It gladdens me when customers have no reason to complain —Elumelu

AT the 2026 cohort of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Graduate Management Accelerated Programme held in Lagos, Chairman of the bank, Tony Elumelu, delivered an engaging and insightful session with young graduates, blending inspiration with practical career guidance.

The event took on a lively tone as Elumelu briefly entertained participants with dance steps before opening the floor to questions. Encouraging free expression, he urged the graduates not to be overly formal, creating an atmosphere where ideas flowed freely. The participants took full advantage—pitching concepts, asking candid questions and capturing memorable moments with the renowned entrepreneur.

On the question of whether discipline outweighs talent, Elumelu was emphatic. “Discipline is more preferable to talent,” he said, stressing that Africa’s future rests on a hardworking and resilient youth population. He noted that personal fulfilment, for him, comes from service excellence: “What makes me happy is when our customers don’t have any reason to complain.”

Addressing leadership, he admitted that managing people remains a complex task. According to him, individuals come with diverse values and attitudes, making alignment difficult.

“Everyone wants to succeed, but the real challenge is selecting the right people and shaping them in one direction,” he explained.

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Elumelu also highlighted poverty as a key driver behind his commitment to empowering African entrepreneurs. He linked economic hardship to insecurity, noting that hunger often fuels social unrest.

“Whatever we can do to empower people should be done,” he said, reinforcing his long-standing advocacy for entrepreneurship as a tool for development.

On staying focused amid doubt, he pointed to tenacity and self-belief. He recalled facing skepticism early in his journey, urging the graduates to remain steadfast. “If you believe in yourself, keep going. Eventually, your success will be recognised,” he said, adding that blocking out distractions and “noise” is sometimes necessary.

He further emphasised hard work as the foundation for unlocking potential, especially in a country grappling with high youth unemployment. According to him, discipline involves making tough choices and staying committed despite setbacks. “Resilience, relentlessness and telling yourself there is no option—that is what drives success,” he stated.

Speaking on career growth, Elumelu assured the graduates that UBA operates a merit-driven system where performance determines progress. He encouraged early sacrifices, drawing from his own experience of modest beginnings. “Take your destiny into your hands,” he advised.

Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged past mistakes and the importance of self-assessment and continuous improvement. He identified failure as his greatest fear but stressed that learning from errors is essential for growth.

On trust and reputation, Elumelu underscored consistency as the key factor in building credibility over time, while dismissing misinformation on social media as “noise” best ignored.

In his closing remarks, he urged the new intakes to embrace teamwork and innovation. “Together, we will keep impacting lives and developing our continent. We need your ideas and contributions,” he said.