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	<title>Articles &#8211; The Tony Elumelu Foundation</title>
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		<title>مؤسسة توني إلوميلو تفتح باب التقديم لبرنامج ريادة الأعمال لعام 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/%d9%85%d8%a4%d8%b3%d8%b3%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d9%88%d9%86%d9%8a-%d8%a5%d9%84%d9%88%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%84%d9%88-%d8%aa%d9%81%d8%aa%d8%ad-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%af%d9%8a%d9%85-%d9%84%d8%a8-2#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=%25d9%2585%25d8%25a4%25d8%25b3%25d8%25b3%25d8%25a9-%25d8%25aa%25d9%2588%25d9%2586%25d9%258a-%25d8%25a5%25d9%2584%25d9%2588%25d9%2585%25d9%258a%25d9%2584%25d9%2588-%25d8%25aa%25d9%2581%25d8%25aa%25d8%25ad-%25d8%25a8%25d8%25a7%25d8%25a8-%25d8%25a7%25d9%2584%25d8%25aa%25d9%2582%25d8%25af%25d9%258a%25d9%2585-%25d9%2584%25d8%25a8-2</link>
		
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		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:20:25 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>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 &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/%d9%85%d8%a4%d8%b3%d8%b3%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d9%88%d9%86%d9%8a-%d8%a5%d9%84%d9%88%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%84%d9%88-%d8%aa%d9%81%d8%aa%d8%ad-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%af%d9%8a%d9%85-%d9%84%d8%a8-2">مؤسسة توني إلوميلو تفتح باب التقديم لبرنامج ريادة الأعمال لعام 2026</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>أبرز مؤسسة خيرية لريادة الأعمال في أفريقيا تُحفّز الجيل القادم من روّاد الأعمال الأفارقة </p>
<p>رأس مال تأسيسي غير قابل للاسترداد بقيمة 5,000 دولار أمريكي، وتدريب عالمي المستوى، وإرشاد لأجرأ المؤسسين في أفريقيا </p>
<p>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 </p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>كما يدفع البرنامج عجلة النمو الشامل، حيث تشكل النساء الآن 46% من روّاد أعمال TEF، وهي أعلى نسبة مشاركة نسائية يسجلها برنامج بهذا الحجم. </p>
<p>وفي حديثه عن إطلاق برنامج 2026، قال مؤسس مؤسسة توني إلوميلو ورئيس مجلس إدارة مجموعة Heirs Holdings، توني أو. إلوميلو، CFR: </p>
<p>> «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. </p>
<p>من خلال مؤسسة توني إلوميلو، نُظهر أنه عندما يتم تمكين روّاد الأعمال، فإنهم يخلقون فرص عمل، ويدفعون النمو، ويحوّلون المجتمعات. </p>
<p>روّاد الأعمال هم مستقبل أفريقيا». </p>
<p>باب التقديم لبرنامج TEF لريادة الأعمال لعام 2026 مفتوح من 1 يناير إلى 1 مارس 2026 عبر الموقع www.TEFConnect.com. </p>
<p>&#8212; </p>
<p><strong>أثر TEF </strong></p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>&#8212; </p>
<p>نبذة عن مؤسسة توني إلوميلو </p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>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). </p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/%d9%85%d8%a4%d8%b3%d8%b3%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d9%88%d9%86%d9%8a-%d8%a5%d9%84%d9%88%d9%85%d9%8a%d9%84%d9%88-%d8%aa%d9%81%d8%aa%d8%ad-%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%aa%d9%82%d8%af%d9%8a%d9%85-%d9%84%d8%a8-2">مؤسسة توني إلوميلو تفتح باب التقديم لبرنامج ريادة الأعمال لعام 2026</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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		<title>La Fondation Tony Elumelu ouvre son Programme d&#8217;Entrepreneuriat 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/la-fondation-tony-elumelu-ouvre-son-programme-dentrepreneuriat-2026#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=la-fondation-tony-elumelu-ouvre-son-programme-dentrepreneuriat-2026</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Webmaster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:05:11 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[Press Release]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/?p=28305</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>La principale philanthropie entrepreneuriale d’Afrique catalyse la prochaine génération d’entrepreneurs africains Capital d&#8217;amorçage non remboursable de 5 000 USD, formation de classe mondiale et mentorat pour les fondateurs les plus audacieux d&#8217;Afrique Plus de 24 000 entrepreneurs financés, 2,5 millions formés, 1,5 million d&#8217;emplois créés, 4,2 milliards de dollars de revenus générés depuis 2015 Lagos, Nigeria &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/la-fondation-tony-elumelu-ouvre-son-programme-dentrepreneuriat-2026">La Fondation Tony Elumelu ouvre son Programme d&#8217;Entrepreneuriat 2026</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>La principale philanthropie entrepreneuriale d’Afrique catalyse la prochaine génération d’entrepreneurs africains</p>
<p>Capital d&#8217;amorçage non remboursable de 5 000 USD, formation de classe mondiale et mentorat pour les fondateurs les plus audacieux d&#8217;Afrique</p>
<p>Plus de 24 000 entrepreneurs financés, 2,5 millions formés, 1,5 million d&#8217;emplois créés, 4,2 milliards de dollars de revenus générés depuis 2015</p>
<p>Lagos, Nigeria – 1er janvier 2026 – La Fondation Tony Elumelu (TEF) a ouvert les candidatures pour le Programme d&#8217;Entrepreneuriat TEF 2026, appelant les jeunes fondateurs ambitieux des 54 pays africains à postuler dès maintenant sur TEFConnect.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>S&#8217;exprimant sur le lancement de 2026, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, fondateur de TEF et Président du groupe Heirs Holdings, a déclaré :</p>
<p>&#8220;Le plus grand atout de l&#8217;Afrique, c&#8217;est notre peuple. L&#8217;Afrique n&#8217;a pas besoin d&#8217;aide; l&#8217;Afrique a besoin d&#8217;investissements, dans les infrastructures, dans les institutions, mais surtout dans notre jeunesse.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Les entrepreneurs sont l’avenir de l’Afrique.</p>
<p>Les candidatures au Programme Entrepreneuriat TEF 2026 sont ouvertes du 1er janvier au 1er mars 2026 sur www.TEFConnect.com.</p>
<p><strong>Impact du TEF</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>À propos de la Fondation Tony Elumelu</strong></p>
<p>La Fondation Tony Elumelu (TEF) est la principale organisation philanthropique qui donne du pouvoir à une nouvelle génération d&#8217;entrepreneurs africains, favorise l&#8217;éradication de la pauvreté, catalyse la création d&#8217;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.</p>
<p>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&#8217;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&#8217;Afrique (USADF), l&#8217;Organisation des États d&#8217;Afrique, des Caraïbes et du Pacifique (OEACP), l&#8217;Agence Française de Développement (AFD), l&#8217;Institution allemande de financement du développement (DEG), l&#8217;Agence allemande de coopération internationale (GIZ), la Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD), Google, le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l&#8217;enfance (UNICEF), Generation Unlimited (GenU) et la Fondation Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (KBZF).</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/la-fondation-tony-elumelu-ouvre-son-programme-dentrepreneuriat-2026">La Fondation Tony Elumelu ouvre son Programme d&#8217;Entrepreneuriat 2026</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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		<title>Fundação Tony Elumelu Inaugura Programa de Empreendedorismo 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/fundacao-tony-elumelu-inaugura-programa-de-empreendedorismo-2026#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=fundacao-tony-elumelu-inaugura-programa-de-empreendedorismo-2026</link>
		
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		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:39:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[<p>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$4,2 bilhões em receita gerada desde 2015 Lagos, Nigéria – &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/fundacao-tony-elumelu-inaugura-programa-de-empreendedorismo-2026">Fundação Tony Elumelu Inaugura Programa de Empreendedorismo 2026</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A Filantropia Líder em Empreendedorismo da África Catalisa a Próxima Geração de Empreendedores Africanos</p>
<p>Capital inicial não reembolsável de US$ 5.000, capacitação de classe mundial e mentoria para os fundadores mais ousados da África</p>
<p>24.000+ empreendedores financiados, 2,5 milhões capacitados, 1,5 milhão de empregos criados, US$4,2 bilhões em receita gerada desde 2015</p>
<p>Lagos, Nigéria – 1 de Janeiro de 2026 – A Fundação Tony Elumelu (TEF) abriu as inscrições para o Programa de  Empreendedorismo TEF 2026, chamando jovens fundadores ambiciosos de todos os 54 países Africanos para se candidatarem agora no TEFConnect.</p>
<p>Os candidatos aprovados recebem US$ 5.000 em capital inicial não reembolsável, capacitação intensiva em negócios, mentoria e acesso direto à maior rede de empreendedorismo da África.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Falando sobre o lançamento em 2026, o fundador da TEF e presidente do Heirs Holdings Group, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, disse:</p>
<p>&#8220;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.</p>
<p>Por meio da Fundação Tony Elumelu, mostramos que, quando empreendedores são empoderados, eles criam empregos, impulsionam o crescimento, e transformar comunidades.</p>
<p>Empreendedores são o futuro da África.&#8221;</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>Impacto TEF</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>Sobre a Fundação Tony Elumelu</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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).</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/fundacao-tony-elumelu-inaugura-programa-de-empreendedorismo-2026">Fundação Tony Elumelu Inaugura Programa de Empreendedorismo 2026</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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		<title>Our Founder, Tony O. Elumelu CFR&#8217;s Full Remarks on CNN’s Global Perspective on Africa in London</title>
		<link>https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/our-founder-tony-o-elumelu-cfrs-full-remarks-on-cnns-global-perspective-on-africa-in-london#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=our-founder-tony-o-elumelu-cfrs-full-remarks-on-cnns-global-perspective-on-africa-in-london</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Webmaster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:57:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/?p=28215</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>In November 2025, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, joined Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Founder and CEO of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, for a powerful dialogue moderated by CNN’s Eleni Giokos, on Africapitalism and the new era of inclusive finance, at CNN’s Global Perspectives on Africa in London.     &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/our-founder-tony-o-elumelu-cfrs-full-remarks-on-cnns-global-perspective-on-africa-in-london">Our Founder, Tony O. Elumelu CFR&#8217;s Full Remarks on CNN’s Global Perspective on Africa in London</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-contrast="none">In November 2025, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, joined Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Founder and CEO of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism, for a powerful dialogue moderated by CNN’s Eleni Giokos, on Africapitalism and the new era of inclusive finance, at CNN’s Global Perspectives on Africa in London. </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">Together, they delved into how Africa’s private sector and entrepreneurs are driving </span><span data-contrast="none">sustainable, inclusive growth and reshaping global market systems from the continent’s unique perspective.