TONY ELUMELU: THE TRILLION NAIRA MAN

Some bad bele people will be thinking that I do not like Mr. Elumelu. What is there not to like especially as he had just delivered a N1 trillion capitalisation of his bank, UBA. Mbok, see me, I am a capitalist o, a real dyed in the wool capitalist. When I saw that report, my love for Mr. Elumelu deepened. The third company to ever do that on the exchange, the best performing banking stock of last year with the share price continuing on that trajectory and crossing the 250% mark and throwing the share price to a brilliant N29? What is there not to like o? His people accosted me the other day and were calling me names in laughter– Edgar, you are a troublemaker, Edgar, you just like to look for our trouble, what can we do so that you stop fighting me? With this kind of result, I can even give my late mama to

Tony to take as a second wife. This result is worth being effusive about. I am reading the result over and over again and wondering if this is possible. I called my analysts friends and asked them a simple question, “how una see this UBA result?” And they all marvelled. They talked about innovation, streamlined decision taking, strategic positioning in critical growth sectors and the positioning of a well-grounded management team led by Oliver Alawuba, a quiet but wellgrounded operative like I have heard. When he won’t be inviting me to all the white garment parties, why won’t I be stroking him once in a while. But from these results which impact not only the markets but the economy at large, Mr. Elumelu is beginning to well position himself as a major factor of economic positivism in these times. Africa is truly in your hands bro. Kai!