The whole of Africa, and indeed several parts of the world, are still celebrating the 60th birthday of the amazing Tony Elumelu, the hugely loved and respected chairman of UBA, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Heirs Holdings, among several others. He is largely regarded as an Icon, a phenomenal entrepreneur, an incredibly successful business man and an exceptional philanthropist. But beyond all of these, everyone who knows Tony Elumelu closely will tell you he is, above everything else, a fantastic human being. And even to those who only see him from a distance, you could tell from that constant smile etched on his face which is often followed by a hearty laughter, that you are looking at one of the simplest, kindest and most compassionate billionaires you could possibly ever find.
Without a doubt, for every young man out there, Tony Elumelu represents the definition of success. He has become the parameter by which accomplished bankers measure their success. When the youths listen to Tony every time he speaks to them, all they see is the fame and affluence that envelope him. And they long to be like him. They want to be the next Tony. They desire to drive the exotic automobiles he drives and own the eye pooping mansions he owns. They want to attain his level of success. But they have no idea how hard it took him to get to where he is today. Yes, he tells his own story often, but often always, they are half listening to him. They are enthralled by his presence and overwhelmed by his humongous success. So, they don’t pay attention to the word ‘hard work.’
And yes, luck. Tony Elumelu, has always been honest and modest enough, despite all he has achieved, to admit that he is lucky to have gotten a little help along the way. So, it’s alright to be hoping for a bit of luck. We all need some stroke of good fortune to get over the line sometimes. But, perhaps, the one important thing many young people do not realize is that, you have to be fully prepared to take the opportunity you have been waiting for when mother luck presents it to you. Yes, Tony was lucky he got some bit of help along the way. But the help or luck didn’t just fall on his laps. He got them because those who could offer him the lifeline saw that he was hardworking. He earned that luck and he was extremely prepared for the opportunities that came his way. He didn’t let them slip away. He seized them with both hands and they catapulted him into the top echelon of accomplished entrepreneurs.
Hear him: I started my career as a salesman, a copier salesman to be specific, young, hungry, and hardworking, but the reality was that I was just one of thousands of young Nigerian graduates, all eager to succeed. How did I get from there to where I am now? Of course, hard work, resilience, a long-term vision – but also luck.”
“A year later after earning my Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Lagos, I applied to join a new generation bank, Allstates Trust Bank. The bank’s one-page newspaper advertisement demanded a minimum 2:1-degree, but I applied regardless, submitting a cover letter and filled out application with my 2:2-Economics degree.”
By a stroke of luck, my application was reviewed by the Chairman/CEO, a painstaking man who carefully read my cover letter and was drawn to the confidence in my words. “I know I may not have met the qualifying criteria for the advertised roles, but I am intelligent, driven, ambitious and I will make the bank proud. My 2:2 degree does not demonstrate the full extent of my intelligence and ability, and I know I can do so much more.” He read those words and took a chance on me. Though “unqualified”, he decided to throw me a lifeline, an opportunity.”
That is the luck Tony talks about each time he is speaking to a group of young, starry eyed but vibrant and eager- to- conquer- the -world youths. But what he did with his luck is much more instructive. He threw himself into his job and in a matter of months experienced an astronomical rise that was unheard of in the banking sector.
The story continues: within 12 months at the bank as an analyst, aged 27, I went from analyst to branch manager – the youngest ever bank branch manager at the time. I was hard working, energetic, creative and prioritised getting things done, but it was also good fortune that my bosses Toyin Akin-Johnson and Ebitimi Banigo took notice, and then, believed in me. They took a chance on me by appointing me as branch manager after an incredibly short time in the bank. They recognised in me the raw materials needed to make a good leader and were prepared to invest in me and my ability. My rise to Branch Manager within a short period is a great story but I know in my heart, I was lucky, as well as deserving.”
The lesson in the Tony Elumelu success story is simple – luck comes to only those who have worked hard for it. But most importantly, it works even better for only those who are prepared to take full advantage of the opportunity they have been waiting for. I can only hope the youths, who have been the largest beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and who have been privileged to hear his story again and again, will take very seriously the lessons taken from Tony’s success story. He captured it perfectly when he said you need 99% hard work, just 1% of your dreams and a bit of luck to succeed in attaining your set career goals.
I join millions of Nigerians and Africans the world over in paying glowing tribute to this Iconic personality who has continued to break boundaries in the corporate and business sectors. We celebrate you. We salute your tenacity. We salute your work ethics and business acumen. And we thank you for being an exceptional human being who has brought joy to the hearts of many, especially the African youths whom you have graciously given the unhindered privilege to benefit from your large heart and drink exclusively from your fountain of knowledge. As you celebrate your 60th birthday, we can only wish you unprecedented success and prosperity beyond your expectations.
Happy birthday to the man with the Midas touch!!
—Wale Lawal (08037209290)
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