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335557856&quot;:16777215,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">The global economy has faced a lot of crises in the past few decades: crises of inequality, crises of exclusion, and, of course, in recent times, environmental stress. It is against this background that we came up with this whole philosophy and concept of Africapitalism.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">And I must say that it&#8217;s not an African adaptation of capitalism. It is a redefinition of capitalism to address the germane issues that Lady Lynn just talked about. We believe that the private sector must play a critical role in creating economic prosperity and social transformation for society, for humanity.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">We believe that in the 21st century, capitalism must be centred on community involvement, community inclusion. We believe, to a large extent, that profit and purpose are not in rivalry. There&#8217;s no rivalry between both.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Profit and purpose are partners, especially in the African Renaissance, talking about capitalism in the world today. To us, getting the private sector to invest is not about charity per se, but to invest in critical sectors that help to create economic prosperity, and social transformation is what we need.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">I think that inclusive capitalism is not about charity. It&#8217;s about value creation. It&#8217;s about inclusion. It&#8217;s about making sure that businesses don&#8217;t work for profit alone, don&#8217;t work for shareholders alone; that they work, and at the core, what they do is community. So, what we do at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, to us, to me, my wife, and, by the way, Lynn was a founding board member of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">She sat on the board for 12 years. So, our interest in humanity did not start today. We thought and realized that our success is not defined by the wealth or the money we have in our bank accounts.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="7" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">We thought we couldn&#8217;t be successful if we did not play our own role in helping to catalyze economic prosperity for all on the continent of Africa. But we realized that we can&#8217;t do it alone, and that&#8217;s why we&#8217;re not going on that journey alone. We go with people.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="8" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">We identify young African entrepreneurs every year. We provide non-refundable capital of $5,000 between 3,000 and 5,000 young Africans every year, all across African countries every year, and that is Africapitalism.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="9" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">That is private sector. But when we talk of private sector investment, it&#8217;s not just in fiscal infrastructure, but investing in young people is an investment that helps to catalyze more prosperity.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="10" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Let me start by saying that Africapitalism moves us away from extraction to creation. It moves us away from consumption to production. And it moves us from dependency to dignity.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="11" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">I think it&#8217;s all about long-term interest: the interest of Africa is one that we have, will create local value on the continent.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="12" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">We move away from exportation of raw materials. We create—Africa has significant youth unemployment. I call it a betrayal of the young generation in Africa that we cannot create jobs for them.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="13" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">So, in seeking to align with powers or economies of the world, developed economies, there should be first an alignment of our long-term interest: job creation, youth empowerment, inclusivity, inclusion. Which of the global economies best offers or helps our attainment of these core objectives? To me, that would define how we align.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="14" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Africa needs massive investment in infrastructure to transform the continent. We talk about AI; I just came back from a conversation in Riyadh about AI, and my position is consistent.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="15" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Africa should not even talk about AI when access to common electricity is not available on the continent. So, we need alignment with global partners, development agencies, private sector. And for me, it&#8217;s not African private sector.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="16" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">it&#8217;s Africa&#8217;s private sector: private sector that does business in Africa. We need to start rethinking, reimagining how we operate on the continent.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="17" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">We need to begin to see, and that&#8217;s why I&#8217;m 100% aligned with the intersection of community shareholders, value creation, everyone being on table.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Wingdings" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Wingdings&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9642],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="18" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">There&#8217;s no reason to align with people who come to the continent for the purpose of extraction of raw materials. We need that raw material processed on the continent so local value addition can be created, so that the youth unemployment that we have in Africa is addressed, so that capitalic intervention activities that help to propel and take Africa to the next level,that would define what we do or who I should be aligning with.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">Watch the session here: </span><a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2Fatxv5LuBvig%3Fsi%3DkmGo_A_ehkc70arO&amp;data=05%7C02%7C%7Caf5903a896754870d97208de31226884%7Ca38b6338e535454fb82606ee975e21e8%7C0%7C0%7C639002221407824285%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=G25yXEPNLDgseOlMFsq3VjcITnFWaWJWt0I1eTlAvkQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span data-contrast="none">https://youtu.be/atxv5LuBvig?si=kmGo_A_ehkc70arO</span></a><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/our-founder-tony-o-elumelu-cfrs-full-remarks-on-cnns-global-perspective-on-africa-in-london">Our Founder, Tony O. Elumelu CFR&#8217;s Full Remarks on CNN’s Global Perspective on Africa in London</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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		<title>From Philanthropy to Markets: How the Tony Elumelu Foundation Is Building Africa’s Investible Future</title>
		<link>https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/from-philanthropy-to-markets-how-the-tony-elumelu-foundation-is-building-africas-investible-future#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=from-philanthropy-to-markets-how-the-tony-elumelu-foundation-is-building-africas-investible-future</link>
		
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		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:56:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/?p=28091</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Africa’s entrepreneurial story has too often been told through the lens of scarcity: scarce capital, scarce jobs, scarce opportunities. Yet on the ground, a different narrative is unfolding. The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is showing how targeted philanthropy can seed markets, de-risk ventures, and create pipelines of businesses ready for private investment.  As global interest &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/from-philanthropy-to-markets-how-the-tony-elumelu-foundation-is-building-africas-investible-future">From Philanthropy to Markets: How the Tony Elumelu Foundation Is Building Africa’s Investible Future</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-contrast="none">Africa’s entrepreneurial story has too often been told through the lens of scarcity: scarce capital, scarce jobs, scarce opportunities. Yet on the ground, a different narrative is unfolding. The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is showing how targeted philanthropy can seed markets, de-risk ventures, and create pipelines of businesses ready for private investment.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">As global interest in impact investing accelerates, TEF’s model provides a blueprint for how philanthropy and markets can work hand in hand to unlock Africa’s potential.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="none">Philanthropy Meets Private Capital</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is more than a grant scheme; it is a continent-wide mechanism for talent discovery, business validation, and capacity-building. Since 2015, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme has trained millions on its digital hub TEFConnect and supported thousands of entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">This early-stage investment is catalytic: by blending financial literacy, mentorship, and startup capital, TEF lowers the risk profile of African ventures. For Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), venture capital funds, and private equity firms, this means a pipeline of entrepreneurs who already understand markets, discipline, and growth.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="none">De-Risking Early-Stage Ventures</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">African startups are often passed over because investors view them as “too risky” at inception. TEF tackles this directly. Rigorous selection criteria, intensive business training, and structured post-funding support ensure that ventures graduate from the programme as investible propositions.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">The proof lies in outcomes: TEF Alumni have gone on to attract follow-on funding from global impact funds, local VCs, and DFIs. They emerge not just as entrepreneurs, but as disciplined operators with validated models, tested resilience, and growing revenues.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28094" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Screenshot-2025-09-25-at-4.52.56 PM-1024x683.png" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 25 at 4.52.56 PM" width="525" height="350" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Screenshot-2025-09-25-at-4.52.56 PM-1024x683.png 1024w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Screenshot-2025-09-25-at-4.52.56 PM-300x200.png 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Screenshot-2025-09-25-at-4.52.56 PM-768x512.png 768w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Screenshot-2025-09-25-at-4.52.56 PM-391x260.png 391w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Screenshot-2025-09-25-at-4.52.56 PM-18x12.png 18w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Screenshot-2025-09-25-at-4.52.56 PM.png 1202w" sizes="(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px" /><br />
