Webmaster – The Tony Elumelu Foundation

$4.2 Billion in Revenue. 1.5 Million Jobs. Why The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s Bet on African Entrepreneurs Is Paying Off

Webmaster — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:15:35 +0000

As Africa marks MSME Day, The Tony Elumelu Foundation CEO Somachi Chris-Asoluka’s message offers a timely reminder that the continent’s future will not be built by aid or government alone, but by entrepreneurs creating value, solving problems, and generating prosperity from the ground up.

What is Africa’s greatest economic asset?

For decades, the answers have been familiar. Oil. Gas. Minerals. Arable land. Strategic geography. Foreign investment.

Yet as the continent navigates an era defined by artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, demographic shifts and rapid technological disruption, another answer is becoming impossible to ignore.

Africa’s greatest asset is its entrepreneurs.

Not because it sounds inspiring. Because the evidence increasingly points in that direction.

This conviction sits at the heart of a powerful message delivered by our CEO, Somachi Chris-Asoluka, to African entrepreneurs on this year’s Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day; a message that serves as both a celebration of entrepreneurial resilience and a challenge to how we think about Africa’s economic future.

In a world of accelerating change, Soamchi’s message returned to a simple but profound truth: behind every successful economy are entrepreneurs who dared to begin.

Entrepreneurs who saw opportunities where others saw obstacles.

Entrepreneurs who created value where others saw limitations.

Entrepreneurs who built businesses that became engines of jobs, growth, and prosperity.

Across Africa today, millions of such entrepreneurs are at work. They are farmers improving productivity, manufacturers strengthening local supply chains, creatives exporting African culture to global audiences, healthcare innovators expanding access to care, and tech founders developing solutions tailored to African realities.

Though they operate in different sectors and markets, they share one thing in common: They form the backbone of Africa’s economies.

And yet, despite their enormous contribution, MSMEs are too often treated as a secondary part of economic development conversations rather than what they truly are: essential economic infrastructure.

The world’s most prosperous economies were not built by governments alone. They were built by businesses. More specifically, by generations of entrepreneurs who transformed ideas into enterprises, enterprises into industries, and industries into national growth.

Africa is no different.

This is why Somachi Chris-Asoluka’s assertion that “Africa’s transformation will not be driven by aid alone. It will not be driven by governments alone. It will be driven by entrepreneurs who create value, solve problems, and generate shared prosperity” resonates so strongly.

It challenges a narrative that has long defined conversations about African development.

For years, development has often been viewed through the lens of external support, institutional interventions, and public-sector programmes. These remain important. But sustainable prosperity requires something more enduring: productive businesses capable of creating jobs, generating income, and strengthening communities.

Entrepreneurs make that possible.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s experience over the past decade and a half offers compelling proof.

What began as a bold belief in entrepreneurship as a catalyst for economic transformation has evolved into the largest philanthropic commitment to entrepreneurship on the African continent. Today, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has empowered over 27,000 entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries, trained over 2.5 million Africans through TEFConnect, our proprietary digital platform, and disbursed over $130 million in seed capital.

But perhaps the most telling figures are not the inputs. They are the outcomes.

Businesses backed by the Tony Elumelu Foundation have generated more than $4.2 billion in revenue and created over 1.5 million jobs.

Pause on those numbers for a moment.

Behind every dollar generated is a business serving a market need. Behind every job created is an individual with an income, a family with greater stability, and a community with stronger economic prospects.

Together, these entrepreneurs have positively impacted more than 4 million households and contributed to lifting over 2.1 million Africans above the poverty line.

More than statistics, these numbers represent livelihoods transformed, opportunities unlocked and futures reshaped.

They also reinforce a fact the Tony Elumelu Foundation has long understood: when African entrepreneurs are given access to training, networks, mentorship, and capital, they deliver results that extend far beyond individual business success.

They create ripple effects that strengthen entire economies.

This year’s MSME Day theme—“Empowering MSMEs through Innovation and Sustainable Industrial Development”—could hardly be more relevant.

The businesses shaping Africa’s future today are operating in an increasingly complex environment. Artificial intelligence is changing how work is done. Climate pressures are forcing industries to adapt. Consumer expectations are evolving rapidly. Market opportunities emerge and disappear faster than ever before.

Yet entrepreneurs remain uniquely positioned to navigate these shifts.

Adaptability has always been their advantage.

When markets change, they pivot. When challenges emerge, they innovate. When resources are limited, they find creative ways to build.

This resilience is one of the defining characteristics of African entrepreneurship.

Every day, entrepreneurs across the continent confront obstacles that would discourage many others, including limited access to financing, infrastructure gaps, regulatory complexities and economic uncertainty. Yet they continue to innovate, create and grow.

As our CEO acknowledged in her message, their resilience deserves recognition.

Not simply because perseverance is admirable, but because it is economically significant.

Every entrepreneur who starts and sustains a business contributes to a larger story of African progress. Every enterprise that scales creates jobs. Every local solution reduces dependence on imported answers. Every thriving business strengthens the foundations of shared prosperity.

The real significance of MSMEs, therefore, lies not only in their numbers but in their collective impact.

They are often the first employers in emerging communities. They drive local commerce. They encourage innovation. They nurture talent. They unlock opportunities in places where few previously existed.

In short, they do the essential work of nation-building.

That is why MSME Day should be more than an annual celebration. It should serve as a reminder of what has always been true and what the evidence increasingly confirms.

Africa’s future will not be built in boardrooms alone. It will not be secured through policy declarations alone. It will not be achieved through aid alone.

It will be built by millions of entrepreneurs solving problems, creating value and generating opportunity where it is needed most.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s journey (and the outcomes achieved by the entrepreneurs it supports) demonstrates what becomes possible when that belief is backed with action.

TEF’s bet on African entrepreneurs is paying off.

Not only in revenue generated or jobs created, important as those measures are.

It is paying off in stronger communities. More resilient economies. Greater self-reliance. And a growing generation of entrepreneurs proving that Africa’s greatest resource is not what lies beneath the ground, but the ingenuity, determination and ambition of its people.

That may be the most important lesson from this year’s MSME Day.

The future belongs to those who create it.

And across Africa, entrepreneurs are already doing exactly that.

The post $4.2 Billion in Revenue. 1.5 Million Jobs. Why The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s Bet on African Entrepreneurs Is Paying Off appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

MEET RICHARD, BUILDING RWANDA’S ELECTRIC FUTURE

Webmaster — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:56:07 +0000

HE WATCHED RIDERS LOSE HALF THEIR INCOME TO FUEL. NOW HE’S BUILDING RWANDA’S ELECTRIC FUTURE.

Every day, Richard Ngoga watched motorcycle taxi riders work long hours only to lose a significant portion of their earnings to fuel costs.

For many riders, fuel consumed between 40 and 60 per cent of their daily income, making it difficult to build financial stability despite the growing demand for transport services.

