Tony Elumelu named African Business Leader of the Year 2012 by Corporate Council on Africa

Tony Elumelu

Nigerian Tony Elumelu has been named by the Corporate Council on Africa as African Business Leader of the Year.

Elumelu was honored at the Corporate Council on Africa’s inaugural event as one of the most successful entrepreneurs, with a track record of value creation across key sectors that are transforming the African private sector. His commitment to a new model of African philanthropy was also recognized.

Elumelu, is fond of saying, “Nobody is going to develop Africa except us.” It is his way of saying Africans must control Africa’s financial future – and thus reap Africa’s financial rewards.

Elumelu has put his money where his mouth is. The former bank CEO, who is credited for having modernized West African banking, established a foundation (named for him) that seeks to drive Africa’s economic growth from within. He is the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, a pan-African proprietary investment company.

Other African entrepreneurs that were recognized were Mr. Admassu Tadesse, President and CEO of the PTA Bank; Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines and Mr. Geoff Rothschild, Director of Government and International Affairs for the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.