</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="none">Building the Pipeline Investors Need</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">Impact investing is built on dual outcomes: financial return and social value. The Tony Elumelu Foundation provides both and its alumni&#8217;s ventures span sectors critical to Africa’s development</span><span data-contrast="none">;</span><span data-contrast="none"> —</span><span data-contrast="none"> agriculture, health, fintech, clean energy, and education</span><span data-contrast="none">,</span><span data-contrast="none"> —</span><span data-contrast="none"> with measurable <a href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/our-impact-pillars">results in job creation</a>, income generation, and community resilience.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">By aggregating this data across countries and sectors, TEF offers investors something rare in African markets: visibility. Trends in revenue, employment, and sectoral performance are tracked and shared, giving investors the intelligence they need to allocate capital with confidence.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="none">From Isolated Stories to Systemic Change</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">The significance of the Tony Elumelu Foundation goes beyond individual success stories. It demonstrates how philanthropy can serve as the </span><i><span data-contrast="none">first-loss capital</span></i><span data-contrast="none"> that de-risks ecosystems and primes them for market investment. This is blended finance in action</span><span data-contrast="none">,</span><span data-contrast="none"> —</span><span data-contrast="none"> where the catalytic role of grants unlocks the leverage of billions in private capital.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">For global institutions seeking credible partners in Africa, TEF is now a proven ally. Its track record in converting seed support into scalable ventures makes it an essential bridge between philanthropy and markets.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="none">A New Playbook for African Entrepreneurship</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">What the Tony Elumelu Foundation is engineering is nothing less than a paradigm shift. It is not only funding startups</span><span data-contrast="none">,</span><span data-contrast="none"> but also reconfiguring the very architecture of entrepreneurship in Africa. By turning small amounts of philanthropic capital into investible opportunities, it is demonstrating that Africa’s growth story will be written not only in classrooms or ministries, but in boardrooms and marketplaces.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">For DFIs, impact funds, and private investors, this represents a unique opportunity: to engage with ventures that are not only de-risked but deeply embedded in Africa’s realities while meeting global standards.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="none">The Stakes Ahead</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">Africa’s entrepreneurial future is </span><span data-contrast="none">not waiting to be discovered; it is</span><span data-contrast="none"> already being built, enterprise by enterprise, across all 54 countries. By converting early-stage support into investible businesses, the Tony Elumelu Foundation is proving that Africa is not a frontier of risk, but a frontier of innovation. What comes next is no longer a question of potential; it is a question of how quickly the world chooses to back the continent’s builders.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/from-philanthropy-to-markets-how-the-tony-elumelu-foundation-is-building-africas-investible-future">From Philanthropy to Markets: How the Tony Elumelu Foundation Is Building Africa’s Investible Future</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Private Sector’s Playbook for Human Capital in Africa </title>
		<link>https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-private-sectors-playbook-for-human-capital-in-africa#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-private-sectors-playbook-for-human-capital-in-africa</link>
		
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		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:40:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/?p=28088</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Africa&#8217;s demographic dividend, its young, rapidly growing population, is often cited as its greatest asset, yet that potential frequently collides with the reality of slow labour absorption, skills gaps, and fragile employment systems.   While traditional policy levers like building more schools and importing curricula have yielded limited results. The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) employs an &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-private-sectors-playbook-for-human-capital-in-africa">The Private Sector’s Playbook for Human Capital in Africa </a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-contrast="auto">Africa&#8217;s demographic dividend, its young, rapidly growing population, is often cited as its greatest asset, yet that potential frequently collides with the reality of slow labour absorption, skills gaps, and fragile employment systems. </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">While traditional policy levers like building more schools and importing curricula have yielded limited results. The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) employs an Africapitalism-based approach to address human capital challenges in Africa, distinct from traditional policy methods. Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has granted over 2.5 million young Africans with access to trainings via its proprietary digital hub,<a href="https://tefconnect.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TEFConnect</a>, and provided over $100 million in direct funding to more than 24,000 entrepreneurs, resulting in the creation of up to 1.5 million jobs.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">This is a parallel skills system in action: entrepreneurship as mass human-capital formation.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Entrepreneurship as Human Capital Formation.</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Where public policy typically segments “entrepreneurship” from “labour,” TEF collapses the boundary. Our flagship Entrepreneurship Programme treats the entrepreneur not just as a firm-starter, but as a skill node, a multiplier in the labour market.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The model is simple but radical: teach a founder financial literacy, market analysis, resilience, and digital adoption, and you are indirectly teaching their employees, suppliers, and even customers.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Our proprietary digital hub, TEFConnect, not only delivers training modules; it creates peer-to-peer learning, mentoring, and access to tools that spill into the broader workforce. TEFConnect functions both as a skills accelerator and a market signal: it not only equips entrepreneurs with practical knowledge but also reveals in real time which capabilities are most in demand and builds them at scale.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">The Macro Impact of Entrepreneurial Training.</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">What does this mean for Africa’s labour markets? Three shifts stand out:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<ol>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Century Gothic,Times New Roman" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">From Wage Dependence to Opportunity Creation</span><br />
<span data-contrast="auto">On average, each active Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur creates an average of 13 jobs, with employees earning three times above the national per capita income. Beyond headcount, we are redefining “job” itself by blending formal and informal work into viable pathways for income security.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ol>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<ol>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Century Gothic,Times New Roman" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">From Curriculum Deficits to Market-Driven Learning</span><br />
<span data-contrast="auto">Unlike many vocational systems, TEF’s training is modular, digital, and updated in sync with market shifts. With 80% of entrepreneurs generating revenue and reporting 40% increases in turnover, this model keeps skills tethered to actual demand curves, not outdated curricula.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ol>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<ol>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="%1." data-font="Century Gothic,Times New Roman" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">From Human-Capital Scarcity to Distributed Capability</span><br />
<span data-contrast="auto">The OECD has identified a &#8220;capability trap&#8221; in Africa characterised by overstretched institutions and unfulfilled ambitions. In contrast, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) addresses this by empowering entrepreneurs, decentralizing capability, and fostering resilience; </span><a href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2023/09/TEF-IMPACT-REPORT-2022.pdf"><span data-contrast="none">76% of TEF entrepreneurs integrate into broader value chains.</span></a><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ol>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Implications for Policymakers and Institutions.</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">For governments and development partners, the lesson is not to outsource education to the private sector, but to integrate entrepreneurial training into human-capital strategy. Imagine if ministries of labour  accept TEFConnect not as a n complementary infrastructure: a digital vocational arm reaching youth faster, cheaper, and with measurable results.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Tony Elumelu Foundation effectively puts into practice the Harvard Business Review&#8217;s argument for treating human capital as a strategic asset.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Through its scalable digital training and mentorship programmes, the Tony Elumelu Foundation empowers entrepreneurs in challenging environments, reaching historically underserved groups such as women, who make up 46% of Tony Elumelu Foundation beneficiaries.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">The Stakes Ahead</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">By 2035, Africa will have the world’s largest working-age population. Whether this becomes a demographic dividend or a demographic disaster will depend less on the number of schools built, and more on how effectively young Africans can convert skills into livelihoods.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Tony Elumelu Foundation&#8217;s model clearly shows that investing in entrepreneurship is not just about launching startups; it is about scaling skill systems and embedding resilience into entire labor markets. If governments and global institutions collaborate and scale these lessons, Africa can transform its demographic pressure into a powerful engine of prosperity and opportunity.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-private-sectors-playbook-for-human-capital-in-africa">The Private Sector’s Playbook for Human Capital in Africa </a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Gendered ROI Measuring the Economic Return on Investing in Women Founders</title>
