East African Alumni

August 23,2019

Uganics is Creating a Malaria-Free World!

My Story of Luck! Luck is real, it is powerful, and I am committed to spreading it as far as I can. I am a beneficiary of luck, and I am passionate about sharing it across the continent, to all 54 countries. Tony O. Elumelu, CON If anyone knows the role that luck plays in …
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November 16,2018

Jama Yassin: Transforming Somaliland One Crop At A Time

The greatest revolutions in history often started with the smallest decisions. Growing up with a desire to improve the standard of living in Somaliland, Jama Yassin defied the norms by choosing a business path that was unconventional in his community. He talked to the Tony Elumelu Foundation team about his inspiration, his business growth and …
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August 24,2018

Nuya’s Essence: Tanzanian Beauty Queen Finds Her Business Groove With Natural Skincare Products

Hellen Dausen wanted to be a professional model and she was serious about it. After graduating with a BSc. in International Business Administration and Entrepreneurship from the United States International University-Africa in Nairobi, she participated in the 2010 Miss Universe Tanzania beauty pageant and won. As the winner, she received a scholarship to study performing …
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June 1,2018

From a Childhood Experience to a Thriving Business, Meet Shamim Nabuuma

At the age of 6, Shamim Nabuuma experienced tooth pain and this was repeatedly treated with pain relieving tablets, however this was not enough to keep away the tooth pain which soon degenerated to a swollen jaw. Even with all that pain, her parents couldn’t afford to take her to the dentist. They however mobilized …
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May 11,2018

Shabbirali Mussa: Solving the Waste Challenge of Tanzania

From Arusha to Dar es Salaam, over every 5 mins walk you will find a plastic bag (polythene) on the road or in a drainage leading to pollution. In Tanzania, a devastating amount of over a million polythene plastic bags are used each year. Only a small percentage of these plastic bags are used again …
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April 27,2018

Energy from Waste: Greenpact’s Leroy Mwasaru is Driving Social Impact in Kenya

As a high school student of Maseno School, Young Leroy Mwasaru started Greenpact when his school faced a problem of a faulty sewer system. The sewer problem polluted nearby sources of domestic water for the neighboring community, sparking a demonstration against the school. In a bid to provide solution to this problem, Leroy and his …
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March 16,2018

Ishak Kanonya: The Self-Taught Software Developer in the World’s Most Entrepreneurial Country

Uganda has been ranked as the world’s most entrepreneurial country by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), recording the highest youth entrepreneurs with 55.6 per cent of the youth population involved in new or established businesses. In the explanation, some analysts have said Ugandans are opportunists by nature. In other cases, it is because of a high …
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February 22,2018

Inspiring a New Generation of Farmers in Somalia, Jama of Hadi Farms Shares His Story.

Majority of the people of Somalia are pastoral nomads. Camels (the traditional currency of prestige and wealth), sheep, goats and some cattle are raised in large numbers across the plains and range lands of Somaliland provide both daily subsistence and the economic backbone of the country. With an estimated 60 per cent of the population …
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December 22,2017

‘’Africapitalism begins with you!’’ – Riziki Jailos Messa

With conviction in the philosophy of ‘’Africapitalism’’ and the believe of founder, Tony O. Elumelu that “no one but African can develop them Africa”, Tanzanian entrepreneur and CEO of Jagrin, Riziki Jailos Messa has offered free finance consultancy services to the TEF 2017 entrepreneurs. Riziki writes on his decision to help: Apart from being an …
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November 2,2017

MyRide Africa: Where Technology Meets Matatu

In Kenya, matatu (or matatus) are privately owned minibuses. Often decorated, many matatu feature portraits of famous people or slogans and sayings. Likewise, the music they play is also aimed at quickly attracting riders. These minibuses ply set routes, run from termini, and are used for both inter- and intra-city travel. One organization is changing …
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