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Africa’s Business Magnate Tony Elumelu Addresses Two Key Events in France

By MASAHUDU ANKIILU Kunateh
Africa Africas Business Magnate Tony Elumelu Addresses Two Key Events in France
MAY 25, 2016 LISTEN

African businessman and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu addressed two key events in Paris, France, this week.

Elumelu is the Chairman of pan-African bank, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and of the pan-African investment company Heirs Holdings. He is also the Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

The first event titled “The Big” which held on Wednesday, May 25 (today), was being organized by Banque Publique d’Investissement(BPI)– a state-owned investment bank.

The 2,000-person strong event brought together emerging French SMEs seeking to take their businesses to the next level by entering emerging markets.

During the event, Mr. Elumelu delivered a keynote, TED-style talk on entrepreneurship.

Speaking on his motivations for participating in the French Entrepreneurship summit, Elumelu said “Our Foundation’s entrepreneurship programme is my commitment to developing Africa’s emerging business leaders, and UBA is fast-becoming an institution that supports African entrepreneurship.

BPI is similarly known as the French bank for entrepreneurs – a bank that provides the tools for French business people to deploy their international, and notably, African strategies – so this is a relationship that makes sense on so many different levels, ideally to derive commercial value while supporting employment, innovation and economic growth in Europe and Africa”.

On Friday, May 27, Elumelu will co-chair with Mr. Gérard Larcher, the President of the French Senate, the ‘Discover Nigeria’ event, the first ever investment forum to feature, attract and encourage French-based businesses seeking Nigeria as a destination for investment. The event is being organized by the French export promotion agency Business France.

A joint effort of Business France, BPI and the French Senate, Discover Nigeria will bring Mr. Elumelu together with established French entrepreneurs – 100 French exporters already in the Nigerian market & some seeking to enter – to provide insight into opportunities that exist for France’s business leaders.

Mr Elumelu, the group Chairman of UBA feels that this is an important bridge to build saying UBA is now developing deep links and partnerships with French financial institutions seeking a pathway into Africa”.

Elumelu will be speaking at the historic Palais du Luxembourg alongside Mr. Gérard Larcher.

On the purpose of his trip to France, Elumelu says “While our Foundation’s entrepreneurship programme is my commitment to developing Africa’s emerging business leaders, and UBA is fast-becoming an institution that supports African entrepreneurship, BPI is similarly known as the French bank for entrepreneurs – a bank that provides the tools for French business people to deploy their international, and notably, African strategies – so this is a relationship that makes sense”.

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