		<link>https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-gendered-roi-measuring-the-economic-return-on-investing-in-women-founders#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-gendered-roi-measuring-the-economic-return-on-investing-in-women-founders</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Webmaster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:29:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/?p=28083</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>For decades, investing in women has been framed as philanthropy, a moral gesture, a soft quota, an act of equity. In Africa today, the evidence tells a sharper story: investing in women founders is not charity, it is strategy.   When women receive capital, they generate more jobs per dollar, reinvest more in households, and &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-gendered-roi-measuring-the-economic-return-on-investing-in-women-founders">The Gendered ROI Measuring the Economic Return on Investing in Women Founders</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-contrast="auto">For decades, investing in women has been framed as philanthropy, a moral gesture, a soft quota, an act of equity. In Africa today, the evidence tells a sharper story: investing in women founders is not charity, it is strategy. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">When women receive capital, they generate more jobs per dollar, reinvest more in households, and build more resilient businesses. The real question is no longer </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">why</span></i><span data-contrast="auto"> invest in women, but </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">why would any rational economy not?</span></i></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Investing in Young Businesses in African Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA-WE4A) programme, spearheaded in partnership with the European Union, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), and implemented by the German Development Agency (GIZ) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), provides one of the clearest test cases to date. By combining seed capital, capacity building, and digital learning through TEFConnect, IYBA-WE4A has channeled millions of dollars into women-led businesses across the continent. The results are no longer anecdotal. They point to an investable thesis: gender lens entrepreneurship delivers measurable, outsized returns not only for women, but for labour markets and national economies.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Framing Investment in Women as an Economic Imperative</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Too often, investment in women entrepreneurs is justified in the language of equity or moral duty. While justice matters, the economic evidence is stronger still. Global studies from the IMF and McKinsey have consistently shown that narrowing gender gaps in labour force participation could add trillions to global GDP. Yet these figures often remain abstract, detached from the lived realities of African markets where informality is high, finance is scarce, and education systems are misaligned with demand.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">IYBA-WE4A grounds this global debate in empirical reality. In 2021, over 798 African women-led enterprises received USD $3.99 million in grant funding under the programme. Each beneficiary received $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, accompanied by capacity-building training, mentoring, and in some cases follow-on catalytic investments of up to €50,000 for high-growth firms. </span><span data-contrast="auto">These grants, though not vast by macroeconomic standards, have yielded disproportionate impact creating jobs, expanding revenues, and building market linkages across the continent.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-28085" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Gendered-ROI-221.jpg.jpeg" alt="The Gendered ROI 221.jpg" width="350" height="350" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Gendered-ROI-221.jpg.jpeg 350w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Gendered-ROI-221.jpg-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Gendered-ROI-221.jpg-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Gendered-ROI-221.jpg-12x12.jpeg 12w" sizes="(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px" /> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Entrepreneurship as Human Capital Policy</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Tony Elumelu Foundation has long argued that entrepreneurship is not peripheral to Africa’s labour markets; it is the labour market. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Women have been central to the TEF story. 46% of all TEF beneficiaries are women, and within the IYBA-WE4A programme specifically, the figure is 100%. Our data shows that each TEF beneficiary with an active business creates an average of 13 jobs, and that employees in these firms earn three times the national per-capita income. Over half of their workforce are women and youth. Profits average 22 times national income per capita, and 64% of these businesses support other SMEs as suppliers and vendors.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">These are not peripheral gains. They illustrate entrepreneurship as a system of human capital formation: every grant dollar is simultaneously training a founder, formalising jobs, raising wages, and building domestic supply chains.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">The WE4A Multiplier</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The outcomes of WE4A demonstrate how seed capital, when targeted at women founders, multiplies across multiple dimensions:</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><b><span data-contrast="auto">Job Creation:</span></b><span data-contrast="auto"> Beneficiaries consistently report new hires within 12–18 months of receiving capital. Women-led firms are more likely to employ women and youth, creating a virtuous cycle of inclusion.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><b><span data-contrast="auto">Revenue Growth:</span></b><span data-contrast="auto"> Internal monitoring shows many WE4A enterprises doubling revenues post-intervention, with profits channelled into reinvestment and expansion.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><b><span data-contrast="auto">Social Spillovers:</span></b><span data-contrast="auto"> Women entrepreneurs tend to reinvest earnings into household education, healthcare, and community development. This indirect impact is harder to quantify but significantly strengthens human development outcomes alongside economic ones.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The cost-per-job and return-on-investment (ROI) of funding women founders compares favourably with many large-scale infrastructure or vocational training schemes. Put differently, if an economist were to run a benefit–cost analysis, entrepreneurship support for women would not only clear the bar of social justification but outperform many conventional policy levers.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Case Narratives: Grounding Data in Lived Enterprise</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Numbers alone cannot convey the systemic patterns. Micro-narratives from WE4A beneficiaries illustrate how gendered ROI plays out on the ground.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><b><span data-contrast="auto">Kenya – Dial a Pad</span></b><span data-contrast="auto"> is transforming access to feminine hygiene and reproductive healthcare through tech-enabled solutions. Founded to address period poverty, the platform combines a mobile app offering e-commerce and telemedicine with locally manufactured, IoT-enabled sanitary towel dispensers. Backed by the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dial a Pad has deployed its smart dispensers in schools across Kenya, where 7 in 10 girls miss school due to lack of menstrual products. To date, the initiative has reached over 10,000 school-going girls, enabled uninterrupted education and promoted good health and well-being for African girls and women.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><b><span data-contrast="auto">Uganda – Dromedic </span></b><span data-contrast="auto">is tackling the critical shortage of essential medical supplies through smart logistics and technology. Founded to address the life-threatening unavailability of blood in Uganda, the platform combines data-driven inventory management with a digital discovery system that connects hospitals, patients, and doctors to blood banks and donors. With support from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dromedic ensures safe, fast, and affordable delivery of medical supplies—such as blood—within 45 minutes. So far, over 1,000 pints of blood and other vital items including oxygen cylinders, face masks, and vaccines have been delivered to more than 50 hospitals and communities across Uganda.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><b><span data-contrast="auto">Mauritius – Recycle Moi </span></b><span data-contrast="auto">Africa’s 100% biodegradable sanitary napkins. Made from natural bamboo and corn fibre, and packaged in recyclable cardboard, the napkins are free from toxins, bleaches, latex, perfumes, and plastic—making them safe for sensitive skin and environmentally friendly.  Recycle Moi operates through an innovative “mini factory” model that equips rural women to produce and distribute the pads within their communities. The initiative not only promotes sustainable health practices but also creates jobs and empowers women at the grassroots level.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><b><span data-contrast="auto">Nigeria – ORÍKÌ Group</span></b><span data-contrast="auto"> is Nigeria’s all-natural farm-to-skin brand combining luxury wellness with indigenous skincare. Founded to promote holistic beauty and wellness, ORÍKÌ operates a chain of luxury spas powered by its own line of potent, botanical-based products. Backed by the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the brand has grown to include 7 spas, 1 manufacturing division, and UNWIND by ORÍKÌ—Africa’s first tech platform offering wellness on demand. With global expansion underway through the ORÍKÌ Franchise, the brand continues to elevate African wellness, delivering relaxation, skincare, and empowerment from farm to face.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Each case illustrates the layered return: financial growth, job creation, social empowerment, and community resilience.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;335559685&quot;:720}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">From Pilot to Policy: The Implications for Africa’s Labour Markets</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">By 2035, Africa will host the world’s largest working-age population. The demographic dividend will not materialise simply by building more schools or launching new vocational centres. It will depend on how effectively young Africans, and especially women, translate skills into livelihoods.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s approach demonstrates that entrepreneurship training extends far beyond launching startups, it is about creating decentralised skill-building systems that strengthen labour markets with resilience. Each entrepreneur becomes a hub of expertise, amplifying capabilities among employees, suppliers, and communities.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">A Gendered Dividend, If Seized</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The case for investing in women entrepreneurs is no longer simply moral or rhetorical. It is empirical and economic. WE4A demonstrates that women-led enterprises deliver superior returns across financial, social, and systemic dimensions. They create jobs at lower cost, pay higher wages, and reinvest in households and communities.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Tony Elumelu Foundation has shown the world what is possible when women founders are given capital, training, mentoring, and access. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">If scaled and embedded into policy, the gendered ROI of investing in women could well define Africa’s growth trajectory turning population pressure into shared prosperity.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-gendered-roi-measuring-the-economic-return-on-investing-in-women-founders">The Gendered ROI Measuring the Economic Return on Investing in Women Founders</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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		<title>Democratising Luck -How $5,000 is Redefining Africa’s Economy</title>
