Dr. Awele V. Elumelu, OFR, is a business leader, healthcare advocate, and philanthropist dedicated to transforming lives across Africa. A founding Director of Heirs Holdings, she chairs several group companies, including Avon Healthcare Limited, Heirs Insurance Brokers, and Transcorp Hotels Plc. As Co-Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, she has helped empower over 27,000 entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries through training, mentorship, and seed capital.

A medical doctor by training, Dr. Elumelu serves on several regional and global boards, was appointed Private Sector Champion for
Immunisation in Africa by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, received the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2023, and was named a TIME100 Philanthropy honouree in 2026.