Between Emmanuel Macron and Tony Elumelu

It is no longer a secret that Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, has nothing but high praise for Tony Elumelu. In fact, those who’ve been close enough to witness their exchanges say Macron doesn’t hold back in his admiration for Elumelu. When he speaks about the banker, it’s clear that the French president sees him as one of Africa’s shining stars.

The two first crossed paths as far back as 2018 when Macron visited Lagos—and the bond was instant. At a meeting with over 2,000 young African entrepreneurs, Macron openly discussed the need for urgent action to empower Africa’s youth. Elumelu had the same idea about entrepreneurship and the transformative power of technology and has gone on to do much about it.

Sources believe that what really stands out to Macron is how Elumelu uses his position to push for change. With his firm belief in “Africapitalism,” Elumelu is about the private sector being the engine driving Africa’s economic growth. Macron adores this model and has praised it many times as a way forward for Africa, noting its potential to create jobs and build lasting prosperity across the continent.

Oftentimes, Macron and Elumelu have collaborated to the point of pushing for partnerships that benefit the French and African worlds. They have signed agreements aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs and designed models to foster bilateral trade. In fact, the two have worked tirelessly to redefine the relationship between Africa and France.

But all this is no big deal, except where Macron is concerned, the reason being that Elumelu’s influence has always stretched far beyond the boardroom. In 2020, Time magazine recognised him as one of the world’s most influential people. 

In the coming days, perhaps more presidents will come to see Elumelu as Macron does – as a businessman who is not all talk. With every new achievement, it is clear that Elumelu is walking the walk, and that’s something for Africans to be proud of.