Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has commended the relentless efforts of the chairman, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), Tony O. Elumelu CON, towards job creation as a strategy for poverty alleviation in Nigeria and Africa.

“I am here because Tony Elumelu creates jobs. I take interest in those who create jobs and Tony is one of them,” the minister stated at the 30th Anniversary celebration of the award-winning Transcorp Hilton Abuja. He spoke of statistics showing that 1,500 to 2,000 people are employed at the Transcorp Hilton alone.

Elumelu’s commitment to poverty alleviation finds expression in a theory he continues to champion called Africapitalism — the belief that Africa’s private sector can, and must play a leading role in the continents development.

Africapitalism can be seen in action through the entities under Tony Elumelu’s Heirs Holdings Group, including the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc. which currently has over 3,000 Nigerian’s in its employ, United Bank for Africa with over 14,000 Nigerian staff and the Tony Elumelu Foundation that has so far empowered 3,000 Africans through its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme.

“Social intervention is about attending to those who are vulnerable, those who can’t afford to eat three, two or even one square meal a day. Social intervention is what Tony Elumelu does,” Ngige also said in his speech.

He praised Tony Elumelu’s continued investment in power generation through Transcorp Power Limited, as well as the steps he took at UBA to retain employees through the recession when other companies chose to retrench. At a time when other institutions were laying off, UBA promoted 3000 staff in one day.

The minister closed by recognising the fact that Elumelu has done a lot to create jobs but more should be done, to which Tony Elumelu replied: “Help us create the right enabling environment and we will.”

•Chairman, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Tony O. Elumelu CON, Minister of Labour & Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and Executive Vice President, Hilton Europe, Middle-East & Africa Rudi Jagersbacher at the 30th Anniversary Celebration of award-winning Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

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