Renowned economist and chairman of Heirs Holdings, Transcorp Nigeria Plc, and United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu, has shared the tale behind the scar on his right hand.
Recalling his early days at Allstates Trust Bank, the philantropist on his facebook page recounted a challenging assignment that required a detailed 40-page credit analysis for a corporate customer, due the next morning.
Working tirelessly overnight, he finished the task but, exhausted, boarded a ‘Molue’ transit bus in Lagos to go home.
Unknowingly, he slept through his stop, waking up miles away from home at Jibowu. In his haste to disembark, he cut his hand badly.
He posted, “Many years ago, as a new hire at Allstates Trust Bank, I was asked by my boss to work on a credit analysis for a corporate customer. The assignment was due at 8:00am the next day; there was no option but to deliver. It meant that I had to work on a long, detailed, demanding 40-page document overnight.
“I worked late into that night, so I could finish the job. To go home, I went to Racecourse/TBS bus stop in Lagos, where I got on a ‘Molue’ – Lagos’s classic yellow transit bus. I promptly slept. When I woke, the bus had reached Jibowu, miles away from my home.
“I got off immediately, but as I jumped, I cut myself badly on my hand. I remember the blood dripping on the ground, as I made my way to the hospital to get treated. This not so pleasant memory is a reminder of my early days in the corporate world.”
Beyond the pain and hardships, Elumelu emphasized the valuable lessons learned – highlighting the importance of resilience, hard work, and unwavering focus in navigating both personal and professional challenges.
He underscored the belief that, despite difficult moments, these qualities shape the trajectory of one’s future success.