Rather than accept this as an unavoidable reality, Richard saw an opportunity.

He envisioned a solution that could reduce operating costs for riders while helping Rwanda move towards a cleaner, more sustainable transport system.

That vision became Volt, an electric mobility company dedicated to making electric transportation accessible, practical, and affordable for Rwandans.

The Build

Building an electric mobility business meant introducing a new way of thinking about transportation in a market dominated by petrol-powered motorcycles.

Richard focused on developing a model that addressed the everyday realities of riders. Instead of simply selling electric motorcycles, Volt adopted a Battery-as-a-Service model, allowing riders to swap batteries instantly and continue working without lengthy charging times.

The approach combined locally relevant engineering, flexible financing options and dependable after-sales support, ensuring that riders could transition to electric mobility without disrupting their livelihoods.

The early stages demanded resilience, resourcefulness, and constant learning.

“Building Volt from an idea to an operational business with paying riders has required resilience, resourcefulness, and a strong belief in the mission,” Richard Ngoga

The Challenge

One of the biggest challenges was perception.

Many riders assumed electric motorcycles would be expensive, unreliable, or difficult to maintain. Convincing operators to embrace a new technology required more than promises; it required proof.

Richard and his team focused on demonstrating immediate value.

When riders saw that their daily operating costs could be significantly lower than fuel expenses from the very first day, scepticism began to fade.

The business also faced the challenge of meeting strict safety and regulatory requirements. To build trust with riders and authorities alike, Volt invested in UN38.3-certified batteries, meeting internationally recognised safety and environmental standards.

These decisions helped establish credibility and laid the groundwork for sustainable growth.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Moment

Richard’s participation in the 2023 برنامج مؤسسة توني إلوميلو لريادة الأعمال provided a valuable framework for building the business.

Beyond seed capital, the programme challenged him to think about sustainability, scalability and financial viability as interconnected goals rather than separate priorities.

“The programme helped me see that building a clean energy business in Africa is not just environmentally responsible, it is commercially smart,”

The mentorship, business training and network of fellow entrepreneurs across Africa also proved invaluable during the company’s formative stages.

Through The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Richard gained the confidence to position Volt not simply as a transport company, but as a long-term infrastructure business helping to shape the future of mobility in Rwanda.

The Impact

The results are already visible on the streets of Kigali.

Since launching, Volt has deployed more than 100 electric motorcycles, helping reduce dependence on fuel-powered transportation while promoting cleaner urban mobility.

The company has also created 15 jobs, contributing to economic opportunity alongside environmental impact.

In 2025, Volt achieved several significant milestones, including launching its first battery swap station in Remera, Kigali, deploying its first fleet of electric motorcycles and onboarding more than 28 paying riders, generating over 1.2 million RWF in monthly mobile money revenue within just three months.

Volt is now scaling rapidly, with plans to expand from its current fleet to 250 riders by the end of the year and extend operations across all provinces of Rwanda by the end of 2026.

Every electric motorcycle on the road represents more than a business transaction; it represents lower operating costs for riders, reduced emissions and progress towards Rwanda’s vision for a cleaner transport future.

The Lesson

For Richard, sustainability is not a marketing message. It is the foundation of the business itself.

As fuel prices continue to rise and countries across Africa pursue cleaner transport solutions, he believes the most resilient businesses will be those that align commercial success with solving real societal challenges.

His advice to young entrepreneurs is simple:

“Do not treat sustainability as a marketing label. Treat it as a design principle. Build it into how you make money, not just how you talk about your business.”

By helping riders earn more while reducing emissions, Volt is proving that clean mobility is not just possible; it is already happening.

The post MEET RICHARD, BUILDING RWANDA’S ELECTRIC FUTURE appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

مؤسسة توني إلوميلو تعلن عن دفعة 2026 التي تضم 3,200 رائد أعمال أفريقي

Webmaster — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:38 +0000

l-r: Oge Elumelu, daughter of Founder and Co-Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Dr Awele V. Elumelu, OFR, Co-Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation

Over 27,000 Africans empowered by TEF Entrepreneurship Programme
51% Women in 2026 Cohort, Signalling Rise of Female-Led Enterprises
$16 Million to Be Deployed through TEF Entrepreneurship Programmes in 2026 to Fund African Entrepreneurs

Abuja, Nigeria – March 22, 2026 – The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy empowering entrepreneurs, has announced 3,200 young African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries for the 2026 cycle of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programmes; driving poverty alleviation, catalysing job creation, and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment.

With this latest announcement, TEF has now funded, trained and mentored over 27,000 African entrepreneurs, reinforcing its position as the largest private-sector driver of entrepreneurship in Africa. This underpins TEF’s stance on Africapitalism; Tony Elumelu’s economic belief that African entrepreneurs are the key drivers of the continent’s socio-economic transformation.

The 2026 cohort reflects the diversity, ambition, and resilience of Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, with 51% women, 75% aged 18–35, reinforcing youth-driven economic transformation, 30% from rural communities, expanding access beyond urban centres, and 13 selected entrepreneurs reported to be thriving with disabilities. The 2026 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs’ businesses span sectors including agriculture, AI, green economy, healthcare, and fintech. Crucially, 91% of selected entrepreneurs are at idea or early-stage, underscoring TEF’s role as a true last-mile enabler of opportunity.

l-r: Somachi Chris-Asoluka, CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Dr Awele V. Elumelu, OFR, Co-Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation

In 2026, the Tony Elumelu Foundation will empower:

1,751 entrepreneurs via Heirs Holdings Group companies – Heirs Energies, Transcorp Power, Transcorp Hotels, and United Capital
1,049 entrepreneurs in partnership with the European Commission, OACPS, BMZ and GIZ
100 entrepreneurs in partnership with Sèmè City Development Agency
100 entrepreneurs in partnership with DEG, the German Development Agency
100 entrepreneurs in partnership with the IKEA Foundation, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited and the Dutch Government
100 entrepreneurs in partnership with UNDP and the Rwandan Ministry of Youth and Arts

The announcement, held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja and broadcast globally, marks the 2026 cycle of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, with entrepreneurs selected from over 265,000 applications, one of the largest entrepreneurial selections on the continent.

The 2026 applications successfully submitted on TEFConnect, TEF’s proprietary digital platform, were subject to TEF’s rigorous and highly competitive selection process, where applicants were assessed on their demonstrated financial understanding and entrepreneurial mindset, as well as the feasibility, demand and scalability of their business ideas. This year’s cohort reflects the depth of entrepreneurial talent across the continent, with strong representation across key sectors including agriculture, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and the green economy.

The selection process was conducted by Ernst & Young, to ensure independent assessment.

Each selected Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur will receive $5,000 non-refundable seed capital, a world-class business training on TEFConnect, one-on-one mentorship, and access to global networks and investment opportunities.

