What is Africa’s greatest economic asset? 

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

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

Africa’s greatest asset is its entrepreneurs. 

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

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

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

Entrepreneurs who saw opportunities where others saw obstacles. 

Entrepreneurs who created value where others saw limitations. 

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

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

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

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

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

Africa is no different. 

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

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

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

Entrepreneurs make that possible. 

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

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

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

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

Pause on those numbers for a moment. 

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

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

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

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

They create ripple effects that strengthen entire economies. 

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

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

Yet entrepreneurs remain uniquely positioned to navigate these shifts. 

Adaptability has always been their advantage. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TEF’s bet on African entrepreneurs is paying off. 

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

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

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

The future belongs to those who create it. 

And across Africa, entrepreneurs are already doing exactly that. 

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

Todos os dias, Richard Ngoga vi os motoristas de mototáxi a trabalharem longas horas, apenas para verem uma parte significativa dos seus rendimentos a ser consumida pelos custos com o combustível.

Para muitos motociclistas, o combustível representava entre 40 e 60 por cento do seu rendimento diário, o que tornava difícil alcançar estabilidade financeira, apesar da crescente procura por serviços de transporte.

Em vez de aceitar isto como uma realidade inevitável, o Richard viu nisso uma oportunidade.

Ele imaginou uma solução que pudesse reduzir os custos operacionais para os passageiros, ao mesmo tempo que ajudar o Ruanda avançar no sentido de um sistema de transportes mais limpo e mais sustentável.

Essa visão tornou-se Volt, uma empresa de mobilidade elétrica empenhada em tornar os transportes elétricos acessíveis, práticos e económicos para os ruandeses.

A Construção

Criar uma empresa de mobilidade elétrica significou introduzir uma nova forma de pensar sobre os transportes num mercado dominado pelas motas a gasolina.

Richard concentrou-se no desenvolvimento de um modelo que respondesse às realidades do dia-a-dia dos motociclistas. Em vez de se limitar a vender motociclos elétricos, a Volt adotou uma Bateria como Serviço modelo, permitindo aos utilizadores trocar as baterias instantaneamente e continuar a trabalhar sem terem de esperar por longos tempos de carregamento.

A abordagem combinou engenharia adaptada às necessidades locais, opções de financiamento flexíveis e um apoio pós-venda fiável, garantindo que os condutores pudessem fazer a transição para a mobilidade elétrica sem comprometer os seus meios de subsistência.

As fases iniciais exigiram resiliência, criatividade e aprendizagem constante.

“”Transformar a Volt de uma ideia num negócio operacional com utilizadores que pagam exigiu resiliência, engenho e uma forte convicção na missão»,” Richard Ngoga

O Desafio

Um dos maiores desafios foi a perceção.

Muitos motociclistas partiam do princípio de que as motas elétricas seriam caras, pouco fiáveis ou difíceis de manter. Convencer os operadores a adotar uma nova tecnologia exigia mais do que promessas; exigia provas.

O Richard e a sua equipa concentraram-se em demonstrar o valor imediato.

Quando os condutores perceberam que os seus custos operacionais diários podiam ser significativamente inferiores às despesas com combustível logo desde o primeiro dia, o cepticismo começou a dissipar-se.

A empresa também enfrentou o desafio de cumprir requisitos rigorosos em matéria de segurança e regulamentação. Para conquistar a confiança tanto dos utilizadores como das autoridades, a Volt investiu em Baterias com certificação UN38.3, cumprindo as normas de segurança e ambientais reconhecidas internacionalmente.

Estas decisões contribuíram para reforçar a credibilidade e lançaram as bases para um crescimento sustentável.

O Momento da Fundação Tony Elumelu

A participação de Richard no 2023 Programa de Empreendedorismo da Fundação Tony Elumelu proporcionou um quadro valioso para o desenvolvimento do negócio.

Para além do capital inicial, o programa desafiou-o a pensar na sustentabilidade, na escalabilidade e na viabilidade financeira como objetivos interligados, em vez de prioridades distintas.

