Tony Elumelu discussed how he rose to the position of CEO at age 34.

Tony Elumelu, a billionaire businessman from Nigeria, described how, at the age of 34, he reached the pinnacle of his career.The millionaire, who is currently chairman of Heirs Holdings and Transcorp and the creator of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, recounted his experience in a post on his Facebook page, according to Naija News.

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He wrote: “I had just become CEO of Standard Trust Bank and one of the youngest bank CEOs in Nigeria. It was a time of fast-paced change in our industry, and reform-minded policymakers had opened up paths for consolidation and strengthening our sector. The competition was intense, but youth was not a barrier. I owed my accelerated career and successes to two things: hard work and luck, and I know firsthand how these factors are inextricably linked to success.

“My successes—and yes, failures—have always driven me to create opportunities for young people.”

“I believe that our young have the talent and the zeal to transform our world.”
Before starting his career as a salesman, Elumelu worked at Union Bank during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in 1985 and subsequently joined Allstates Trust Bank.

In 1997, he led a small group of investors to take over the struggling Crystal Bank, renaming it Standard Trust Bank.

Standard Trust Bank merged with United Bank for Africa (UBA) in 2005, and Elumelu became the group managing director of one of the most recognized financial institutions in Africa.