A cross-section of Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Alumni pictured with (from center-left) Somachi Chris-Asoluka, CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Oge Elumelu, daughter of Founder and Co-Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; and Dr Awele V. Elumelu, OFR, Co-Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation

Speaking at the announcement, Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., Founder of TEF and Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings said, “What we do is about democratising luck and spreading prosperity, because everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed. I believe that no one but us will develop Africa. I also believe that the future of our continent is in the hands of our youth. What we do at the Tony Elumelu Foundation is not because we have so much to spread, but because we see it as self-enlightened interest

to make sure that everyone is given the opportunity to succeed. Because poverty, anywhere, is a threat to all of us everywhere. So the more prosperity we spread and we share, the more young Africans will mobilise, realising that one person alone cannot change Africa.

To our 2026 Tony Elumelu Foundation beneficiaries, I say congratulations. Your success will make the difference.”

Dr. Awele Elumelu, OFR, TEF Co-Founder, emphasised the scale of unmet demand, “I want to again continue to encourage those who have not been selected this year. Don’t give up. There is still hope.

We received over 265,000 applications, yet only 3,200 could be selected. This is why we continue to call on partners to join us. The future of Africa is indeed in the hands of these young entrepreneurs.”

l-r: Somachi Chris-Asoluka, CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Oge Elumelu, daughter of Founder and Co-Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation; Dr Awele V. Elumelu, OFR, Co-Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation

Somachi Chris-Asoluka, TEF CEO added, “We received over 265,000 applications from across the entire continent. 265,000 individuals who have chosen not to wait, but who have chosen to create. Today, we are celebrating all African entrepreneurs. We are celebrating the African entrepreneurial spirit, a spirit of resilience, hard work, capacity, and immense talent. Under Mr. Elumelu’s visionary leadership and strategic guidance, we are empowered and committed in making sacrifices to ensure that our young African entrepreneurs help us eradicate poverty, ensure inclusive economic empowerment, and create the millions of jobs that our continent so desperately deserves.”

Oge Elumelu, daughter of the Founder and co-Founder of TEF reflected on the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s journey, “Being able to witness the unravelling of this year’s selection process is truly exciting. And having been in attendance from the first TEF Forum, which was in 2015, to seeing where it is now is truly just incredible. And so I am really honoured to be here. And well done and congratulations to the 2026 cohort.”

Since its inception, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has:

Disbursed over $100 million in seed capital
Empowered 27,000+ entrepreneurs
Generated $4.2 billion in revenue
Created 1.5 million jobs
Lifted 2.1 million Africans out of poverty

للمزيد من التفاصيل عن تأثير مؤسسة توني إلوميلو تفضل بزيارة موقعنا صفحة التأثير, صفحة قصص النجاح الأفريقية, and the 2025 TEF Annual Report

للاستفسارات الإعلامية: moyo.awotile@tonyelumelufoundation.org

Partner, TEF Alumni and TEF Mentor Testimonials at the Ceremony

“Our partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation speaks volumes. Together, we are intentionally empowering young entrepreneurs, especially women, and supporting them to grow sustainable businesses that transform lives. There is nothing more transformative than enabling young African entrepreneurs to become economic drivers in their communities. What TEF is building is fundamental to Africa’s future.”

— Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria
“265,000 young Africans applied this year – that alone shows the strength, ambition, and potential of this continent. What the Tony Elumelu Foundation has created is not just a legacy, it is a live wire that will continue to power Africa’s future through entrepreneurship and job creation.”

— Nadi Albino, Deputy Director UNICEF Gen-U

“We are proud to partner with the Tony Elumelu Foundation in creating hope at scale. This is how we address Africa’s biggest challenges, by empowering people to build and thrive. Our commitment is growing because we have seen the impact. When you empower entrepreneurs, you unlock opportunity, stability, and prosperity across entire regions.”

— Dr Owen Omogiafo OON, President/GCEO Transcorp Group

“Our partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation enables us to empower youth at scale, expanding opportunity and prosperity far beyond our core operations. Through this partnership, we continue to transform lives across Africa, and we are proud to deepen our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and communities.”

— Osa Igiehon, CEO, Heirs Energies

“We are proud to be associated with the Tony Elumelu Foundation. The impact being generated is creating a powerful multiplier effect across Africa. Our partnership is rooted in purpose, to drive prosperity, support entrepreneurs, and ensure their success stories continue to grow across the continent.”

— Peter Ashade, Group CEO, United Capital Group

“The world doesn’t reward ideas. It does reward execution and ultimately results. Seeing thousands of entrepreneurs empowered by the Tony Elumelu Foundation is a powerful testament to the momentum of African enterprise. I am proud to be part of a mission that is investing in people, because Africa’s growth depends on it.”

— Najim Abdulrazaq, TEF Mentor

“The Tony Elumelu Foundation aligns with my core belief, that Africa’s progress will be driven by entrepreneurs solving real problems. I have seen firsthand how the Tony Elumelu Foundation equips entrepreneurs with the skills, confidence, and capital to build sustainable businesses.”

— Adaeze Charlyn Udom, TEF Mentor

Thanks to the funding from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we’ve generated a turnover of $154,000, created 13 jobs, and trained 280 young entrepreneurs.”

— Haruna Diop, Malian 2021 Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumni

“Thanks to the support from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, I was able to manage my project and spread a positive environmental impact. We also created job opportunities and helped more than 30 people.”
— Sabrina Berrehal, Algerian 2024 Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumni

“We have generated revenue of over $500,000 and created employment in farming for 12,000 farmer agents and aggregators. Our farmers, who previously earned $2 per day, now earn $4.50 per day.”

— Aisha Langat, Kenyan 2024 Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumni

“Thanks to funding from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we were able to increase our impact by supporting more than 15 SMEs, including 5 in the clean energy sector and 5 in bioenergy. Our company has generated $160,000 in revenue and created more than 13 jobs. We are supporting clean cooking in our community, helping reduce CO₂ emissions, combating deforestation, and promoting sustainable development.”

— Prince Hangi, Congolese 2023 Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumni

“With the US $5,000 investment from the Tony Elumelu Foundation we have been able to impact over 20,000 people and that includes households and institutions such as your schools, clinics etc. We have also been able to raise US $30,000 more in funding in South Africa. We are really grateful to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for the opportunity. Thank you for making a conducive environment for economic growth.”

— Kemiso Motholo, South African 2024 Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumni

The post The Tony Elumelu Foundation Announces 2026 Cohort of 3,200 African Entrepreneurs appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

مؤسسة توني إيلوميلو تعين ثلاثة أعضاء جدد في المجلس الاستشاري

Webmaster — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:34:15 +0000

New TEF Board members are: H.E. Badr Jafar, leading businessman and social entrepreneur from the United Arab Emirates; Per Heggenes, with about a two-decade track record in the humanitarian and development sectors, and grant-making philanthropy, who served as the first CEO of the IKEA Foundation from Norway; and Professor Paul Gompers, the Eugene Holman Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, from the United States of America.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy committed to catalysing youth entrepreneurship across Africa, disbursing over USD$100m to over 24,000 young African entrepreneurs, who have collectively created over 1.5 million jobs, generated over US$4.2 billion in revenue and lifted more than 2.1 million Africans from poverty.
Appointments represent the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s belief in strategic philanthropy built on global partnerships and best practice

Lagos, Nigeria – February 17, 2026 – The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy empowering young entrepreneurs to create sustainable jobs and drive economic transformation, today announced the appointment of three distinguished new members to its Advisory Board. These strategic additions enhance TEF’s global reach and expertise in fostering Africapitalism, youth entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth across all 54 African countries.

