Awele Elumelu: Young African Talent Ready to Shine

Chairperson of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Avon Healthcare Limited and Heirs Insurance Brokers, Dr Awele Elumelu, has called on young African entrepreneurs to trust in their abilities. She believes Africa has top talent that can compete globally if they get the right support, training, and funding.

Dr Elumelu spoke to young entrepreneurs at an event. She mentioned how African creatives are gaining global attention as proof that our talent can succeed worldwide.

She used music to illustrate her point. Dr Elumelu recalled how her family felt excited when Beyoncé released an album featuring African artists like Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Shatta Wale, and others. She called this collaboration a strong sign of Africa’s great potential.

She said, "Our own homegrown African talent, sharing the stage with the biggest pop star in the world, is an amazing testament to the immense potential of African entrepreneurs individually and as a collective."

Dr Elumelu pointed out that African musicians thriving on global platforms show what is possible in other areas. "With the right push, the right resources and the right environment, young entrepreneurs can compete on the world stage," she stated. She noted that the same level of talent exists in agriculture, ICT, fashion, healthcare, and other sectors.

She highlighted that these successes back the Tony Elumelu Foundation's long-standing belief that Africa is rich in untapped talent waiting to shine.

"This reinforces our belief at the Tony Elumelu Foundation that there are hidden gems in Africa who, with the right amount of support, training and seed capital, can become global trailblazers in their chosen fields," she explained.

Dr Elumelu encouraged young Africans to stay focused despite facing challenges. She said that achieving success requires discipline, resilience, and consistency. "Young Africans, there is excellence in you. You owe it to yourselves, your families, your communities and Africa to put in the hard work, build resilience and keep at it until you succeed. The world awaits you."

Her comments reflect the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s goal of empowering African entrepreneurs. The foundation offers entrepreneurship training, mentorship, seed funding, and business support to promote economic growth across the continent.