		<link>https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/democratising-luck-how-5000-is-redefining-africas-economy#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=democratising-luck-how-5000-is-redefining-africas-economy</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Webmaster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:14:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/?p=28080</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p> Democratising Luck: How $5,000 is Redefining Africa’s Economy  For decades, entrepreneurial success in Africa has been shaped by chance, a fortunate investor, an unexpected loan, or a serendipitous meeting. Structural barriers like limited access to capital, inadequate training, and weak networks have left many with ideas but no pathway to execution.    At the Tony &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/democratising-luck-how-5000-is-redefining-africas-economy">Democratising Luck -How $5,000 is Redefining Africa’s Economy</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span><b><span data-contrast="auto">Democratising Luck: How $5,000 is Redefining Africa’s Economy</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">For decades, entrepreneurial success in Africa has been shaped by chance, a fortunate investor, an unexpected loan, or a serendipitous meeting. Structural barriers like limited access to capital, inadequate training, and weak networks have left many with ideas but no pathway to execution.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">At the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we believe opportunity should </span><span data-contrast="auto">not </span><span data-contrast="auto">be </span><span data-contrast="auto">a lottery</span><span data-contrast="auto">,</span> <span data-contrast="auto">I</span><span data-contrast="auto">t</span><span data-contrast="auto"> should be</span><span data-contrast="auto"> a system. Our flagship Entrepreneurship Programme is designed to institutionalise access, i.e. democratise luck, by combining a rigorous training, mentorship, access to networks and a catalytic $5,000 seed capital to empower entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">This is a tried and tested model that is reshaping the economic landscape of the continent.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Why $5,000 Matters</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In global venture circles, $5,000 may seem modest, but in African markets, it is often the difference between an idea that fades and a business that flourishes. It enables entrepreneurs to purchase essential equipment, hire their first staff, or launch a prototype, bridging the gap between concept and revenue.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Importantly, the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s </span><span data-contrast="auto">support </span><span data-contrast="auto">empowerment </span><span data-contrast="auto">is not transactional. Every entrepreneur undergoes 12 weeks of business training, is paired with a mentor, and gains access to our pan-African network. This ensures that the </span><span data-contrast="auto">seed </span><span data-contrast="auto">capital</span><span data-contrast="auto"> we </span><span data-contrast="auto">provide them at the end of the Programme</span><span data-contrast="auto"> is not merely financial aid; it is strategic, structured, and scalable. This combination of capital and capacity building is what transforms potential into performance.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Proof of Impact</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Our model is not theoretical. It is evidenced by thousands of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs whose businesses now drive local economies:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">In Kenya, </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">Stella Sigana</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">, founder of Alternative Waste Technologies, has recycled over 500 tonnes of waste into clean fuel briquettes, created 12 jobs, and empowered hundreds of women entrepreneurs in informal settlements.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">In Benin Republic, </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">Vital Sounouvou</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">, founder of Exportunity, built an e-commerce platform that connects African producers to global buyers. He has engaged 750+ clients, built a database of 85,000 companies, and employs 32 staff.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">In Cameroon, </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">Mechi Amaah</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">, founder of Black and Natural Cosmetics, used her empowerment to expand operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing revenue by 70%, employing seven staff, and launching vocational training for young women.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">These are</span><span data-contrast="auto"> not anomalies. They are</span><span data-contrast="auto"> outcomes of a </span><span data-contrast="auto">repeatable </span><span data-contrast="auto">replicable </span><span data-contrast="auto">model</span><span data-contrast="auto">,</span><span data-contrast="auto"> one </span><span data-contrast="auto">that transforms modest capital into measurable impact.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">From Philanthropy to Economic Strategy</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">What began as a $100 million philanthropic commitment by our Founder, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyelumelu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tony O. Elumelu, CFR,</a> and his family, has evolved into a proven economic development model</span><span data-contrast="auto"> across the continent</span><span data-contrast="auto">. To date, we have:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Empowered over 24,000 entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries, lifting more than 2</span><span data-contrast="auto">.5</span><span data-contrast="auto"> million people out of poverty</span><span data-contrast="auto">, and granting over 2.5 million Africans with access to trainings</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Maintained </span><span data-contrast="auto">a </span><span data-contrast="auto">gender-balanced cohorts </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Funded businesses across diverse sectors, with top representation in Agri-business, Fashion, ICT, Manufacturing, </span><span data-contrast="auto">and </span><span data-contrast="auto">Healthcare</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">These figures reflect</span><span data-contrast="auto"> more than just reach</span><span data-contrast="auto">.</span> <span data-contrast="auto">T</span><span data-contrast="auto">hey</span><span data-contrast="auto">;</span> <span data-contrast="auto">they</span><span data-contrast="auto"> represent</span><span data-contrast="auto"> a strategic intervention in Africa’s economic architecture. By equipping entrepreneurs with capital, training, and networks, we are not only supporting livelihoods but also building resilient, locally driven economies.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Our beneficiaries span from urban tech</span><span data-contrast="auto">-focused</span><span data-contrast="auto"> hubs to rural farming communities, proving that innovation and impact are not confined by geography; they are unlocked by access.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">A Scalable Model for Inclusive Growth</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">We are now advancing this model through high-impact partnerships, bringing together key players from the private sector, governments, and development agencies to scale our impact.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">This is a </span><span data-contrast="auto">c</span><span data-contrast="auto">ontinental shift</span><span data-contrast="auto">,</span><span data-contrast="auto">&#8211; &#8211;</span><span data-contrast="auto"> a movement that recognises that Africa’s greatest resource is its people, and its greatest opportunity lies in enabling them to build, solve, and lead.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Our philosophy is simple: entrepreneurs are the engine of Africa’s transformation. By equipping them with the right tools, we are building economies.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">As one Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur aptly put it:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“This support not only gave me the resources to start but also opened doors to countless opportunities and invaluable business insights,” &#8211; Tawonga Nyirenda, 2019</span><span data-contrast="auto"> [add his/her country]</span><span data-contrast="auto"> TEF Alumni</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">This is the democratisation of luck. This is <a href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/africapitalism">Africapitalism</a> in action.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:300}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/democratising-luck-how-5000-is-redefining-africas-economy">Democratising Luck -How $5,000 is Redefining Africa’s Economy</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Secret Lives of Seed Recipients</title>
		<link>https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-secret-lives-of-seed-recipients#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-secret-lives-of-seed-recipients</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Webmaster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:45:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/?p=28056</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The Invisible Threads of Change: Micro-Narratives from Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme Beneficiaries  Africa is not one country, nor one culture. It is 54 countries, with thousands of cultures, and millions of entrepreneurial stories playing out every day.   The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s support is like a tracer dye illuminating the vital pathways of Africa’s entrepreneurial &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-secret-lives-of-seed-recipients">The Secret Lives of Seed Recipients</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">The Invisible Threads of Change: Micro-Narratives from Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme Beneficiaries</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-28057 aligncenter" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Invisible-Threads-of-Change-Micro-Narratives-from-Tony-Elumelu-Foundation-Entrepreneurship-Programme-Beneficiaries90-1024x768.jpeg" alt="The Invisible Threads of Change Micro Narratives from Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme Beneficiaries90" width="634" height="475" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Invisible-Threads-of-Change-Micro-Narratives-from-Tony-Elumelu-Foundation-Entrepreneurship-Programme-Beneficiaries90-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Invisible-Threads-of-Change-Micro-Narratives-from-Tony-Elumelu-Foundation-Entrepreneurship-Programme-Beneficiaries90-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Invisible-Threads-of-Change-Micro-Narratives-from-Tony-Elumelu-Foundation-Entrepreneurship-Programme-Beneficiaries90-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Invisible-Threads-of-Change-Micro-Narratives-from-Tony-Elumelu-Foundation-Entrepreneurship-Programme-Beneficiaries90-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Invisible-Threads-of-Change-Micro-Narratives-from-Tony-Elumelu-Foundation-Entrepreneurship-Programme-Beneficiaries90-16x12.jpeg 16w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/The-Invisible-Threads-of-Change-Micro-Narratives-from-Tony-Elumelu-Foundation-Entrepreneurship-Programme-Beneficiaries90.jpeg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px" /></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Africa is not one country, nor one culture. It is 54 countries, with thousands of cultures, and millions of entrepreneurial stories playing out every day. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s support is like a tracer dye illuminating the vital pathways of Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. It reveals how entrepreneurs across geographies, sectors, and cultures respond to the catalytic force of “just a little luck,” often the very head start they need to break through barriers and build lasting impact.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Their stories are not uniform; they are as varied as the markets they serve. But when placed side by side, they reveal patterns: how capital creates jobs, how mentorship sparks pivots, how resilience looks in agriculture versus tech, how culture shapes innovation.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">This article is a cartography of micro-narratives, each one small but together forming a mosaic of what entrepreneurship in Africa really looks like: diverse, improvised, systemic, and human.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28058" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Eliab_Mayengo70.jpg.jpeg" alt="Eliab Mayengo70.jpg" width="349" height="349" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Eliab_Mayengo70.jpg.jpeg 960w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Eliab_Mayengo70.jpg-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Eliab_Mayengo70.jpg-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Eliab_Mayengo70.jpg-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Eliab_Mayengo70.jpg-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Eliab_Mayengo70.jpg-12x12.jpeg 12w" sizes="(max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px" /><br />
