Founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation and the chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa Plc and Transcorp Nigeria Plc, Anthony Onyemaechi Elumelu CFR is keeping social media abuzz with the photo of his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in 1985, 38 years after.
In the photo, the 60 years entrepreneur and philanthropist, is seen with another NYSC colleague of his seated with a bottle of drink, he said they could afford then.
Elumelu is a Nigerian economist, the picture he tagged “Circa 1985”, got 109 thousand likes, 7, 200 comments and 6, 600 shares.
According to him, “I recall my Youth Service days in Sokoto, a young man, fresh out of school, enjoying the drinks we could afford (lol) and unsure about the next steps.
“In my uncertainty, I was sure of one thing, I will stand out wherever I found myself, through hard work and resilience.
“I had always admired the banking profession, for one, I loved that the guys in the profession were always impeccably dressed… suspenders were a huge thing then, and I wanted to look like them.
“A few years later, after my Masters, I saw the application for graduates with a minimum of 2:1 in All States Trust Bank, this aligned with what I wanted for my life, but my 2:2 grade did not make me qualified, still, I applied, because I identified what I wanted in life and I was going to work towards it.
“I put in my application and said “Even though I do not meet these requirements if you give me the chance, I will prove myself”. I got this job and spent every day proving myself and earning my luck in the bank.
“Do it afraid and do it unsure! To the young ones out there, especially those who just passed out of NYSC yesterday, this is my message to you. The world needs your courage” he added.
