UNGA 2024: Tony Elumelu sets out Africa’s priorities

African philanthropist Tony Elumelu will make Africa’s transformative economic growth, youth employment, and energy transition central to the discussions at this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), taking place late September in New York.

He will call for urgent action during engagements, including a roundtable discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative with former US President, Bill Clinton, and an event co-hosted by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), led by WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain.

Elumelu will bring his perspective both from extensive experience in building industry-leading businesses across the continent, and the success of the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s catalytic programmes empowering young Africans.

With over 60% of Africans lacking access to electricity as well as youths making up more than 60% of the continent’s 1.3 billion population, Africa faces challenges that impact the world.

“I have often said that there is nowhere else in the world you can reap the kind of investments as in Africa,” Elumelu said recently. “However, I am acutely aware of the fundamental challenges our continent faces.

“Addressing the issues of sustainable economic growth, youth unemployment, gender inequality, and Africa’s energy transition is critical not only for meeting basic developmental needs, but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and unlocking the immense economic potential that Africa offers.”

On the sidelines of UNGA, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) will host a networking gala to spotlight investment opportunities in Africa. The event will convene prominent leaders across four continents, in commemoration of UBA Group’s 75th anniversary and the Group’s 40 years of operations in the United States.

Elumelu, Chairman of UBA and Heirs Holdings, is a leading driver of Africa’s transformation agenda, helping shape the continent’s narrative on the global stage. His thought leadership and advocacy challenge conventional views, offering innovative strategies for collaboration and growth.

The success of the Tony Elumelu Foundation in promoting youth entrepreneurship as a pathway out of poverty, has featured in case studies from Harvard, Chicago Business School, Stanford and Cambridge.