Buhari Salutes Elumelu At 58, Sympathises With Katsina Market Traders Over Inferno

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent felicitations to renowned economist and philanthropist, Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu, on his 58th birthday.
In a statement by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Monday, Buhari joined family and friends to rejoice with the entrepreneur, whose interests had continued to create opportunities for growth and development in the country.
President Buhari commended the economist for his foresight and large-heartedness in setting up the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF).
He said the foundation had consistently inspired highly talented African youths into entrepreneurship, helped many to acquire business skills, enhanced positive social networks and provided start-up funds, within the larger goal of reducing poverty.
According to him, Elumelu, who is the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, United Bank for Africa and Transcorp, demonstrates resilience and relentlessness in dream realization, following his antecedents as a young banker.
He noted that Elumelu saw opportunities in the economy and worked hard to climb the ladder of success, receiving Nigeria’s National Productivity Order of Merit in 2019.
The president prayed for more wisdom, good health and longer life for the investor as he spreads investments into energy, real estate, agribusiness, health care and hospitality, creating more opportunities in the real sector.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has sympathised with traders at the Katsina Central Market and the entire people of Katsina State over the fire disaster that occurred at the market on Monday.
Buhari was represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, who led a delegation of top government officials to pay a sympathy visit to the traders in Katsina yesterday.
The fire destroyed property worth billions of naira.
The president urged the traders to be strong and consider what happened as an act of God.
He said that he was saddened by the news of the fire incident.
Buhari commended the Katsina State Government and people for efforts at controlling the fire.
According to him, the Federal Government will see how it can assist those who lost their property to the fire.
Responding, the Chairman of the Katsina Traders/Marketers Association, Alhaji Abbas Alobaba, thanked the president for sending the delegation.
The chairman pledged the association’s support for Katsina State Government and Buhari’s administration.
In the delegation were the Minister of Internal Affairs, Rauf Aregbosola; his Police Affairs counterpart, Maigari Dingyadi; the Minister of Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar-Farouk, and that of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
A Senior Special Assistant to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, was among the dignitaries.