“”O programa ajudou-me a perceber que criar uma empresa de energia limpa em África não é apenas uma atitude ambientalmente responsável, mas também uma decisão comercialmente inteligente»,”

A orientação, a formação empresarial e a rede de contactos com outros empreendedores de toda a África revelaram-se igualmente inestimáveis durante as fases iniciais da empresa.

Através da Fundação Tony Elumelu, Richard ganhou a confiança necessária para posicionar a Volt não apenas como uma empresa de transportes, mas como um negócio de infraestruturas a longo prazo que contribui para moldar o futuro da mobilidade no Ruanda.

O Impacto

Os resultados já são visíveis nas ruas de Kigali.

Desde o seu lançamento, a Volt já implementou mais de 100 motociclos elétricos, contribuindo para reduzir a dependência dos meios de transporte movidos a combustível e promovendo, ao mesmo tempo, uma mobilidade urbana mais limpa.

A empresa também criou 15 vagas, contribuindo para a criação de oportunidades económicas a par do impacto ambiental.

Em 2025, a Volt alcançou vários marcos importantes, incluindo o lançamento da sua primeira estação de troca de baterias em Remera, Kigali, a implantação da sua primeira frota de motociclos elétricos e a integração de mais de 28 passageiros pagantes, gerando mais de 1,2 milhões de RWF de receitas mensais provenientes de pagamentos móveis em apenas três meses.

A Volt está agora a crescer rapidamente, com planos para expandir a sua frota atual para 250 ciclistas até ao final do ano e alargar as operações a todas as províncias do Ruanda até ao final de 2026.

Cada motocicleta elétrica na estrada representa mais do que uma transação comercial; representa custos operacionais mais baixos para os motociclistas, emissões reduzidas e um passo em frente na direção da visão do Ruanda de um futuro com transportes mais limpos.

A Lição

Para o Richard, a sustentabilidade não é uma mensagem de marketing. É a base do próprio negócio.

À medida que os preços dos combustíveis continuam a subir e os países de toda a África procuram soluções de transporte mais sustentáveis, ele acredita que as empresas mais resilientes serão aquelas que conciliarem o sucesso comercial com a resolução de desafios sociais reais.

O seu conselho aos jovens empreendedores é simples:

“Não encare a sustentabilidade como um rótulo de marketing. Encare-a como um princípio de design. Incorpore-a na forma como gera receitas, e não apenas na forma como fala sobre o seu negócio.”

Ao ajudar os motoristas a ganhar mais e, ao mesmo tempo, reduzir as emissões, a Volt está a provar que a mobilidade limpa não é apenas possível; já é uma realidade.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In 2026, the Tony Elumelu Foundation will empower:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Since its inception, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has:

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

Para mais informações sobre o impacto da Fundação Tony Elumelu, visite a nossa Página de impacto, Página de histórias de sucesso em África, and the 2025 TEF Annual Report

Para questões relacionadas com a comunicação social: moyo.awotile@tonyelumelufoundation.org

Partner, TEF Alumni and TEF Mentor Testimonials at the Ceremony

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

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

— Nadi Albino, Deputy Director UNICEF Gen-U

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

— Dr Owen Omogiafo OON, President/GCEO Transcorp Group

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

 — Osa Igiehon, CEO, Heirs Energies

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

— Peter Ashade, Group CEO, United Capital Group

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

- Najim Abdulrazaq, TEF Mentor

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

— Adaeze Charlyn Udom, TEF Mentor

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

— Haruna Diop, Malian 2021 Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumni 

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

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

— Aisha Langat, Kenyan 2024 Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumni

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

— Prince Hangi, Congolese 2023 Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumni

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

— Kemiso Motholo, South African 2024 Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumni

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

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

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

The new members:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To learn more about the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s impact, please read the latest TEF Annual Report e Relatório de impacto and explore how Tony Elumelu Empreendedores are transforming Africa.

