Elumelu urges leaders to prioritise relationships for sustainable success

Chairman of the United Bank for Africa, (U.B.A) Tony Elumelu, has underscored the importance of relationship-driven leadership, describing it as a critical factor for success in an increasingly complex and fast-changing world.

Elumelu made this known during the first executive knowledge-sharing session of the 2026 year, where he called on leaders to reflect and rethink how they lead their organisations and teams.

According to him, leadership cannot afford to be passive, complacent, arrogant or distant in the face of constant global shifts that present both opportunities and threats.

He noted that effective leadership often lies in simplicity—clear objectives, disciplined execution and the courage to lead with authenticity.

Sharing personal experiences, Elumelu highlighted the power of strong relationships between leaders and their teams, stressing that success improves when leaders go beyond command-and-control structures to embrace empathy, accessibility and mutual respect.

He recalled working early in his career under a mentor whose leadership style continues to influence him.

The mentor, he said, was deliberate about building genuine connections with team members, fostering trust that inspired commitment rather than fear.

“He trusted me, invested in me, challenged me and pushed me beyond what I thought I was ready for,” Elumelu said, noting that this trust motivated him to perform better out of respect for the relationship they had built.

Elumelu also shared informal experiences outside the workplace, including social outings that served as moments of exposure and learning beyond the office environment.

He explained that such experiences were not about comfort but about building deeper connections and broadening perspectives.

Drawing lessons from those experiences, Elumelu said he remains intentional about connecting with his own teams and exposing them to environments beyond their immediate workspaces.

He emphasised that true leadership is less about authority and more about creating an enabling environment where people can thrive.

“A leader removes obstacles for others,” he said. “Leaders don’t just commit to tasks; they commit to people.”

As the year begins, Elumelu urged leaders to adopt a people-centred approach by making themselves accessible, building meaningful relationships, remaining open to change and allowing team members to take ownership of their work.

He concluded that when leaders build trust, clear roadblocks and execute with conviction, positive results will follow—not by chance, but by deliberate design.