<span data-contrast="auto">2018 </span><b><span data-contrast="auto">Ugandan TEF Alumni– Eliab Mayengo</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">At 12, Eliab Mayengo was already self-sponsoring his education, moulding clay bricks by hand to cover his school fees. Years later, with a degree in mechanical engineering, he returned to the same soil this time with the vision to industrialise brickmaking. His company, Orca-Pod Holdings, fabricates machinery that produces affordable, high-quality building materials such as clay bricks, ventilators, and partition blocks, making decent housing more accessible to Uganda’s middle class.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">With support from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Eliab scaled his operations dramatically. His workforce grew from 20 to 45 employees, and annual revenues rose from UGX 145 million to UGX 201 million. He also constructed an eco-friendly kiln, reducing fuel use while increasing production capacity, allowing him to expand into new districts.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">For Eliab, bricks are the foundation of dignity, enabling Ugandan families to build safer homes while proving that local innovation can tackle housing challenges sustainably.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28059" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Haythem-Dabbabi47.jpg-1024x741.jpeg" alt="Haythem Dabbabi47.jpg" width="373" height="270" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Haythem-Dabbabi47.jpg-1024x741.jpeg 1024w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Haythem-Dabbabi47.jpg-300x217.jpeg 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Haythem-Dabbabi47.jpg-768x556.jpeg 768w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Haythem-Dabbabi47.jpg-18x12.jpeg 18w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Haythem-Dabbabi47.jpg.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px" /><br />
<span data-contrast="auto">2019 </span><b><span data-contrast="auto">Tunisian TEF Alumni – Haythem Dabbabi</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">When the worldwent into lockdown in 2020, so did Tunisia, and TEF Alumni, Haythem Dabbabi saw not paralysis but possibility. With his venture, Evocraft, he began introducing children to robotics, coding, and STEM through playful, non-traditional approaches. What started as a single prototype became, with the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme training, mentorship, and seed capital, a growing business model serving schools and communities.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Today, Evocraft has impacted over hundreds of children, with a flagship TechBus that drives into rural areas, teaching underserved girls how to code, build robots, and imagine futures in technology. The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme not only funded his dream but reshaped his operations, helping him expand nationally and prepare for international markets.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">“My purpose in life, is to help other people’s development skills.” For him, robots are not the goal; they are the tools. The true invention is confidence: proving to young Africans, especially girls, that the future of STEM belongs to them too.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28060" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nora-CHAYNANE-2048x204899-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="Nora CHAYNANE 2048x204899 1" width="351" height="351" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nora-CHAYNANE-2048x204899-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nora-CHAYNANE-2048x204899-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nora-CHAYNANE-2048x204899-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nora-CHAYNANE-2048x204899-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nora-CHAYNANE-2048x204899-1-500x500.jpg 500w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nora-CHAYNANE-2048x204899-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nora-CHAYNANE-2048x204899-1-12x12.jpg 12w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Nora-CHAYNANE-2048x204899-1.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 351px) 100vw, 351px" /><br />
<span data-contrast="auto">2019 </span><b><span data-contrast="auto">Moroccan TEF Alumni – Nora Chaynane</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In Morocco, 80% of teenagers between 15 and 18 are uncertain about their career path. For Nora Chaynane, that confusion was not inevitable it was a problem waiting to be solved. With support from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, she founded Shine Space, a socio-educational initiative that equips young people with technical and interpersonal skills often missing from formal schooling.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Shine Space delivered more than 10 workshops, offering mentoring and career guidance. When classrooms closed, Nora pivoted online, hosting 20 digital workshops, supporting 100 students with direct mentorship, and reaching over 2,500 participants. She also collaborated with health centres and Morocco’s Ministry of Health to raise awareness of the COVID-19, showing her commitment to both education and community well-being.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Her next frontier was Glisa bla VISA  Morocco’s first interactive platform designed to improve language and conversational skills through discussion groups on trending issues.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28061" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Gladys-Chibanda40.jpg.jpeg" alt="Gladys Chibanda40.jpg" width="406" height="611" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Gladys-Chibanda40.jpg.jpeg 532w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Gladys-Chibanda40.jpg-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Gladys-Chibanda40.jpg-8x12.jpeg 8w" sizes="(max-width: 406px) 100vw, 406px" /> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2019 Zimbabwean TEF Alumni – Gladys Chibanda</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">At just 21, Gladys Chibanda reimagined Ankara fabric not just as clothing, but as functional art. Through her brand, Krafted Ink, she began producing handmade journals, diaries, and gift packaging infused with African textiles. With the support of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme&#8217;s training, mentorship and seed capital, Gladys refined her business model, built smart partnerships, and scaled her customer base from a few dozen to more than 50,000 users across all 36 Nigerian states.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Her vision goes beyond craft. In 2022, she launched Dignity for Her, a project training adolescent girl to sell reusable pads in their communities. To date, over 300 girls have been equipped with both product knowledge and income opportunities, with a target of 2,000 in sight. The initiative bundles menstrual health education with entrepreneurship, breaking cycles of poverty and stigma at the same time.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28062" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lahja-Amakali89.jpg.jpeg" alt="Lahja Amakali89.jpg" width="363" height="208" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lahja-Amakali89.jpg.jpeg 297w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lahja-Amakali89.jpg-18x10.jpeg 18w" sizes="(max-width: 363px) 100vw, 363px" /> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2018 Namibian TEF Alumni &#8211; Lahja Amakali</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">When her three sole shareholders pulled out, Lahja Amakali nearly lost her agribusiness. But the seed capital from the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme kept Niithete’s Agro-Business alive. Today, her company produces five flavours of sorghum coffee substitutes and partners with mint, lemon, and ginger growers. “</span><i><span data-contrast="auto">The Tony Elumelu Foundation classes were my eye opener</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">,” she says. “</span><i><span data-contrast="auto">They gave me peers to share challenges and pushed me forward when others gave up</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">.” Her company now employs 10 part-time and two full-time staff and empowers small farmers with training on biogas, backyard gardens, and crop marketing. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">For Lahja, agribusiness is more than profit: it is proving that Namibians can process food for national and international markets and feed themselves with their own hands.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28063" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Msindazwe-Ndhlovu93.jpg.jpeg" alt="Msindazwe Ndhlovu93.jpg" width="390" height="260" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Msindazwe-Ndhlovu93.jpg.jpeg 791w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Msindazwe-Ndhlovu93.jpg-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Msindazwe-Ndhlovu93.jpg-768x513.jpeg 768w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Msindazwe-Ndhlovu93.jpg-391x260.jpeg 391w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Msindazwe-Ndhlovu93.jpg-18x12.jpeg 18w" sizes="(max-width: 390px) 100vw, 390px" /></span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2019 Zimbabwean TEF Alumni – Msindazwe Ndhlovu</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Msindazwe Ndhlovu is solving two crises at once: plastic waste and housing shortages. His company, The Noble Savage, recycles waste plastic into roofing tiles, ridges, and paving blocks — lighter, stronger, and more affordable than traditional alternatives. With empowerment from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he scaled from five to eight employees and doubled annual revenue from $10,000 to $20,000. Recognition followed: two national innovation awards and due diligence with Earth Capital for a $1 million investment. “</span><i><span data-contrast="auto">I want to transform Africa one piece of plastic at a time</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">,” he says. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">His work shows how waste, reimagined, can become shelter for the most vulnerable.