The Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Dr. Tony Elumelu, celebrates his 56th birthday today, March 22, 2019.

Friends and well-wishers join the United Bank of Africa, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the Elumelu family and all professional colleagues of the economist, consummate banker and successful entrepreneur, whose pacesetting antecedents continue to inspire both the young and old on the power of ideas, big dreams and hard work .

They commend Elumelu’s diligence, versatility and selflessness in championing the economic philosophy of “Africapitalism’’, which calls to action the need to grow businesses that cater for African interests, support governments and bottom-up development within the continent, by discouraging long term dependence on donor countries and philanthropic organisations.

As Elumelu turns 56 years, most Nigerians are of the belief that the entrepreneur’s greatest investment has been in the development of people and communities, clearly evident in the Tony Elumelu Foundation which started with scholarships and fellowships, and now trains a new generation of business leaders across the continent.

They pray that God will grant Elumelu longer life, greater ideas and renewed vigour to pursue his dream of making life better for others.