UBA All white party.webp
The Digest:

Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist Tony Elumelu has announced the cancellation of his renowned annual all-white Christmas party, choosing a period of reflection to honour the memory of six lives lost in a September fire at Lagos's Afriland Towers.

Key Points:
  • The cancelled event is the "TOE All-White Party," a high-profile social tradition scheduled for December 23rd.
  • The decision directly honours six staff members who died in a fire at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos, in September.
  • Elumelu and his wife, Dr. Awele Elumelu, stated the season will be dedicated to remembering and holding space for the victims.
  • The announcement was made via Elumelu's Instagram story, addressing friends and regular guests.
  • The businessman affirmed the party's return is planned for December 23, 2026.
  • Elumelu is Chairman of UBA and Heirs Holdings, and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation.
  • The move shifts a major social calendar event into a private act of communal mourning.
This cancellation underscores how private grief can reshape public ritual, as a symbolic celebration gives way to a more profound acknowledgment of shared loss.

Sources: The Cable, Business Day