Chairman of United Bank for Africa Group, Tony Elumelu, has called for the democratisation of prosperity across Africa through financial literacy, entrepreneurship and greater economic opportunities for young people.
Elumelu made the appeal on Saturday during the hybrid inaugural ‘Africa Everywhere Festival’ held in Victoria Island, Lagos, bringing together youths, employers and industry leaders.
Hosted by Oge Elumelu, the festival connected young Nigerians with leading employers through networking, interviews, internships and career pathways across several industries.
Addressing participants, Tony Elumelu urged young Africans to cultivate saving habits, invest wisely and embrace lifelong learning as foundations for lasting financial independence.
He said genuine empowerment went beyond financial assistance, insisting that knowledge remained the most powerful instrument for creating wealth and overcoming poverty.
According to him, teaching individuals to save and invest created stronger foundations for capital formation than simply distributing money without building financial discipline.
“Knowledge is the greatest tool for creating wealth and lifting people out of poverty,” Elumelu said while encouraging participants to strengthen their financial capabilities.
He described Africa’s youthful population as the continent’s greatest asset, saying their innovation, creativity and determination represented Africa’s future prosperity and global competitiveness.
Elumelu encouraged participants to understand how businesses generated value while developing personal strategies for building sustainable wealth through prudent financial management.
Sharing his personal experience, Elumelu recalled graduating with a second-class lower degree before pursuing opportunities through determination and persistence.
He explained that he wrote directly to a bank’s chief executive requesting an opportunity, eventually securing an interview which resulted in his first banking appointment.
According to Elumelu, achievement depended on preparation, discipline, resilience and consistent hard work rather than relying solely on luck or favourable circumstances.
He reinforced discussions on workplace attitude, resilience and interview preparation, urging young people to dream boldly while remaining committed to societal development.
“Defer gratification, pursue your dreams relentlessly and stay committed to making society better,” Elumelu advised participants.
Dr Awele Elumelu said the festival was established to connect talented young Africans with internships, mentorship opportunities and meaningful career prospects.
She described the initiative as a platform designed to bridge talent with opportunities, resources and hope for ambitious young Africans.
According to her, more organisations would be encouraged to participate by providing internships, mentorship programmes and networking opportunities for emerging professionals.
Convener and host, Oge Elumelu, said the festival evolved from her Africa Everywhere Conversations with Oge podcast launched in September 2024.
She disclosed that approximately 7,000 applications were received, with 170 candidates shortlisted and around 150 participants eventually attending the inaugural festival.
Oge said 15 partner organisations interviewed participants for 37 internship positions lasting between three and six weeks across different sectors.
According to her, the initiative seeks to improve employability through career guidance, workplace exposure, practical experience and stronger professional networks.
She revealed plans to expand the festival beyond Lagos into other Nigerian cities and African capitals, including Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg and Cairo.
Human resource professionals participating in a panel session advised job seekers to protect personal information by avoiding unnecessary sensitive details on their curriculum vitae.
The experts warned candidates against relying entirely on artificial intelligence when preparing CVs, stressing they should confidently explain every listed qualification and experience.
They encouraged graduates to improve employability through academic projects, professional certifications, internships, volunteering and leadership roles demonstrating practical competence.
The panellists advised candidates to research prospective employers thoroughly before interviews and clearly explain the value they could contribute to organisations.
According to the experts, employers increasingly prioritise adaptability, integrity, communication skills and problem-solving ability above perfection or flawless academic records.
