The Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu, has called on world leaders to give priority to climate change issues.
Elumelu, who said this when he brought together global leaders to drive immediate and equitable climate action for Africa at the COP28 – UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“Addressing climate change remains the paramount challenge of our era. The urgency is unmistakable; there is no room for delay. It is imperative that we enhance our efforts to tackle these issues and establish the groundwork for a sustainable future.” Elumelu stated. “It is critical that Africa, as a continent, and African voices, play a key role in global climate conversations, as meaningful participants, and no longer as bystanders – Africa must actively set the agenda,” Elumelu said.
The UN Climate Change Conference hosts world leaders every year to assess progress in dealing with climate change. Elumelu is one of Africa’s leading advocates for an equitable Marshall plan for climate action and through The Tony Elumelu Foundation has empowered thousands of green entrepreneurs shaping a more sustainable future for Africa.
Elumelu, through his Foundation, The Tony Elumelu Foundation and in partnership with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), which he chairs, hosted a high-level session at COP28, bringing together Africans, and key players in the Gulf, Europe, and Americas, where UBA operates, to engage in a multi-stakeholder dialogue, underscoring the urgent need for innovative approaches to climate adaptation and mitigation while fostering sustainable development.
The TEF Founder said that the Foundation partnered with the UNDP to empower thousands of young Africans, with an ambitious project to impact the lives of one million young Africans in the Sahel region of Africa.
Speaking at the Tony Elumelu Foundation hosted #COP28 high-level event, Dr. Okonjo Iweala, DG, World Trade Organisation stated, “I am terribly proud of what my brother, Tony Elumelu, has done in empowering and inspiring so many young entrepreneurs. We have no choice; the future is green. The future of growth is two things – it is green, and it must be inclusive. I am very interested in partnerships with organisations like the Tony Elumelu Foundation because I don’t want to duplicate what someone else has done.”
Continuing the dialogue, Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, UNDP Ahunna Eziakonwa, added, “The reason why UNDP associated itself with the Tony Elumelu Foundation years ago is because of the leadership and courage of the Foundation to trust and invest in young Africans. It was one of the first organisations in the world to do so at that scale.”
Sergio Pimenta, VP, Africa at IFC, also stated, “Tony, I salute you and your Foundation for what you have been doing to support young entrepreneurs in Africa. The IFC has deployed $2billion in funding for African SMEs in the last fiscal year and we are very excited to be able to do more work with you.”