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28064" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Peter-Chama29.jpg.jpeg" alt="Peter Chama29.jpg" width="308" height="373" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Peter-Chama29.jpg.jpeg 467w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Peter-Chama29.jpg-248x300.jpeg 248w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Peter-Chama29.jpg-10x12.jpeg 10w" sizes="(max-width: 308px) 100vw, 308px" /></span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2019 Zambian TEF Alumni – Peter Chama</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">From cross-border hair trading to lecturing, Peter Chama’s path was anything but straight. But it led him to founding Petcha – Centre for Complementary Medicine, Zambia’s first accredited institution for naturopathy and alternative medicine. After participating in the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, Peter expanded from six to 15 staff, opened three new campuses, and now runs certificate and diploma courses across provinces. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Revenue jumped tenfold — from K50,000 to K500,000 annually. “</span><i><span data-contrast="auto">The vision was never to build one school</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">, … </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">It was to build a network so that underperforming campuses could be sustained by stronger ones.”</span></i><span data-contrast="auto"> For Peter, entrepreneurship is nation-building through education.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28065" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lungile-Marhungane92.jpg" alt="Lungile Marhungane92" width="323" height="405" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lungile-Marhungane92.jpg 657w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lungile-Marhungane92-239x300.jpg 239w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Lungile-Marhungane92-10x12.jpg 10w" sizes="(max-width: 323px) 100vw, 323px" /></span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2021 South African TEF Alumni – Lungile Marhungane</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Growing up in Limpopo, Lungile Marhungane witnessed first-hand how the absence of clean water could mean both illness and economic loss. Determined to change this, she founded </span><b><span data-contrast="auto">Jeslu Puro Water</span></b><span data-contrast="auto">, a start-up that purifies water using an innovative macadamia nut filter — a green, locally rooted solution.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Since participating in the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, Lungile has employed four staff, supplied funeral parlours and households, and generated $800–$1,500 monthly. “</span><i><span data-contrast="auto">The financial tools from TEF helped me understand profitability and projections</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">.”  Today, Jeslu Puro is incubated at Innovation Hub South Africa, preparing to expand nationwide. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">For Lungile, clean water is a circular economic opportunity that creates jobs and safeguards health.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28066" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Angele-Messa33.jpeg" alt="Angele Messa33" width="339" height="339" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Angele-Messa33.jpeg 800w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Angele-Messa33-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Angele-Messa33-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Angele-Messa33-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Angele-Messa33-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Angele-Messa33-12x12.jpeg 12w" sizes="(max-width: 339px) 100vw, 339px" /></span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2018 Cameroonian TEF Alumni – Angele Messa</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">When schools shut down in Cameroon in 2018, thousands of young people were left stranded without education or opportunities. For Angele Messa, it was a personal call to action. Drawing on her own struggles with education, she founded EduClick Africa and later EduClick Careers, a digital learning and job-matching platform.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">With the $5,000 non-refundable seed capital from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Angele built an online learning hub and expanded her venture into Cameroon’s largest job search engine. Today, EduClick employs three full-time and four part-time staff, has registered more than 46,000 users, trained over 8,000 young people in employability skills, and placed more than 600 into decent jobs.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Her ambition is bold; to help one million Cameroonian youths&#8217; access meaningful work by 2025 regardless of location, qualification, or gender.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-28067" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Maliki-Sankaré15.jpg.jpeg" alt="Maliki Sankaré15.jpg" width="262" height="262" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Maliki-Sankaré15.jpg.jpeg 262w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Maliki-Sankaré15.jpg-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Maliki-Sankaré15.jpg-12x12.jpeg 12w" sizes="(max-width: 262px) 100vw, 262px" /></span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2021 Malian TEF Alumni – Maliki Sankaré</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Across 24 hectares of farmland in Mali, Maliki Sankaré is rewriting agriculture’s story. His company, Socco-Agro-Business, grows rice and vegetables while creating jobs for rural youth and women. With the seed capital, mentorship and training from the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, he expanded operations, trained 150 farmers, and now generates up to two million FCFA annually. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Maliki’s vision is bold. He is harnessing digital farming to monitor water and fertiliser use, reduce rural exodus, and create employment across Mali by 2030. Already recognised by the World Food Programme, his work proves that Mali’s land holds wealth when in the hands of its youth.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28068" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ogola-Kange49.jpg.jpeg" alt="Ogola Kange49.jpg" width="251" height="335" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ogola-Kange49.jpg.jpeg 194w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ogola-Kange49.jpg-9x12.jpeg 9w" sizes="(max-width: 251px) 100vw, 251px" /></span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2015 Nigerian TEF Alumni – Ogola Kange</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In Nigeria, where 40% of tomatoes are lost post-harvest, Ogola Kange saw both waste and opportunity. Her company, Smiley’z Mobile Kitchen, processes surplus tomatoes into organic products with longer shelf life, helping farmers reduce losses while ensuring food security. With a $5,000 seed capital and training from the Tony Elumelu Foundation in 2015, Ogola transformed her idea into a sustainable agribusiness.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Today, she works with 35 smallholder farmers, boosting their sales by 25% annually, and has trained over 200 women in agribusiness, 50 of whom have since launched their own ventures. Smiley’z is now part of the Solar Impulse Foundation’s 1,000 Solutions, recognised for its renewable practices that cut CO</span><span data-contrast="auto">₂</span><span data-contrast="auto">, conserve water, and reduce waste. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">For Ogola, every jar of tomato paste is a recipe for women’s empowerment and a solution to Nigeria’s food security challenge.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28069" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Omowunmi-Akande47.jpg.jpeg" alt="Omowunmi Akande47.jpg" width="301" height="267" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Omowunmi-Akande47.jpg.jpeg 631w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Omowunmi-Akande47.jpg-300x266.jpeg 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Omowunmi-Akande47.jpg-14x12.jpeg 14w" sizes="(max-width: 301px) 100vw, 301px" /></span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2015 Nigerian TEF Alumni – Omowunmi Akande</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">A former corporate worker, Omowunmi Akande left her desk job to make healthy living accessible. Her brand, Smoothie Express, launched in 2015 with TEF support, now generates over one million dollars in revenue through outlets, subscriptions, and events. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Employing more than 30 people, her business positions wellness as a lifestyle, not a luxury. “</span><i><span data-contrast="auto">The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme could not have come at a better time … It moulded us into the savvy entrepreneurs we are today</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">From business-to-business (B2B) sales to international recognition, Smoothie Express proves that health and profit can scale together.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-28070" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Assiba-Fée3.jpg.jpeg" alt="Assiba Fée3.jpg" width="311" height="311" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Assiba-Fée3.jpg.jpeg 779w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Assiba-Fée3.jpg-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Assiba-Fée3.jpg-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Assiba-Fée3.jpg-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Assiba-Fée3.jpg-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Assiba-Fée3.jpg-12x12.jpeg 12w" sizes="(max-width: 311px) 100vw, 311px" /></span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2022 Beninoise TEF Alumni &#8211; Assiba Fée</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">When her newborn struggled to gain weight, Assiba Fée tried an age-old remedy: moringa leaves. Within weeks, her baby was thriving. That personal miracle became the seed of Assiba Fée Sarl, an agribusiness in Benin republic that grows and processes moringa into juice, pasta, syrup, and jam. With the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme seed capital, she renovated her workspace to meet food safety standards, purchased modern processing equipment, and expanded her team from four to 10. </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:278}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Revenues leapt from Three million to Sixteen million West African CFA francs annually. Recognition followed: wins at Get in the Ring Cotonou, Fenou Contest, and the Food Connection Challenge, plus $30,000 in additional funding. Today, as she builds a new factory, her mission is clear: to turn moringa — the “most nutritious plant in the world” into accessible, everyday products that tackle malnutrition without changing the taste of people’s meals. For Assiba, moringa is a pathway to healthier families and stronger communities.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-28071" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Onome-Matilda-Odogene94.jpg.jpeg" alt="Onome Matilda Odogene94.jpg" width="336" height="223" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Onome-Matilda-Odogene94.jpg.jpeg 336w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Onome-Matilda-Odogene94.jpg-300x199.jpeg 300w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Onome-Matilda-Odogene94.jpg-18x12.jpeg 18w" sizes="(max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px" /></span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2017 Nigerian TEF Alumni &#8211; Onome Matilda Odogene </span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In the Niger Delta, where oil dominates, Onome Odogene chose food over fuel. With a background in engineering, she founded Styda Culinary Academy to train chefs and food entrepreneurs. The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme l gave her the launchpad: today, she has trained more than 300 chefs, revamped 30 food businesses, and employed six staff directly. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Her culinary school is a hub of opportunity, offering youth in the Niger Delta a pathway beyond oil dependency. “</span><i><span data-contrast="auto">The networks and training from TEF changed my life entirely</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">,” she says. Styda is proof that the region’s wealth is not only under the ground, but also in kitchens and classrooms.