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Tony Elumelu Demands Action to Unlock Africa’s Economic Potential

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Tony Elumelu urges African leaders to build predictable, business-friendly policies to unlock investment and drive sustainable growth at the Abuja Summit 2025

The Group Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Heirs Holdings Limited, Tony Elumelu, CFR, has called on African policymakers to create predictable, pro-enterprise environments that attract long-term investment and unlock the continent’s full potential.

Also readTony Elumelu mourns Afriland fire victims in Lagos

Delivering the keynote address at the Abuja Business & Investment Summit & Expo 2025, held on Wednesday at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Elumelu emphasised that “predictable regulation attracts long-term investment, while inconsistency drives it away.”

He urged African governments to view private sector success as the foundation of national prosperity, noting that over 70% of Africa’s GDP and 80% of employment are generated by private enterprises.

“No nation has ever achieved sustained prosperity without a vibrant and virile private sector,” Elumelu said. “The private sector is reimagining what is possible on our continent.”

Speaking on the summit’s theme, “Empowering Sustainable Growth: Unlocking Potential in Emerging Markets,” Elumelu advocated for a new social contract between government and business, founded on trust, transparency, and partnership.

He said sustainable progress can only thrive where governments convert investor confidence into nation-building through stable and forward-thinking policies.

The UBA Chairman cited Heirs Holdings’ strategic investments in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as examples of how purposeful private capital can drive development, including the revitalisation of the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the launch of the Transcorp Event Centre, and ongoing reforms in the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

“How can we expect foreign investors to invest in our economies if we don’t invest in them ourselves?” he challenged.

“Make your money, but please bring it home and invest locally. It is an act of unpatriotism to save your wealth in economies that already have so much.”

Elumelu, who is also the Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, stressed that Africa’s transformation will be driven by long-term investments in critical sectors that create prosperity and opportunities for all.

He commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, for their infrastructural drive within the capital, describing Abuja as a model for partnership between the public and private sectors.

In her remarks, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud expressed gratitude to Elumelu and other investors for their confidence in Abuja, reaffirming the FCT Administration’s commitment to making the city Nigeria’s premier investment destination.

Also readTony Elumelu’s Yet Another Major Turn-Around

The Abuja Business & Investment Summit & Expo 2025 (ABISummit2025), organised by the Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL) and hosted by Ambassador Dr. Maureen Tamuno, serves as a platform to forge partnerships and translate economic visions into actionable strategies for sustainable growth across Nigeria and Africa.

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Security Expert Commends US Intelligence Efforts Against Terrorism in Africa

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US Counterterrorism strategy Africa Sahel praised by a security expert for intelligence-led operations targeting extremist networks in West Africa

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Ogun CSO Urges Urgent Healthcare and Infrastructure Reform

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Ogun State Healthcare infrastructure development is urged by a CSO calling for improved hospitals, roads and transparency in governance across the state

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No Economy Can Prosper Without Strong Institutions” — Obasa Tells Global Investors

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Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has declared that no economy can attain enduring prosperity without strong institutions and strategic collaboration between government and private capital.
Delivering a keynote on the theme “Legislative Leadership and the Role of Global Private Capital in Modern Economic Growth,” at the HOC Capital Club in Lekki on Saturday, May 16, Obasa told investors, policymakers, and diplomats that global private capital thrives only where laws are clear, governance is accountable, and policies are consistent.

He emphasized that legislative leadership is central to building such an environment, noting that the Assembly’s constitutional mandate — particularly its control over public funds and oversight powers — is designed to safeguard transparency and strengthen investor trust.

“All the money that comes into the treasury must be legislated upon by the House for transparency. The power of the purse is the most effective weapon for the people’s representatives to control government spending,” he said.
Speaker Obasa stressed further that credible institutions, rule of law, and regulatory predictability are essential to attracting quality investments. However, he noted that while attracting capital is vital, growth must deliver tangible social benefits including job creation, poverty reduction, and improved public services.
He went on to spotlight landmark laws under his stewardship that have reshaped the state’s investment climate, including the Public Procurement Law (2021), Public-Private Partnership Law (2011/2015), and the Electric Power Sector Reform Law (2024). He also pointed to property protection frameworks and the ₦4.44 trillion “Budget of Shared Prosperity” for 2026 — which allocates over 52% to capital expenditure — as deliberate pointers to Lagos’ readiness for global capital inflows.

He further highlighted initiatives such as the Sovereign Wealth Fund, harmonization of taxes, and the proposed Railways Corporation Bill (2025) as evidence of Lagos’ legislative foresight and long-term economic vision.

Speaker Obasa concluded by stressing that the future of growth will depend on the quality of leadership in public institutions and the confidence inspired in the global investment community.

“Together, we can unlock the full potential of Lagos, strengthen Africa’s economic future, and establish a new benchmark for economic and diplomatic engagement on the global stage,” he declared, leaving investors with a clear message: Lagos is ready to lead, and the world is invited to invest in its promise.

The HOC Capital Club in Lekki is an exclusive private capital and global advocacy network, designed for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) with verified second citizenships and a minimum net worth of $2 million. It serves as a hub where wealth, influence, and policy intersect, connecting investors, policymakers, and global citizens across continents.

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