Chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, has challenged young Africans to embrace ambition, discipline and hard work, insisting that the continent’s future rests on a generation willing to dream boldly, prepare diligently and seize opportunities when they arise.
Speaking at the Africa and Everywhere Festival in Lagos on Saturday, Elumelu stated that Africa’s greatest asset remains its youthful population, urging them to see themselves as the drivers of the continent’s economic transformation.
“The future of Africa belongs to our youth. Those of you who are in this room today embody our future. You carry our hope for a better Africa, from this room, to Nigeria, our society, the sub-region, the continent and the world.”
Elumelu noted that beyond acquiring academic qualifications, young people must deliberately learn how wealth is created, stressing that financial literacy, investment and savings are critical to escaping poverty.
According to him, teaching people how to build wealth is more valuable than handing out financial support. “I believe the best thing someone can give you is not cash, but to help you learn how to invest and how to save. That is the starting point because it’s all about capital formation. It’s all about investment. It’s all about ultimately lifting ourselves out of poverty,” he said.
He explained that the philosophy aligns with his long-held belief in the “democratisation of prosperity,” where more Africans are empowered to create wealth rather than depend on handouts.
He further urged young people not to allow setbacks, rejection or perceived shortcomings to define their future, stressing that persistence often distinguishes successful individuals from those who give up.
He encouraged participants to take advantage of technology and artificial intelligence to acquire knowledge, research career paths and learn from people who have already achieved success in their chosen professions.
“In this age of AI and technology, you can check anything out. How do I become this? Who has done it before? What do I learn from the person? Then fasten your seatbelt and get started,” he advised.
Elumelu also urged the graduates to cultivate discipline, delay immediate gratification and remain focused on long-term goals rather than short-term financial rewards.
He outlined what he described as the guiding principles for career success: ambition, hard work, discipline, deferred gratification and a commitment to improving humanity.
According to him, while dreaming is important, dreams alone cannot produce success without sustained effort.
“Don’t just dream and expect luck to happen. You have to work hard. A lot is about working hard and being prepared so that when luck comes, you’re ready for it,” he said.
He further called on the young participants to recognise their responsibility beyond personal success, urging them to contribute to building stronger communities and a more prosperous Africa. “The future of our continent lies in your hands,” Elumelu declared. “We believe in all of you.”
