Tony Elumelu

Talking about celebrities, we all have different choices and there are surely reasons behind them. We choose whom we like most times so that we can be like them, at times it might not be for any reason but just because we love them. To some, they follow and become fans of celebrities because they love going into competitions on who is better.

I remember sometimes when some street touts would have themselves drunk, then after which they would start arguing blindly about who was the best singer between Saheed Osupa and Alabi Pasuma. 😂. These two are Fuji artists. They are in wealth already and one way they can build their career is to have people argue about them.

In the real sense, they both know who is the best and respect each other's views. They might have secret meet-up places where they meet and reconcile. But their fans would know nothing about that. The same thing happened to the Afro-music artists Davido and Wizkid. And also when it comes to football, we have Messi and Ronaldo.

As for me, I am not a fan of music, nor a football fan. I hardly watch football and listen to music. However, I follow the latest trends about them. In the real sense what I love to do is quite different. Most time I find myself revolving around getting to do something new, being an entrepreneur and a business tycoon. I also love to read about how people get to live from grass to grace. Their footsteps and strategies.

This made me get in touch with a man with a great personality. Tony Elumelu. I was having my national youth service when the information popped up on our portal to apply for the Elumelu Foundation’s grant. I was thrilled to know more about the foundation as I furthered my research.

I later realized the founder was Tony Elumelu. I read his biography and checked all of his social media handles. I love the way he kept on inspiring upcoming entrepreneurs and motivating them to keep it at their best.

He is the chairperson of the United Bank Of Africa. One of the outstanding banks in Nigeria today. I love the way he grew from nothing to something. On his Facebook page, he wrote a biography with his photograph attached when he was done with his national service.

He showed how confused he was back then with his friend while they went to a restaurant to eat and think about their life. He knew his journey wasn’t a smooth one, he knew how unclear life after service could be for him. He was once lost. But he found his way. I love the fact that not only has he found his path but he shed light for those who want to thread his path too.

I also appreciate the likes of Dangote, Femi Otedola, Mike Adenuga, and many other business owners and philanthropists who have become icons at the top. Their stories serve as an inspiration for me and also a motivation. There are my celebrities and I am glad to be a fan.

This is my response to the HIVE LEARNERS weekly prompt in hive learners community for the Week 131 Edition 3 and the topic to be discussed is A CELEB I STAN