By Temi Olowu
Founder of Heirs Group and chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu used his platform at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) to advocate a global approach to tackling hunger and fostering peace through entrepreneurship.
Alongside World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain, Elumelu addressed the critical issue of food insecurity, which affects over 780 million people worldwide.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Elumelu emphasized the need to address the most fundamental human necessity—food—as a prerequisite for building a prosperous world.
“We cannot build a prosperous world without addressing the most basic human need—food,” he said, citing how conflict, climate change, and economic shocks continue to fuel global hunger.
He highlighted Africa, where several “forgotten” crises persist, and praised the WFP for its continuous efforts to provide relief.
Entrepreneurship as a Solution to Global Crises
Elumelu, a long-standing advocate for entrepreneurship, stressed that the solution to hunger and poverty lies not only in food aid but also in fostering entrepreneurship to create stability and hope.
“One of those pathways is entrepreneurship,” he noted. Reflecting on his personal experience growing up in times of conflict and scarcity, Elumelu emphasized that entrepreneurship has the potential to generate prosperity, mitigate fanaticism, and reduce migration.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), which he founded, has been a major driver of this vision.
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Through his family’s commitment of $100 million, TEF has empowered young African entrepreneurs across 54 countries with essential tools such as training, mentoring, and seed capital.
“We have funded 7,400 young entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector alone, and beneficiaries are not only creating jobs but also offering innovative solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges,” Elumelu shared.
A Global Collaborative Effort
Elumelu stressed that collaboration is vital to scaling the impact of these initiatives.
TEF has formed partnerships with organizations like the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the IKEA Foundation to amplify its efforts.
These collaborations aim to foster entrepreneurship across the continent, helping to build a self-sustaining Africa that can feed itself and, eventually, the world.
“Africa should be feeding itself, exporting value-adding products, and indeed, feeding the world,” Elumelu declared, envisioning a future where African entrepreneurs drive not only local prosperity but also global trade.
Catalyzing Shared Prosperity and Lasting Peace
For Elumelu, young African entrepreneurs hold the key to unlocking Africa’s potential. “They catalyze shared prosperity that leaves no one behind and contribute to lasting peace,” he said.
Through initiatives like TEF, the goal is to democratize opportunities, ensuring that more Africans can benefit from the continent’s vast resources.
The conversations at UNGA79, Elumelu hoped, would lead to new partnerships and solutions to combat global hunger and poverty. He extended his gratitude to Cindy McCain and the WFP for their relentless work in supporting vulnerable populations.
With entrepreneurship at the heart of his message, Elumelu is determined to drive Africa’s transformation, aligning business growth with social impact and forging a path toward a more prosperous and peaceful world.
(Edited by Oludare Mayowa; omayowa@globalfinancialdigest.com; Newsroom: +234 8033 964 138)