The new members:

Professor Paul Gompers, Harvard Business School – a preeminent scholar of venture capital and entrepreneurship.
Per Heggenes, former CEO of the IKEA Foundation, with about a two-decade track record in global grant-making and sustainable development.
His Excellency Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises and Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy for the United Arab Emirates.

They join existing Advisory Board member, Fatou Assah, Executive Director (Alt) at the International Monetary Fund, from the Central African Republic.

Commenting, Tony O. Elumelu, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, said:

"Entrepreneurship is the most powerful engine for Africa’s long-term prosperity.

We welcome H.E. Badr Jafar, Per Heggenes and Professor Paul Gompers to our Advisory Board.

Badr’s experience in championing innovative solutions and strategic philanthropy will be instrumental, as we scale our mission and bridge Africa with global partners who share our commitment to economic inclusion. Per’s career experience will be invaluable as we continue to scale our impact and strengthen institutional capacity in support of African entrepreneurs. Professor Gompers’ long-standing academic engagement with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, including his Harvard Business School case study on TEF’s work, reflects the growing global recognition of entrepreneurship as Africa’s most powerful development catalyst.”

The appointments reflect the Foundation’s ability to convene global voices and champion African solutions. TEF has partnered with the European Union, the Ikea Foundation, Google, the UAE Office of Development Affairs (ODA), the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the French Development Agency (AFD), the German Development Finance Institution (DEG), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and more, running bespoke entrepreneurship programmes including targeting female empowerment and growth in fragile states.

Commenting on his appointment, H.E. Badr Jafar said: “It is a privilege to support the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s work, at a time when Africa’s entrepreneurial energy is reshaping the future. The UAE has emerged as a global platform for innovation and cross-sector collaboration, and I look forward to helping build bridges between regions, sectors, and generations to drive sustainable impact at scale.”

Commenting on his appointment, Per Heggenes said:
“The Tony Elumelu Foundation has built one of the most ambitious and impactful entrepreneurship platforms in the world. I am pleased to join the Advisory Board at a time when Africa’s young entrepreneurs are increasingly central to solving global challenges. I look forward to supporting the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s mission to strengthen entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic independence, resilience, and inclusive growth.”

Commenting on his appointment, Professor Paul Gompers stated:
“Entrepreneurship is a critical driver of innovation, job creation, and economic transformation. The Tony Elumelu Foundation has demonstrated what is possible when capital, training, and long-term commitment are aligned. I am delighted to join the Advisory Board and contribute to the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s efforts to deepen Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystems and expand opportunity at scale.”

To learn more about the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s impact, please read the latest تقرير TEF السنوي و Impact Report and explore how توني إلوميلو رجال الأعمال are transforming Africa.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2026 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme via www.TEFConnect.com till March 1, 2026, focusing on supporting early-stage businesses and fostering innovation across Africa.

About the new Advisory Board Members

H.E. Badr Jafar

H.E. Badr Jafar is the CEO of Crescent Enterprises, a diversified business operating across nine industry sectors in 15 countries. He also serves as Chairman of Gulftainer, the largest privately-owned container port operator in the world. Badr is actively engaged with organisations and initiatives focused on humanitarian aid and international development, strategic philanthropy, corporate governance, entrepreneurship, education and the arts. Consistent with his interest in promoting social entrepreneurship in the MENA Region, Badr co-founded the Arab World Social Entrepreneurship Program (ASEP).

بير هيجينيس

Per Heggenes brings nearly two decades of global leadership across strategic philanthropy, international development, and corporate affairs. As the first CEO of the IKEA Foundation from 2009, he led the organisation’s evolution into one of the world’s leading strategic philanthropies, overseeing funding and innovation strategies supporting programmes in more than 45 countries. Under his leadership, the Ikea Foundation partnered with the Tony Elumelu Foundation and UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited, to launch the BeGreen Entrepreneurship Programme, empowering hundreds of young green African entrepreneurs with critical green training, funding, and technical assistance in launching green businesses across the African continent.

Professor Paul Gompers

Professor Paul Gompers is one of the world’s leading scholars on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and high-growth companies. He is Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, with appointments in both Finance and Entrepreneurial Management. In 2024, Professor Gompers and his Harvard Business School research team launched a case study on the Tony Elumelu Foundation titled “The Tony Elumelu Foundation: Democratising Luck Across Africa”. The case study examines TEF’s distinctive philanthropy model and documents how the Tony Elumelu Foundation has empowered thousands of African entrepreneurs with more than US$100 million in direct funding, alongside training, mentorship, and ecosystem development.

حول مؤسسة توني إلوميلو

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is the leading philanthropy committed to catalysing youth entrepreneurship across Africa.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation is empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries, and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment. The Foundation’s mission is rooted in Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly, entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.

Since our launch in 2010, TEF has empowered over 2.5 million young Africans with access to business management training on our proprietary digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed over US$100 million in seed capital to more than 24,000 selected entrepreneurs on the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. Collectively, these entrepreneurs have generated $4.2 billion in revenue and created more than 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs. Through our support for African entrepreneurs, TEF has lifted 2.1 million Africans above the poverty line, and positively impacted more than 4 million African households, with 46% of supported entrepreneurs being African women.

إن مهمة مؤسسة توني إلوميلو متجذرة في الرأسمالية الأفريقية التي تضع القطاع الخاص، والأهم من ذلك، رواد الأعمال كمحفز للتنمية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية في القارة الأفريقية.

TEF’s ability to fund, train, mentor, and network young African entrepreneurs has created a unique platform for catalysing growth across the African continent. The robust ability of the Foundation to reach entrepreneurs across geographies and sectors has enabled it to conduct innovative partnerships with the European Union (EU), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United States Government via the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), The Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), The French Development Agency (AFD), The German Development Finance Institution (DEG), The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), The African Development Bank (AfDB), Google, UNICEF Generation Unlimited (GenU), IKEA Foundation, the UAE Office of Development Affairs and Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation (an affiliate of Erth Zayed), and others, with bespoke programmes including targeting female empowerment and growth in fragile states.

