Chairman, Heirs Holdings Group, the owners of UBA Group and Transcorp Group, Mr Tony Elumelu, has said his greatest fulfilment comes from the legacy his group is building, especially the lives they are transforming, and the impact the Tony Elumelu Foundation makes.

Elumelu spoke at the Legacy Builders Palm Beach Conference, held at the Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa Palm Beach, Florida.

He said he was inspired by the spirit of the African youth, which he described as among the most industrious and entrepreneurial people on earth.

Elumelu said: “I founded the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and for the past 15 years, I have dedicated myself to empowering African entrepreneurs, a mission close to my heart.”

He said he had spent $100 million empowering African youths because of the belief that entrepreneurs hold the key to unlocking Africa’s untapped potential.

“They are the innovators, the dreamers and the builders, who can transform not only their own lives but entire economies,” he said.

Elumelu told his life story, which he said had been shaped by a combination of luck and opportunity, grit and resilience.

“I am where I am today because I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.

“I was prepared to seize the moment when luck presented itself. However, I believe luck and opportunity should not be reserved for a select few. We cannot claim to be rich when there is pervasive poverty that is evident all around us.”

The UBA boss said this belief has always been guided by a question that fuels his purpose: “How do I extend the same opportunity I had to young Africans who have not been as fortunate? How can I democratise luck?

“This question inspired my wife and I to invest in the next generation of African entrepreneurs. In 2015, we committed $100 million to identify, train and fund the businesses of African entrepreneurs over 10 years. Today, we have granted 2.5 million Africans access to training on TEFConnect, our online portal, and lifted over two million individuals out of poverty,” he said.