I AM BLACK HISTORY | Tolu Opeloye

Tolu Opeloye

Tolu Opeloye is Black History because he is actively shaping the economic and social future of Houston through leadership, ownership, and service.

In a city known for its diversity, scale, and opportunity, Tolu stands at the intersection of business growth and community responsibility. As Board Chair of the Greater Houston Black Chamber, the oldest African American business enterprise in Texas founded in 1935, he leads one of the most influential institutions dedicated to Black economic advancement in the state.

His leadership at the Chamber is about more than networking. It is about closing the wealth gap. It is about helping Black owned businesses access capital, secure contracts, strengthen operations, and build generational sustainability. Under his guidance, the Chamber continues to position Black entrepreneurs not just to participate in the economy, but to compete and lead within it.

But Tolu’s impact does not stop at economic empowerment.

As co owner and CEO of Med Shop Plus, a licensed medical supplies company in Houston, he addresses another historic inequity: access to healthcare resources in underserved communities. By providing affordable medical supplies in neighborhoods often overlooked by larger systems, Med Shop Plus serves as both a business and a bridge. It is a direct investment in health equity.

In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Tolu serves as an Account Executive with Amazon Health Services, bringing national scale insight into healthcare innovation. His experience across private enterprise and corporate leadership allows him to move fluidly between systems, advocating for solutions that benefit communities on the ground.

His commitment to the next generation is equally intentional.

As Chairman of the Board for the Urban Enrichment Institute, formerly the Fifth Ward Enrichment Program, Tolu invests in mentorship and development for young men in some of Houston’s most challenged zip codes. By pouring into youth leadership and character formation, he is helping to rewrite the narrative for what success looks like in communities that have historically been underserved.

He also serves on the board of the Education Foundation of Harris County and is actively involved in Jack and Jill of America, Inc., where he serves as Father’s Auxiliary Chair for the Cypress West Houston Chapter. These roles reflect his belief that leadership is not compartmentalized. It flows from business into family, from policy into practice.

His excellence has not gone unnoticed.

Tolu was named to Forbes’ The Next 1000 list in 2021, recognizing rising entrepreneurs redefining the American dream. He was also honored by the Houston Business Journal as a 40 Under 40 leader in 2019, affirming his influence within one of the nation’s most competitive markets.

Yet what defines Tolu most is not recognition. It is responsibility.

He understands that economic empowerment, healthcare access, and youth development are not separate conversations. They are connected. When businesses thrive, families stabilize. When healthcare is accessible, communities strengthen. When young leaders are mentored, futures expand.

Tolu Opeloye is Black History because he is building structures that outlive him. He is leading institutions that empower others. He is demonstrating that excellence and equity can coexist in boardrooms, classrooms, and neighborhoods alike.

Black History is not only written in protest. It is written in policy. It is written in ownership. It is written in sustained impact. And Tolu Opeloye is writing that history every day in Houston.