepreneur served as my initiation into a world where hard work translates to success. The formative years with her made me into the entrepreneur and leader that I am today. As a father of five girls, I am also deeply influenced by the responsibility of fatherhood. My wife, Awele, and I, are not only shaping our daughters’ futures, but also showing them what is possible through hard work, resilience, and discipline.
At work, I am continuously inspired by our women who have shattered ceilings. At Heirs Holdings, 40% of our CEOs are women, with 36% representation at the executive management level. At UBA Group, 50% of our board members are women, with 8 remarkable female CEOs steering the ship of Africa’s most formidable financial institution.
Across our Group, the message is clear: the leadership table is set for everyone and anyone willing to work hard.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation, our philanthropic arm, also serves as an expression of our commitment to gender inclusion. Since inception, we have disbursed USD40million to support female entrepreneurs across 54 African countries. Over 650,000 women have received technical support from TEF, women who are creating jobs – over 150,000 jobs created on the continent, impacting their communities!
For us, gender inclusion is in our DNA. We believe that together, we can create a future where every individual, regardless of gender, can achieve their full potential and contribute to a more equitable and prosperous world.
Happy Women’s Month.