Contact: Moyo Awotile; moyo.awotile@tonyelumelufoundation.org

The post The Tony Elumelu Foundation Appoints Three New Advisory Board Members appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

مؤسسة توني إلوميلو فتح باب التقديم لبرنامج ريادة الأعمال لعام 2026

Webmaster — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:20:25 +0000

أبرز مؤسسة خيرية لريادة الأعمال في أفريقيا تُحفّز الجيل القادم من روّاد الأعمال الأفارقة

رأس مال تأسيسي غير قابل للاسترداد بقيمة 5,000 دولار أمريكي، وتدريب عالمي المستوى، وإرشاد لأجرأ المؤسسين في أفريقيا

أكثر من 24,000 رائد أعمال ممولين، و2.5 مليون شخص تم تدريبهم، و1.5 مليون وظيفة تم خلقها، وإيرادات بلغت 4.2 مليار دولار أمريكي منذ عام 2015

لاغوس، نيجيريا – 1 يناير 2026 – أعلنت مؤسسة توني إلوميلو (TEF) فتح باب التقديم لبرنامج TEF لريادة الأعمال لعام 2026، داعيةً روّاد الأعمال الطموحين من جميع الدول الأفريقية الـ54 إلى التقديم الآن عبر منصة TEFConnect.

يحصل المتقدمون الناجحون على رأس مال تأسيسي غير قابل للاسترداد بقيمة 5,000 دولار أمريكي، إلى جانب تدريب مكثف في مجال الأعمال، وإرشاد، ووصول مباشر إلى أكبر شبكة لريادة الأعمال في أفريقيا.

منذ عام 2015، قام البرنامج بتمويل أكثر من 24,000 رائد أعمال، وتدريب 2.5 مليون أفريقي، وخلق أكثر من 1.5 مليون وظيفة، وتوليد إيرادات تجاوزت 4.2 مليار دولار أمريكي، مما يثبت أن روّاد الأعمال الأفارقة قادرون على تحويل القارة.

كما يدفع البرنامج عجلة النمو الشامل، حيث تشكل النساء الآن 46% من روّاد أعمال TEF، وهي أعلى نسبة مشاركة نسائية يسجلها برنامج بهذا الحجم.

وفي حديثه عن إطلاق برنامج 2026، قال مؤسس مؤسسة توني إلوميلو ورئيس مجلس إدارة مجموعة Heirs Holdings، توني أو. إلوميلو، CFR:

> «أعظم أصول أفريقيا هم شعبها. أفريقيا لا تحتاج إلى مساعدات؛ أفريقيا تحتاج إلى استثمار، في البنية التحتية، وفي المؤسسات، ولكن الأهم من ذلك في شبابنا.

من خلال مؤسسة توني إلوميلو، نُظهر أنه عندما يتم تمكين روّاد الأعمال، فإنهم يخلقون فرص عمل، ويدفعون النمو، ويحوّلون المجتمعات.

روّاد الأعمال هم مستقبل أفريقيا».

باب التقديم لبرنامج TEF لريادة الأعمال لعام 2026 مفتوح من 1 يناير إلى 1 مارس 2026 عبر الموقع www.TEFConnect.com.

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أثر TEF

اضغط هنا للاطلاع على بيانات على مستوى الدول حول روّاد الأعمال الشباب الذين تم دعمهم من خلال تمويل وتدريب وإرشاد TEF في كل دولة أفريقية. ولمعرفة الأثر التحويلي للمؤسسة في جميع أنحاء القارة، يُرجى زيارة صفحة الأثر والتقارير السنوية للمؤسسة. وللاستماع مباشرة إلى تجارب روّاد الأعمال أنفسهم، تفضل بزيارة صفحة قصص النجاح الخاصة بـ TEF.

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نبذة عن مؤسسة توني إلوميلو

مؤسسة توني إلوميلو (TEF) هي المؤسسة الخيرية الرائدة في تمكين جيل جديد من روّاد الأعمال الأفارقة، ودفع القضاء على الفقر، وتحفيز خلق فرص العمل، وتعزيز النمو الاقتصادي الشامل في جميع الدول الأفريقية الـ54. ويستند عمل المؤسسة إلى مفهوم «الأفريقية الرأسمالية» (Africapitalism)، وهو الإيمان بأن القطاع الخاص الأفريقي هو المحرّك الأكثر فاعلية للتنمية طويلة الأجل.

وقد مكّنت القدرة القوية لـ TEF على الوصول إلى روّاد الأعمال عبر مختلف المناطق والقطاعات من إقامة شراكات مبتكرة مع الاتحاد الأوروبي (EU)، وبرنامج الأمم المتحدة الإنمائي (UNDP)، واللجنة الدولية للصليب الأحمر (ICRC)، وحكومة الولايات المتحدة عبر مؤسسة التنمية الأفريقية الأمريكية (USADF)، ومنظمة دول أفريقيا والكاريبي والمحيط الهادئ (OACPS)، ووكالة التنمية الفرنسية (AFD)، ومؤسسة التمويل الإنمائي الألمانية (DEG)، والوكالة الألمانية للتعاون الدولي (GIZ)، والبنك الأفريقي للتنمية (AfDB)، وشركة جوجل، ومنظمة الأمم المتحدة للطفولة (اليونيسف) – مبادرة جيل بلا حدود (GenU)، ومؤسسة خليفة بن زايد آل نهيان (KBZF).

The post مؤسسة توني إلوميلو تفتح باب التقديم لبرنامج ريادة الأعمال لعام 2026 appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

La Fondation Tony Elumelu ouvre son Programme d’Entrepreneuriat 2026

Webmaster — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:05:11 +0000

La principale philanthropie entrepreneuriale d’Afrique catalyse la prochaine génération d’entrepreneurs africains

Capital d’amorçage non remboursable de 5 000 USD, formation de classe mondiale et mentorat pour les fondateurs les plus audacieux d’Afrique

Plus de 24 000 entrepreneurs financés, 2,5 millions formés, 1,5 million d’emplois créés, 4,2 milliards de dollars de revenus générés depuis 2015

Lagos, Nigeria – 1er janvier 2026 – La Fondation Tony Elumelu (TEF) a ouvert les candidatures pour le Programme d’Entrepreneuriat TEF 2026, appelant les jeunes fondateurs ambitieux des 54 pays africains à postuler dès maintenant sur TEFConnect.

Les candidats retenus reçoivent 5 000 $ US en capital d’amorçage non remboursable, une formation intensive en affaires, un mentorat et un accès direct au plus grand réseau d’entrepreneuriat d’Afrique.

Depuis 2015, le programme a financé plus de 24 000 entrepreneurs, formé 2,5 millions d’Africains, créé plus de 1,5 million d’emplois et généré plus de 4,2 milliards de dollars de revenus, prouvant que les entrepreneurs africains peuvent transformer le continent.

Le programme stimule également une croissance inclusive, les femmes représentant désormais 46 % des entrepreneurs du TEF – le taux de participation féminine le plus élevé enregistré par un programme de cette envergure.

