‘Start Before You Are Ready’: Elumelu Challenges Young Africans to Turn Bold Ideas Into Success

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr. Tony Elumelu has urged young Africans to stop waiting for perfect conditions before pursuing their ambitions, saying the opportunity that transformed his own life came when he was not fully prepared.

Speaking at the French-African Foundation’s Africa Day event on Saturday, Elumelu called for wider access to opportunities, arguing that talent should not be held back by a lack of connections or fortunate circumstances.

“I started my career with a job I was not qualified for. Someone took a chance on me,” he said. “I have spent my life repaying those opportunities.”

Elumelu, who spoke alongside Hassanein Hiridgee in a discussion moderated by Haby Niakate of Brut, said one of his strongest convictions was the need to “democratise luck” and make opportunity accessible to young people across Africa.

The discussion explored entrepreneurship, expanding businesses across borders, developing talent and creating an environment in which Africa’s next generation of businesses can thrive.

For aspiring entrepreneurs, his central message was direct: “Start before you are ready.”

He encouraged young people to study, prepare and develop their capabilities, while recognising that confidence and practical knowledge often grow through experience.

“You will never feel completely prepared,” he said, stressing that taking the plunge must go hand in hand with preparation and a willingness to learn.

Beyond the courage to begin, Elumelu said entrepreneurs need a clear roadmap that turns long-term ambition into achievable milestones.

Recalling the early days of Standard Trust Bank in 1997, he said a three-stage strategy helped guide the business’s growth. He described a journey that has since extended across more than 20 African countries and into global financial centres.

He also urged entrepreneurs to choose partners carefully, placing shared purpose at the centre of business relationships.

“I believe that no one person or business will build our continent. We must partner with each other,” he said.

Elumelu linked that conviction to the work of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which he said had empowered more than 27,000 young African entrepreneurs across all 54 countries on the continent.

Supporting their ideas, he argued, is an investment in Africa’s future, with consequences that reach beyond individual businesses.

“Joblessness is a betrayal of our youth and so when we empower them, we empower our future,” he said.

His closing appeal challenged young Africans to become both builders of businesses and creators of opportunities for others.

“To every young person my message to you is: Start. Have a roadmap. Find the right partners. And when you get the opportunity, create one for someone else.”