The Founder and Group Managing Director of Interswitch Group, Mitchell Elegbe, has been inducted into the Ernst and Young (EY) World Entrepreneur of the Year (WEOY) Hall of Fame.
This significant moment occurred at the WEOY (World Entrepreneur of the Year) award ceremony held in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on Thursday, June 8, 2023. The event attracted a distinguished audience, including a panel of esteemed and impartial judges, notable speakers, EY Entrepreneur of The Year alumni, and EY executive leadership, including Carmine Di Sibio, the Global Chairman and CEO of EY.
EY describes the World Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame as an exclusive group of individuals who have been acknowledged for their exceptional entrepreneurial accomplishments. For over 35 years, EY has celebrated innovation and resourcefulness through the Entrepreneur of the Year program. This program has recognized more than 10,000 outstanding entrepreneurs who have demonstrated vision, innovation, courage, and leadership in establishing and growing successful businesses. These enterprises have had a profound impact on people’s lives, influenced the products and services we rely on, and contributed to the economic vitality of local communities and global markets.
In 2023, the WEOY Hall of Fame welcomed 49 entrepreneurs from 45 countries worldwide. Among them, Mitchell Elegbe stood out as the only black and African global finalist and inductee into this esteemed hall of fame. Additionally, he is the sole entrepreneur in the awards’ 37-year history to have won in both the emerging and master categories at different times in his region.
After his induction, Mitchell Elegbe expressed his gratitude to the global EY team and the Nigerian team, particularly Ashish Bakhshi, the Senior Partner and EY Entrepreneur of the Year Leader for West Africa. He stated, “I am honored to have been inducted into this prestigious institution, renowned for its rich and vibrant legacy. I extend my appreciation to the Ernst and Young team for providing a platform that recognizes and celebrates entrepreneurs worldwide.”
Elegbe further emphasized, “This recognition will strengthen our commitment at Interswitch to continuously push the boundaries of innovation in order to create an Africa where payments seamlessly integrate into everyday life.”
Mitchell Elegbe’s induction into the WEOY Hall of Fame acknowledges his remarkable contributions as an exceptional African entrepreneur who has significantly contributed to the economic development of Nigeria and Africa as a whole. He has distinguished himself through his business leadership and advancements in technology.
This induction follows Elegbe’s previous recognition as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Emerging Entrepreneur category) in 2012, and his recent achievement as the West African Entrepreneur of the Year (Master category) in March 2023.
As a multiple award-winning professional and renowned business leader in the Information Technology and Financial Services industry, Mitchell Elegbe is recognized for spearheading revolutionary payment innovation in Africa. He founded Interswitch in 2002 to address payment challenges in Nigeria. Since then, the company has evolved into a leading payment and digital commerce enterprise, facilitating the development and management of payment infrastructure, and offering robust technology-based solutions to individuals, financial institutions, and governments across Africa.
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