S’exprimant sur le lancement de 2026, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, fondateur de TEF et Président du groupe Heirs Holdings, a déclaré :

“Le plus grand atout de l’Afrique, c’est notre peuple. L’Afrique n’a pas besoin d’aide; l’Afrique a besoin d’investissements, dans les infrastructures, dans les institutions, mais surtout dans notre jeunesse.

À travers la Fondation Tony Elumelu, nous montrons que lorsque les entrepreneurs sont responsabilisés, ils créent des emplois, stimulent la croissance et transforment les communautés.

Les entrepreneurs sont l’avenir de l’Afrique.

Les candidatures au Programme Entrepreneuriat TEF 2026 sont ouvertes du 1er janvier au 1er mars 2026 sur www.TEFConnect.com.

Impact du TEF

Cliquez ici pour consulter des données nationales sur les jeunes entrepreneurs soutenus par le financement, la formation et le mentorat du TEF dans chaque pays africain. Pour explorer l’impact transformateur du TEF à travers le continent, visitez la page d’impact et les rapports annuels de la Fondation. Pour entendre directement les entrepreneurs eux-mêmes, visitez la page TEF Success Stories.

حول مؤسسة توني إلوميلو

La Fondation Tony Elumelu (TEF) est la principale organisation philanthropique qui donne du pouvoir à une nouvelle génération d’entrepreneurs africains, favorise l’éradication de la pauvreté, catalyse la création d’emplois et fait progresser une croissance économique inclusive dans les 54 pays africains. Le travail du TEF est enraciné dans l’Africapitalisme ; la conviction que le secteur privé africain est le moteur le plus efficace du développement à long terme.

La solide capacité du TEF à atteindre des entrepreneurs dans toutes les zones géographiques et tous secteurs lui a permis de mener des partenariats innovants avec l’Union Européenne (UE), le Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement (PNUD), le Comité International de la Croix-Rouge (CICR), le gouvernement américain via la Fondation des États-Unis pour le Développement de l’Afrique (USADF), l’Organisation des États d’Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique (OEACP), l’Agence Française de Développement (AFD), l’Institution allemande de financement du développement (DEG), l’Agence allemande de coopération internationale (GIZ), la Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD), Google, le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l’enfance (UNICEF), Generation Unlimited (GenU) et la Fondation Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (KBZF).

The post La Fondation Tony Elumelu ouvre son Programme d’Entrepreneuriat 2026 appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

مؤسسة توني إيلوميلو تفتتح برنامج تطوير المشاريع 2026

Webmaster — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:39:36 +0000

A Filantropia Líder em Empreendedorismo da África Catalisa a Próxima Geração de Empreendedores Africanos

Capital inicial não reembolsável de US$ 5.000, capacitação de classe mundial e mentoria para os fundadores mais ousados da África

24.000+ empreendedores financiados, 2,5 milhões capacitados, 1,5 milhão de empregos criados, US$4,2 bilhões em receita gerada desde 2015

Lagos, Nigéria – 1 de Janeiro de 2026 – A Fundação Tony Elumelu (TEF) abriu as inscrições para o Programa de  Empreendedorismo TEF 2026, chamando jovens fundadores ambiciosos de todos os 54 países Africanos para se candidatarem agora no TEFConnect.

Os candidatos aprovados recebem US$ 5.000 em capital inicial não reembolsável, capacitação intensiva em negócios, mentoria e acesso direto à maior rede de empreendedorismo da África.

Desde 2015, o Programa financiou mais de 24.000 empreendedores, capacitou 2,5 milhões de Africanos e criou mais de 1,5 milhões de empregos e geraram mais de US$ 4,2 bilhões em receita, provando que empreendedores Africanos podem transformar o continente.

O Programa também está impulsionando o crescimento inclusivo, com as mulheres agora representando 46% dos empreendedores TEF – o maior número de mulheres taxa de participação registrada por um programa dessa escala.

Falando sobre o lançamento em 2026, o fundador da TEF e presidente do Heirs Holdings Group, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, disse:

“O maior patrimônio da África é nosso povo. A África não precisa de ajuda; A África precisa de investimentos, em infraestrutura, em instituições, mas mais criticamente em nossos jovens.

Por meio da Fundação Tony Elumelu, mostramos que, quando empreendedores são empoderados, eles criam empregos, impulsionam o crescimento, e transformar comunidades.

Empreendedores são o futuro da África.”

As inscrições para o Programa de Empreendedorismo TEF 2026 estão abertas de 1 de Janeiro a 1 de Março de 2026 no dia www.TEFConnect.com.

Impacto TEF

Clique aqui para dados em nível nacional sobre jovens empreendedores apoiados pelo financiamento, capacitação e mentoria do TEF em cada país Africano. Para explorar o impacto transformador do TEF em todo o continente, visite a Página de Impacto e os Relatórios Anuais da Fundação. Para ouvir diretamente os próprios empreendedores, visite a página de Histórias de Sucesso do TEF.

Sobre a Fundação Tony Elumelu

A Fundação Tony Elumelu (TEF) é a principal instituição filantrópica que capacita uma nova geração de empreendedores Africanos, impulsionando a erradicação da pobreza, catalisando a criação de empregos e promovendo o crescimento econômico inclusivo em todos os 54 países Africanos. O trabalho da TEF está enraizado no Africapitalismo; a crença de que o setor privado da África é o motor mais eficaz para o desenvolvimento de longo prazo.

A robusta capacidade do TEF de alcançar empreendedores de diferentes geografias e setores permitiu que realizasse atividades inovadoras parcerias com a União Europeia (UE), o Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento (PNUD), o Comitê Internacional da Cruz Vermelha (CICV), o Governo dos EUA por meio da Fundação dos Estados Unidos para o Desenvolvimento Africano (USADF), a Organização da África e do Caribe e Estados do Pacífico (OACPS), a Agência Francesa de Desenvolvimento (AFD), a Instituição Alemã de Financiamento ao Desenvolvimento (DEG), a Agência Alemã de Cooperação Internacional (GIZ), o Banco Africano de Desenvolvimento (BAD), Google, o Fundo das Nações Unidas para a Infância (UNICEF) Geração Ilimitada (GenU) e a Fundação Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (KBZF).

The post Fundação Tony Elumelu Inaugura Programa de Empreendedorismo 2026 appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Our Founder, Tony O. Elumelu CFR’s Full Remarks on CNN’s Global Perspective on Africa in London

Webmaster — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:57:59 +0000

في نوفمبر 2025، انضم توني إيلوميلو، مؤسس مؤسسة توني إيلوميلو، إلى الليدي لين فورستر دي روتشيلد، المؤسس والرئيس التنفيذي لمجلس الرأسمالية الشاملة، في حوار قوي أدارته إيليني جيوكوس من شبكة CNN، حول الرأسمالية الأفريقية والعصر الجديد للتمويل الشامل، في برنامج CNN Global Perspectives on Africa في لندن.

