Post by OGUNLEKE Damilola Esther

Tony Elumelu has been confirmed as the next Chairman of Seplat Energy effective January 2027, following his appointment to the board earlier this year and Heirs Holdings' acquisition of a significant stake in the company. Reflecting on it and the lessons I learnt from it. The Growth Boardroom Lesson : Influence compounds before titles arrive. Many people are celebrating the chairmanship. I am looking at the years before the chairmanship. Tony Elumelu didn't wake up and become Chairman of Seplat. He built: Credibility. Capital. Relationships. A philosophy (Africapitalism). Multiple successful businesses. Strategic influence across sectors. The title came after the value was already established. Lesson 1: Ownership beats participation A lot of people want positions. Few are building ownership. Before joining Seplat's board, entities connected to Elumelu acquired a major stake in the company, making them the largest shareholder. Growth Boardroom translation: Don't just ask for a seat at the table. Become valuable enough to help build the table. Lesson 2: Growth is rarely accidental Notice the sequence: Strategic investment. Board appointment. Leadership succession. Chairmanship. That's not luck. That's long-term positioning Many people want overnight success. The marketplace rewards deliberate positioning. Lesson 3: Your reputation is a transferable asset What made Elumelu relevant in banking is helping him remain relevant in energy. Why? Because leadership, governance, execution, and value creation travel across industries. For Growth Boardroom members, this is important: Don't become known only for what you do. Become known for how you think. Skills create opportunities. Reputation creates invitations. Lesson 4: The next level requires succession thinking Seplat didn't just announce a chairman. It also announced a CEO transition as part of a broader succession plan. Strong organizations don't wait for a crisis before planning leadership. Growth is not just about building. Growth is about continuity. Growth Boardroom Takeaway Most people focus on the title. Leaders focus on the process that makes the title inevitable. Tony Elumelu's appointment reminds us that sustainable growth is built through years of positioning, ownership, credibility, and value creation. The marketplace rarely rewards who shouts the loudest. It rewards who has built the strongest foundation. #GrowthBoardroom #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #PersonalBranding #Africapitalism #CorporateGovernance #GrowthMindset #TonyElumelu #SeplatEnergy #StrategicLeadership #ValueCreation #CareerGrowth #OwnershipMindset