4 | The Lion King
Cover Story
Tony Elumelu:
African Business Leader
and Philanthropist now
UBA Chairman
I
t was a few minutes past 4:00 p.m. on
Monday, August 25, 2014 when I got
the all-staff memo by email from our
GMD, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, announc-
ing the appointment of a new Board
Chairman for United Bank for Africa, in
the person of Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CON.
It was quite unexpected. Many of us
didn’t see it coming.
I had stepped out of the office briefly
for a late lunch, having missed the mid-
noon mark due to the usual Monday
bustle. So I quickly put a call across to
some colleagues to gauge their reac-
tion to the news. They were excited and
there was a decided buzz in the office.
By the time I returned, everyone had
read the GMD’s memo and there was
a hum of excitement as members
of staff discussed the news amongst
themselves, revelling at the prospect
of having TOE, as he is fondly called by
staff, return to the bank as Chairman of
the Board.
And Mr. Elumelu’s appointment could
not have come at a more opportune
time, as was aptly captured by the
GMD in his communication to staff.
“TOE was Group Managing Director
and CEO of UBA for 13 years, during
which our company became the
innovative, dynamic institution that it is
today. His extended experience and
deep knowledge of UBA, combined
with his understanding of corporate
governance and the African business
landscape in general, makes this an
ideal appointment for us, especially
as we work to bring the objectives of
Project Alpha to fruition,” he said.
The excitement came from the track
By Anthony Osae-Brown
L-R: Phillips Oduoza, GMD/
CEO, UBA Plc and Tony Elumelu,
Board Chairman, UBA Plc
