Who Says Big Men Don’t Relax Leisurely? Certainly Not Tony Elumelu -By Isaac Asabor

No one can deny Elumelu’s formidable business credentials. He rose from being a relatively unknown banker to becoming the youngest bank CEO in Nigeria when he led Standard Trust Bank. He later orchestrated one of the biggest mergers in Nigerian banking history, creating the UBA we know today, which now has footprints across Africa and beyond.

As Chairman of Transcorp, he has overseen significant investments in energy, hospitality, and agriculture. Through Heirs Holdings, he continues to diversify and invest across critical sectors of the Nigerian and African economy. His Tony Elumelu Foundation has empowered over 20,000 African entrepreneurs with seed funding, mentorship, and training, amplifying his belief in “Africapitalism”, the philosophy that Africa’s private sector can drive development.

Clearly, Elumelu is not a man who takes success lightly. His daily routines, strategic decisions, and global engagements all prove that he works hard and leads with vision. But, and this is where he stands out, he also deliberately makes room for the softer sides of life.

Despite his knack for business, Elumelu is a man of leisure. The foregoing assertion cannot be pooh-poohed with mere wave of hands as he is unarguably a unique personality among Nigeria’s “big men” by virtue of his ability to normalize leisure. On his social media pages, particulary X (formerly Twitter), Nigerians often catch glimpses of him engaging in activities that most people would not associate with a man of his caliber.

One memorable image is that of Elumelu doing yoga with his wife, Awele. In those pictures, you see not just a billionaire, but a man comfortable in stillness, focused on breathing, stretching, and centering himself. For an audience conditioned to believe that “big men” never slow down, this image is powerful. It sends a message: leisure is not a luxury reserved for the idle; it is a necessity, even for those at the pinnacle of power and wealth.

Leisure, for Elumelu, goes beyond yoga. He shares snippets of his travel experiences, relaxed vacations, and moments of unwinding. By doing so, he destigmatizes relaxation in a culture where rest is often equated with laziness.

Perhaps more inspiring is Elumelu’s devotion to his family. Despite his towering responsibilities, he makes visible efforts to remain present in the lives of his wife and children. Nigerians have seen him celebrating birthdays, attending family dinners, and simply spending unstructured time with his kids.

This is significant because in many African households, the patriarch often becomes so consumed by the “breadwinner” role that he neglects the emotional side of fatherhood. Elumelu provides a counter-narrative: success should not cost one’s family bonds. In fact, nurturing these bonds is part of success itself.

Through his actions, he underscores that being a father and husband is not secondary to being a business mogul. Both roles are equally important, and both deserve attention.

Given the foregoing view, there is no denying the fact that Tony Elumelu is worth emulating.  In a society where young people are constantly bombarded with conflicting messages, work till you drop, rest only after success, money first before family, Elumelu’s example offers clarity.

In fact, Elumelu proves that balance, not burnout, is the true key to sustainable success. Rest sharpens the mind and restores creativity, both of which are crucial for leadership.

In a similar vein, by prioritizing his family, he reminds us that success is hollow without people to share it with. Money can buy comfort, but not genuine connection.

Also in a similar vein, he has proven that wellness is wealth. This is as Yoga with his wife is not just symbolic; it reflects a commitment to health. For a man of his influence, this is a subtle way of teaching that physical and mental wellness are integral to wealth.

Without a doubt, Tony Elumelu has pragmatically been redefining what some Nigerians flippantly call “Hustle”, His lifestyle challenges young Nigerians to rethink the toxic version of hustle culture. Hard work is essential, but so is smart rest.

By sharing these aspects of his life openly, he models behavior that other leaders can emulate. In a country where leadership is often cloaked in mystery and rigidity, his openness is refreshing.

At this juncture, it is expedient to ask, “Who Says Big Men Don’t Relax Leisurely?” In fact, Tony Elumelu’s life offers a critical rebuttal to the notion that “big men” in Nigeria have no time for leisure, wellness, or family. While his business empire spans industries and continents, he has not lost sight of the simple joys of being a husband, a father, and an individual who deserves rest.

This balance, between boardroom strategy, yoga mats, and family dinners, is what makes him worth emulating. He teaches that success should not demand the sacrifice of self or loved ones. Instead, true success harmonizes ambition with humanity, work with wellness, and wealth with love.

So, the next time someone repeats the tired cliché that “big men” are too busy to relax, we must point them to the example of Tony Elumelu. He is living proof that success does not mean endless work, that rest is not weakness, and that family is not an afterthought.

Who says big men don’t relax leisurely? Certainly not Tony Elumelu.