IMF Appoints Tony Elumelu to Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth
Lagos, March 27, 2025 – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has appointed prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu to its newly established Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth, recognizing his significant contributions to African economic development.
Elumelu’s Role in Global Entrepreneurship Policy
The council, convened by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, brings together global leaders to develop policies that foster innovation, improve resource allocation, and drive sustainable private sector-led economic growth worldwide.
Elumelu, widely regarded as Africa’s foremost entrepreneurship advocate, has empowered over 25,000 African entrepreneurs through his Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) since 2015. His philosophy of Africapitalism—emphasizing the private sector’s role in Africa’s development through long-term investments—aligns perfectly with the council’s objectives.
Distinguished Council Members
The high-profile advisory group includes:
- Professor Ufuk Akcigit, University of Chicago economist
- HRH Ambassador Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Ambassador to the US
- Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO and Co-Founder
- Ana Botín, Executive Chair of Banco Santander
- Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Tata Group Chairman
- Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group CEO
- Robert Smith, Vista Equity Partners Founder
- Federico Sturzenegger, Argentina’s Minister of Deregulation
IMF’s Vision for Entrepreneurship
At the council’s inaugural meeting, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasized the importance of supportive policies for entrepreneurship:
“The Council brings together leading thinkers and practitioners to share views on how macroeconomic and financial policies can create an environment for innovation and productivity—key ingredients for strong economic growth.”
Impact on African Entrepreneurship
Elumelu’s appointment ensures African perspectives will shape international economic policies. His work through TEF has demonstrated how targeted entrepreneurship support can drive economic transformation across the continent.
This article summarizes an original report from The Calabash Newspaper. Full credit goes to the original source.