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-28072" src="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Adeolu-Joseph-Adekunle92.jpg.jpeg" alt="Adeolu Joseph Adekunle92.jpg" width="225" height="225" srcset="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Adeolu-Joseph-Adekunle92.jpg.jpeg 225w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Adeolu-Joseph-Adekunle92.jpg-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Adeolu-Joseph-Adekunle92.jpg-12x12.jpeg 12w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /></span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">2018 Nigerian TEF Alumni &#8211; Adeolu Joseph Adekunle  </span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Combining his veterinary degree with his knack for tech, Adeolu built </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">Vspotter</span></i><span data-contrast="auto">, a digital platform linking pet owners with veterinary doctors in real time. Through the empowerment from the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, he upgraded his cloud-based management software, Orion, and expanded from 20 users to a database of every veterinary doctor in Nigeria, now serving hundreds of pet owners daily. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">His team grew from two to five, and revenue quadrupled to $10,000 annually. “</span><i><span data-contrast="auto">Before TEF, this was just an idea; now it’s a national platform.”</span></i><span data-contrast="auto"> For Adeolu, animal health is more than a niche; it is a critical piece of food security, livelihoods, and innovation.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Entrepreneurs are Africa’s Unfair Advantage</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"><a href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/tef-impact-reports">Africa’s transformation</a> is happening in quiet, determined steps. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Each Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur represents a calculated risk, a small but intentional bet on potential. When viewed collectively, these entrepreneurs form a living map of innovation, grit, and ambition.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-secret-lives-of-seed-recipients">The Secret Lives of Seed Recipients</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Digital University for Entrepreneurs: What the World Can Learn from The Tony Elumelu Foundation&#8217;s TEFConnect </title>
		<link>https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-digital-university-for-entrepreneurs-what-the-world-can-learn-from-the-tony-elumelu-foundations-tefconnect#utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-digital-university-for-entrepreneurs-what-the-world-can-learn-from-the-tony-elumelu-foundations-tefconnect</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Webmaster]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:14:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/?p=28025</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Entrepreneurship has become the defining skill of the 21st century, but access to knowledge, capital, and networks is still distributed unevenly.   In emerging markets especially, the difference between an idea that thrives and one that fades often comes down to access: who you know, what you have been taught, and whether you can secure that &#8230;</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-digital-university-for-entrepreneurs-what-the-world-can-learn-from-the-tony-elumelu-foundations-tefconnect">The Digital University for Entrepreneurs: What the World Can Learn from The Tony Elumelu Foundation&#8217;s TEFConnect </a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-contrast="auto">Entrepreneurship has become the defining skill of the 21st century, but access to knowledge, capital, and networks is still distributed unevenly. </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In emerging markets especially, the difference between an idea that thrives and one that fades often comes down to access: who you know, what you have been taught, and whether you can secure that elusive first investment.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Africa, with its booming youth population and unmatched entrepreneurial energy, has pioneered a bold solution. It’s called </span><span data-contrast="auto">TEFConnect, the flagship digital platform of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). More than just a website, TEFConnect functions as a digital university for entrepreneurs, </span><span data-contrast="auto">offering practical and real-world applicable skills.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">And it might just be the blueprint the world has been waiting for.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Why Emerging Markets Need Digital Universities</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Traditional education systems prepare graduates for employment, not entrepreneurship. Accelerators and business schools are limited to a privileged few. </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Meanwhile, in Africa,</span><span data-contrast="auto"> 1 in 5 adults is starting a business, the highest entrepreneurship rate in the world. But most lack access to training, mentorship, or finance.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"> TEFConnect. A free, pan-African, digital-first platform that collapses the barriers to entrepreneurship support by providing:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Accessible training, tailored for African realities.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Seed capital, tied directly to completion of training.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">A borderless network, connecting entrepreneurs with peers, mentors, and investors across 54 countries.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Education at Scale: The Digital Curriculum</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The beating heart of TEFConnect is its 12-week training delivered digitally to thousands of entrepreneurs each year. Through interactive modules and video content,</span><span data-contrast="auto"> participants learn:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Financial planning for small and growing businesses.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Marketing and customer acquisition strategies.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Legal and compliance essentials.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Digital tools for scaling operations.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Unlike generic online courses, these are rooted in</span><span data-contrast="auto"> context-specific challenges: how to thrive in informal markets, how</span><span data-contrast="auto"> to use mobile money for transactions, how to navigate fragile infrastructure.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The platform also provides masterclasses from experienced African founders and panel sessions on innovation. In effect, TEFConnect has digitised the</span><span data-contrast="auto"> entrepreneurial wisdom of an entire continent, m</span><span data-contrast="auto">aking it free and accessible to anyone with internet access.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Networks Without Borders</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto"><a href="https://tefconnect.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TEF Connect</a> platform also serves as a </span><span data-contrast="auto">pan-African marketplace for connections. Entrepreneurs can:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Connect with mentors across industries.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Network with peers facing similar challenges.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="3" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Access a knowledge base that gives them access to global investors looking for African opportunities.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In our Masterclasses, entrepreneurs pitch, share experiences, and collaborate across borders. In one workshop, a Ugandan agripreneur exchanges lessons with a Nigerian fintech founder, the kind of cross-pollination that accelerates ideas into scalable ventures.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">Proof of Impact</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The results of this digital university are visible:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">O</span><span data-contrast="auto">ver 2.5 million entrepreneurs engaged through TEFConnect.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">More than 24,000 trained and funded through the platform.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Alumni generating billions in revenue and creating <a href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/tef-impact-reports">hundreds of thousands of jobs</a>.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">These are not classroom exercises. They are real-world businesses born from a digital university.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">A Model the World Should Replicate</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">TEFConnect’s genius lies in its replicability. For continents where youth populations face similar barriers, TEFC</span><span data-contrast="auto">onnect offers a ready-made blueprint:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Digital-first delivery makes it low-cost and scalable.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Curriculum + capital + network ensures end-to-end support.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Pan-regional access bridges geographic and gender divides.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">In effect, TEFConnect is doing for entrepreneurship what Khan Academy did for education, democratising access at scale.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">A Challenge to Institutions</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Global institutions spend billions annually on traditional aid and university systems. But TEFConnect proves that a fraction of that, </span><span data-contrast="auto">deployed digitally, can create entrepreneurs instead of dependents, builders instead of job seekers.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The question is not whether the model works — the results are in. The real question is: </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">why aren’t more institutions adopting it?</span></i><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><b><span data-contrast="auto">The Future of Entrepreneurial Education</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">TEFConnect is not a plat</span><span data-contrast="auto">form. It is a digital university for entrepreneurs, producing not degrees, but businesses, jobs, and hope. It delivers what the world’s youth need most: the skills to build, the capital to start, and the networks to grow.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">As our founder, Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., has argued, </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><i><span data-contrast="auto">“Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind Africa’s economic transformation.”</span></i><span data-contrast="auto"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The next wave of global growth may not come from traditional universities or development aid, but from digital universities for entrepreneurs — with TEFConnect showing the way.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/articles/the-digital-university-for-entrepreneurs-what-the-world-can-learn-from-the-tony-elumelu-foundations-tefconnect">The Digital University for Entrepreneurs: What the World Can Learn from The Tony Elumelu Foundation&#8217;s TEFConnect </a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org">The Tony Elumelu Foundation</a>.</p>
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