وقد بحثا معًا في كيفية قيام القطاع الخاص ورواد الأعمال في أفريقيا بقيادة النمو المستدام والشامل وإعادة تشكيل أنظمة السوق العالمية من منظور القارة الفريد.

لقد واجه الاقتصاد العالمي الكثير من الأزمات في العقود القليلة الماضية: أزمات عدم المساواة، وأزمات الإقصاء، وبالطبع في الآونة الأخيرة، الإجهاد البيئي. وفي ظل هذه الخلفية توصلنا إلى فلسفة ومفهوم الرأسمالية الأفريقية.

ويجب أن أقول إنه ليس تكييفًا أفريقيًا للرأسمالية. بل هو إعادة تعريف للرأسمالية لمعالجة القضايا الجوهرية التي تحدثت عنها السيدة لين للتو. نحن نؤمن بأن القطاع الخاص يجب أن يلعب دورًا حاسمًا في خلق الازدهار الاقتصادي والتحول الاجتماعي للمجتمع، للبشرية.

نحن نؤمن بأن الرأسمالية في القرن الحادي والعشرين يجب أن تتمحور حول المشاركة المجتمعية وإدماج المجتمع. ونعتقد، إلى حد كبير، أن الربح والهدف ليسا متنافسين. لا يوجد تنافس بينهما.

إن الربح والهدف شريكان، لا سيما في النهضة الأفريقية، والحديث عن الرأسمالية في العالم اليوم. وبالنسبة لنا، فإن حث القطاع الخاص على الاستثمار لا يعني في حد ذاته العمل الخيري، بل الاستثمار في القطاعات الحيوية التي تساعد على تحقيق الازدهار الاقتصادي، والتحول الاجتماعي هو ما نحتاج إليه.

أعتقد أن الرأسمالية الشاملة لا تتعلق بالإحسان. إنها تتعلق بخلق القيمة. إنها تتعلق بالشمول. إنها تتعلق بالتأكد من أن الشركات لا تعمل من أجل الربح وحده، ولا تعمل من أجل المساهمين وحدهم، بل تعمل في جوهرها على تحقيق المجتمع. لذا، فإن ما نقوم به في مؤسسة توني إلوميلو، بالنسبة لنا، بالنسبة لي ولزوجتي، وبالمناسبة، كانت لين عضوًا مؤسسًا في مجلس إدارة مؤسسة توني إلوميلو.

جلست في مجلس الإدارة لمدة 12 عامًا. لذا، فإن اهتمامنا بالإنسانية لم يبدأ اليوم. لقد فكرنا وأدركنا أن نجاحنا لا يتحدد بالثروة أو الأموال التي نمتلكها في حساباتنا المصرفية.

لقد اعتقدنا أننا لن ننجح إذا لم نقم بدورنا في المساعدة في تحفيز الازدهار الاقتصادي للجميع في قارة أفريقيا. ولكننا أدركنا أنه لا يمكننا القيام بذلك وحدنا، ولهذا السبب لن نمضي في هذه الرحلة بمفردنا. نحن نذهب مع الناس.

نحدد رواد الأعمال الأفارقة الشباب كل عام. نحن نقدم رأس مال غير قابل للاسترداد قدره $5000 بين 3000 إلى 5000 شاب أفريقي كل عام، في جميع أنحاء البلدان الأفريقية كل عام، وهذه هي الرأسمالية الأفريقية.

هذا هو القطاع الخاص. ولكن عندما نتحدث عن الاستثمار في القطاع الخاص، فإن الأمر لا يقتصر على الاستثمار في البنية التحتية المالية فحسب، بل إن الاستثمار في الشباب هو استثمار يساعد على تحفيز المزيد من الازدهار.

اسمحوا لي أن أبدأ بالقول إن الرأسمالية الأفريقية تنقلنا من الاستخراج إلى الإنتاج. وتنقلنا من الاستهلاك إلى الإنتاج. وتنقلنا من التبعية إلى الكرامة.

أعتقد أن الأمر كله يتعلق بالمصلحة على المدى الطويل: فمصلحة أفريقيا هي مصلحة قارتنا التي نمتلكها وستخلق قيمة محلية في القارة.

نبتعد عن تصدير المواد الخام. نخلق - أفريقيا لديها بطالة كبيرة بين الشباب. وأنا أسميها خيانة لجيل الشباب في أفريقيا أننا لا نستطيع خلق فرص عمل لهم.

لذا، عند السعي إلى التوافق مع القوى أو الاقتصادات العالمية، الاقتصادات المتقدمة، يجب أن يكون هناك أولاً توافق بين مصالحنا على المدى الطويل: خلق فرص العمل، وتمكين الشباب، والشمولية، والإدماج. أي من الاقتصادات العالمية يقدم أو يساعدنا على تحقيق هذه الأهداف الأساسية؟ بالنسبة لي، هذا من شأنه أن يحدد كيفية مواءمتنا.

تحتاج أفريقيا إلى استثمارات ضخمة في البنية التحتية لتحويل القارة. نحن نتحدث عن الذكاء الاصطناعي؛ لقد عدت للتو من محادثة في الرياض حول الذكاء الاصطناعي، وموقفي ثابت.

لا ينبغي لأفريقيا أن تتحدث عن الذكاء الاصطناعي في الوقت الذي لا يتوفر فيه الوصول إلى الكهرباء المشتركة في القارة. لذا، نحتاج إلى المواءمة مع الشركاء العالميين ووكالات التنمية والقطاع الخاص. وبالنسبة لي، ليس القطاع الخاص الأفريقي.

إنه القطاع الخاص في أفريقيا: القطاع الخاص الذي يمارس الأعمال التجارية في أفريقيا. نحن بحاجة إلى البدء في إعادة التفكير وإعادة تصور كيفية عملنا في القارة.

نحن بحاجة إلى أن نبدأ في الرؤية، وهذا هو السبب في أنني 100% متوافق مع تقاطع المساهمين في المجتمع وخلق القيمة والجميع على الطاولة.

ليس هناك أي سبب يدعو إلى التحالف مع الأشخاص الذين يأتون إلى القارة لغرض استخراج المواد الخام. نحن بحاجة إلى تلك المواد الخام التي تتم معالجتها في القارة حتى يمكن خلق قيمة مضافة محلية، وحتى يمكن معالجة بطالة الشباب التي نعاني منها في أفريقيا، وحتى يمكن معالجة أنشطة التدخل الرأسمالي التي تساعد على دفع أفريقيا ونقلها إلى المستوى التالي، وهذا من شأنه أن يحدد ما نقوم به أو من يجب أن ننحاز إليه.

