Elumelu Shares “Not So Pleasant Memory” Of How He Got His Scar

Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of the financial services group providing corporate, commercial, SME and consumer banking services to more than 35 million customers globally – United Bank for Africa (UBA) has shared a profound experience in his journey to the top.

The founder of Heirs Holdings -the family owned investment company, committed to improving lives and transforming Africa, through long-term investments in strategic sectors of the African economy – detailed how he got a trademark scar.

According to the extraordinary entrepreneur “On my right hand is a scar – I see it every day and it brings bittersweet memories.

Many years ago, as a new hire at Allstates Trust Bank, I was asked by my boss to work on a credit analysis for a corporate customer.  

The assignment was due at 8:00 a.m. the next day; there was no option but to deliver.  It meant that I had to work on a long, detailed, demanding 40-page document overnight.

I worked late into that night, so I could finish the job.  To go home, I went to Racecourse/TBS bus stop in Lagos, where I got on a “Molue” – Lagos’s classic yellow transit bus.  I promptly slept.  When I woke, the bus had reached Jibowu, miles away from my home.

I got off immediately, but as I jumped, I cut myself badly on my hand.  I remember the blood dripping on the ground, as I made my way to the hospital to get treated.  This not so pleasant memory is a reminder of my early days in the corporate world.”

Continuing the narration which is part of his intentional efforts towards motivating young people to stay on the right path in seeking success, Elumelu stated “This memory has stayed with me – not just the pain, the hard night, one of many hard nights or the challenges that so many young Africans have to show, but the lessons I learned – there might be difficult moments in life and business, but resilience, hard work and staying laser-focused will shape what the future will ultimately be.”

The prominent champion of entrepreneurship in Africa with The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, catalysing economic growth, driving poverty eradication and driving job creation across the continent as a key thrust, shared experience as part of his weekly motivation to aspiring successes across all fields.