The chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, and his wife, Vivian Elumelu, have been named among the TIME100 philanthropists for 2026.

The Elumelus were named in a publication released on Thursday.

The duo earned their spot in the Titan section of the magazine for their work through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded in 2010.

The Lagos-based, African-funded foundation was established to empower a new generation of African entrepreneurs, drive poverty eradication and catalyse economic growth across all 54 African countries.

It has provided mentorship and seed grants of $5,000 each to more than 27,000 entrepreneurs, expanding access to opportunities across the continent.

According to TIME, the list of top philanthropists for this year was finalised to recognise 100 individuals, representing the most compelling stories in philanthropy today, in a field that moves more than $1 trillion globally each year.

“By telling stories about the world’s most influential givers, leaders, advocates and thinkers, we hope to inspire others to give, and to consider the profound impact that this field has on our future,” TIME added.

The TIME100 Philanthropy initiative spotlights the world’s most influential leaders, activists and donors transforming the future of charitable giving.

The initiative was launched as a new annual franchise in 2025, highlighting how philanthropy was evolving toward collaborative and community-driven models to address urgent global challenges.