شاهد الجلسة هنا: https://youtu.be/atxv5LuBvig?si=kmGo_A_ehkc70arO

The post Our Founder, Tony O. Elumelu CFR’s Full Remarks on CNN’s Global Perspective on Africa in London appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

مؤسسة توني إيلوميلو تقيم شراكة مع دائرة الإطفاء الفيدرالية لتدريب 7,400 نيجيري على التأهب للسلامة من الحرائق

Webmaster — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:54:34 +0000

The Federal Fire Service has announced a groundbreaking national capacity-building initiative following a strategic collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to train 7,400 Nigerians on fire safety preparedness across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

This partnership was consolidated during a courtesy visit to Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman of Heirs Holdings and the United Bank for Africa (UBA), at the Hilton, Abuja. The Controller General, Federal Fire Service, Samuel Adeyemi Olumode, FCNA, ACTI, led a delegation of senior management officers to the high-level engagement.

During the engagement, the Service also formally investitured Mr. Peter Ashade, Group CEO, United Capital Plc, as a National Fire Safety Ambassador, in recognition of the Heirs Group’s significant contributions to enhancing safety consciousness and advancing community-focused fire safety initiatives nationwide. This honour further reinforces the expanding partnership between the Federal Fire Service and the Tony Elumelu ecosystem. As part of the collaboration, Federal Fire Service personnel will be deployed across all infrastructures under Mr. Tony Elumelu’s business portfolio nationwide, serving as safety officers to support compliance, strengthen safety monitoring, and enhance fire prevention awareness across all facilities.

Mr. Elumelu emphasised the urgent need to deepen community-level fire safety awareness, noting that thousands of households, local markets, and indigenous settlements remain vulnerable due to limited access to structured fire prevention education. He underscored that empowering citizens with practical, life-saving knowledge will significantly improve national resilience and reduce both the frequency and severity of fire outbreaks.

Under the collaboration, the Federal Fire Service will train 200 persons in each state of the federation and the FCT, totaling 7,400 beneficiaries.

The programme will focus on essential fire-prevention skills, early warning practices, and basic emergency response procedures. Participants will also be groomed to serve as fire safety advocates within their communities, creating a multiplier effect that promotes vigilance and responsible safety behaviour nationwide.

The Controller General described the partnership as a milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward a more preventive approach to fire management. He expressed profound appreciation to Mr. Elumelu and the Foundation for championing a community-centric model that aligns with global best practices. He further assured that the Service will deliver the training with professionalism, transparency, and measurable impact across all zones.

The initiative is expected to significantly strengthen grassroots preparedness, improve first-response capacity, and foster a long-term culture of fire safety within communities.

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Keynote Remarks: Empowering Nigeria’s Entrepreneurs: Building Institutions That Last سلمت بواسطة توني أو. إلوميلو, CFR Group Chair, Heirs Holdings | UBA | Transcorp | Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation at the GROW NIGERIA CONFERENCE 2.0 لاغوس، نيجيريا

Monday, November 17, 2025

Opening

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Leaders of government, of business, young entrepreneurs gathered here, all who are responsible for tomorrow’s possibilities — good morning.

It is an honour to be here.

Let me be blunt:

The future of Nigeria is not going to be written in some far-off boardroom.

It is being shaped, right now, by you, by us, by every passionate entrepreneur, who refuses to settle for average, who beats the odds and dares to dream big in this great country.

Nigeria is Entrepreneurial — But We Must Build to Last

Too many of our businesses never get past the struggle.

Too many great ideas fail because the system, the support, the ecosystem—wasn’t there for them.

This must change. Starting businesses is good. But, sustaining them? This is critical. And that’s how we transform this economy.

I started out just like many of you — restless, ambitious, ready to prove myself.

But experience taught me: success isn’t about today. It’s about what remains when you’re gone.

If you are chasing profit and nothing else — your journey will be short.

If you’re driven by purpose and a vision to make lives better — your legacy will endure.

Private Sector: The Engine of Nigeria’s Renewal

Here’s the bottom line:

Nigeria will not be built by government handouts or foreign aid. Government’s role is critical, but:

Nigeria will be built by entrepreneurs — by you, building businesses that create jobs, hope, and prosperity from the ground up.

But you cannot do it alone.

You need frameworks — clear governance, succession planning, and relentless focus on value.

This is why at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, yes we give each beneficiary a non-refundable seed capital of USD5,000.00.

But to us, our greatest catalytic impact is the 12-week business education class we organise for young African entrepreneurs.

We do this to enlarge our private sector. Because we believe that the private sector is the engine of Nigeria’s renewal.

That’s Africapitalism that drives us at Heirs Holdings — using business to build Africa, to build Nigeria, to do well and do good at the same time.

We Need the Right Environment

We need a Nigeria where:

Policies are predictable (investors love predictability—let’s give it to them).

Infrastructure works.

Financing is truly accessible.

Our best brains aren’t stuck solving the same old problems— or leaving the country

We know this can be done – we have done it!

At the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we put our money where our mouth is.

Over 24,000 young Africans — 9,229 from Nigeria — have received capital, mentorship, training, not just to start up, but to scale up.

They are building businesses, creating jobs, exporting to new markets.

That is the future.

Public and Private Sectors: Collaboration is Key

Let me speak directly to Government, the private sector, institutions like SMEDAN — our work must be connected, not siloed.

Let me commend Charles Odii – SMEDAN CEO/Director General for this and what he has been doing since his appointment.

Let me also commend His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for believing in and appointing young Nigerians to steer critical national agencies and for all he does to support youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Let us cut the bureaucracy. Make finance and opportunity real, not theoretical.

Design policies that spark innovation.

Let’s help Nigeria’s entrepreneurs move from surviving – to winning.

Every job we create fights insecurity.

Every thriving business increases our tax base and accelerates prosperity for ALL.

Digital is the Game Changer

Let’s talk digital.

Today, a woman in Lekki or Oshodi can run a global operation right from her smartphone.

Technology has levelled the playing field — opportunity is before us – if we build the infrastructure, if digital skills reach EVERY community, if no entrepreneur is left behind.

We need the power that is so vital to the digital economy.

Last month in Washington, at the IMF meetings, my message was straightforward.

We Africans must be included in the AI revolution.

My message in Nigeria is the same – without infrastructure, without power, Africa will be left behind once again. We need to act and now, for Nigeria, for Africa.

We need a Nigeria that is built to last and built to succeed.

Call to Action: Build for Generations

We — leaders, policymakers, business owners — must forge partnerships that set our entrepreneurs free to focus on GROWTH.

We must turn pain into progress, hustle into history.

Our entrepreneurs are tough, resilient — but hardship shouldn’t be our default strategy!

Resilience must lead to innovation, not just survival.

So, let me challenge every one of you:

Don’t just start, SCALE.

Don’t just build for profit, BUILD FOR PURPOSE.

Don’t just think of today — think generations.

Nigeria, it’s time to move from start-ups to scale-ups, from individuals to institutions, from small ventures to lasting legacies.

That’s how we create a future where everyone

That’s how we build a Nigeria that works — for ALL.

I repeat, we need a Nigeria that is built to last and built to succeed.

Thank

إصبع قدم

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