Heirs Holdings, the pan-African investment company founded by Tony O. Elumelu, has opened applications for the second cohort of its Heirs Academy Graduate Trainee Programme. The programme targets young professionals seeking careers in energy, insurance, financial services, power, and real estate. The application window closes on September 4, 2026.
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants
To be eligible, candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in Finance, Law, or a relevant discipline from a recognised Nigerian or foreign university, with a minimum classification of Second Class Lower (2:2). Applicants must also have completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, have no more than two years of post-NYSC work experience, and be 27 years old or younger at the point of application.
Heirs Holdings operates across 24 countries and is guided by Africapitalism, Elumelu's economic philosophy that positions the private sector as a primary driver of Africa's development. The programme covers the company's portfolio of businesses in energy, insurance, financial services, power, and real estate.
What the Programme Offers Trainees
Commenting on the initiative, Eluemuno Olumagin, Group Director of Human Resources at Heirs Holdings, said the programme is a deliberate long-term investment in Africa's future workforce.
"Africa's economic transformation begins with its human capital. At Heirs Holdings, talent development is an essential, long-term strategic investment. Through the Heirs Academy Graduate Trainee Programme, we are identifying high-potential young professionals and equipping them with the critical skills, enterprise mindset, and sector depth required building impactful careers and creating lasting institutional value across the continent," Olumagin said.
The company pointed to the performance of its inaugural cohort as evidence of the programme's early success. 54 trainees completed six months of structured learning and professional development under the first edition, and many have since taken up roles within Heirs Holdings and its portfolio companies.
Application Deadline and Next Steps
Interested candidates must submit their applications before the September 4, 2026 deadline. The programme is designed to identify high-potential young professionals and equip them with critical skills, an enterprise mindset, and sector depth for impactful careers.
The second cohort will follow the same six-month structured learning and professional development model as the first edition. Successful applicants will join a programme that has already placed many of its first cohort graduates into roles within Heirs Holdings and its portfolio companies.
