Elumelu to speak at White House entrepreneurs festival

LAGOS – African business leader and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu will speak at a White House event hosted by US President Barack Obama on Monday to celebrate emerging entrepreneurs around the globe. The May 11th event is a prelude to Obama’s scheduled trip to Kenya this summer for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. 

The United Bank for Africa chairman is no stranger to the promotion of global entrepreneurs. Elumelu’s foundation recently launched the $100 million Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, which aims to assist in growing 10,000 start-up companies across the African continent over the next 10 years.

The White House event will bring together established and emerging entrepreneurs from all over the world who can benefit from the support and commitment of investors, governments, private foundations, and individuals. Elumelu is the only non-American speaker at the event.

Other speakers joining Obama and Elumelu to promote entrepreneurship at the White House event include Mark Cuban, Owner of the Dallas Mavericks; Barbara Corcoran; Founder of Barbara Corcoran Venture Partners; Daymond John, CEO and founder of FUBU — all investors on the hit ABC show Shark Tank; Antonio Gracias, Founder of Valor Equity Partners; and Julie Hanna, Founder of Kiva.