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

About the new Advisory Board Members 

H.E. Badr Jafar

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

Per Heggenes

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

Professor Paul Gompers

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

Sobre a Fundação Tony Elumelu

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

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

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

The Tony Elumelu Foundation’s mission is rooted in Africapitalism, which positions the private sector and, most importantly, entrepreneurs as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

يحصل المتقدمون الناجحون على رأس مال تأسيسي غير قابل للاسترداد بقيمة 5.000 دولار أمريكي، إلى جانب تدريب مكثف في مجال الأعمال، وإرشاد، ووصول مباشر إلى أكبر شبكة لريادة الأعمال في أفريقيا.

منذ عام 2015، قام البرنامج بتمويل أكثر من 24.000 رائد أعمال، وتدريب 2.5 مليون أفريقي، وخلق أكثر من 1.5 مليون وظيفة، وتوليد إيرادات تجاوزت 4.2 مليار دولار أمريكي، مما يثبت أن روّاد الأعمال الأفارقة قادرون على تحويل القارة.

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

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

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

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

روّاد الأعمال هم مستقبل أفريقيا».

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

-

أثر TEF

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

-

نبذة عن مؤسسة توني إلوميلو

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

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

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

Capital de amortização não reembolsável de 5 000 USD, formação de classe a nível mundial e mentorato para os fundadores mais audaciosos de África

Mais de 24 000 empresários financiados, 2,5 milhões formados, 1,5 milhões de postos de trabalho criados, 4,2 milhões de dólares de receitas geradas desde 2015

Lagos, Nigéria - 1er janvier 2026 - A Fondation Tony Elumelu (TEF) abriu as candidaturas para o Programa de Empreendedorismo TEF 2026, apelando aos jovens fundadores ambiciosos de 54 países africanos para postarem dès maintenant no TEFConnect.

Os candidatos retidos recebem 5 000 $ US em capital de amortização não reembolsável, uma formação intensiva em negócios, um mentor e um acesso direto à maior rede de empreendedorismo de África.

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.

O programa estimula igualmente um crescimento inclusivo, com as mulheres a representarem mais de 46 % dos empresários do TEF - a taxa de participação feminina mais elevada registada por um programa desta envergadura.

Ao falar sobre o lançamento de 2026, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, fundador da TEF e Presidente do grupo Heirs Holdings, declarou: :

“O maior desafio de África é o nosso povo. L'Afrique n'a pas besoin d'aide; l'Afrique a besoin d'investissements, dans les infrastructures, dans les institutions, mais surtout dans notre jeunesse.

Através da Fundação Tony Elumelu, demonstramos que, quando os empresários são responsabilizados, criam empregos, estimulam o crescimento e transformam as comunidades.

Os empresários são o futuro de África.

As candidaturas ao Programa Entrepreneuriat TEF 2026 estão abertas de 1 de janeiro a 1 de março de 2026 em www.TEFConnect.com.

Impacto do TEF

Clique aqui para consultar os dados nacionais sobre os jovens empreendedores apoiados pelo financiamento, a formação e a 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 conhecer diretamente os empreendedores, visite a página Histórias de Sucesso do TEF.

A propósito da Fundação Tony Elumelu

A Fundação Tony Elumelu (TEF) é a principal organização filantrópica que dá o poder a uma nova geração de empresários africanos, favorece a erradicação da pobreza, catalisa a criação de empregos e faz progredir um crescimento económico inclusivo nos 54 países africanos. O trabalho do TEF está enraizado no Africapitalismo; a convicção de que o sector privado africano é o motor mais eficaz do desenvolvimento a longo prazo.

A sólida capacidade do TEF para chegar aos empresários de todas as zonas geográficas e de todos os sectores permitiu-lhe estabelecer parcerias inovadoras com a União Europeia (UE), o Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento (PNUD), o Comité Internacional da Cruz Vermelha (CICR), o governo americano através da Fundação dos Estados Unidos para o Desenvolvimento de África (USADF) a Organização dos Estados de África, dos Caraíbas e do Pacífico (OEACP), a Agência Francesa de Desenvolvimento (AFD), a Instituição Alemã de Financiamento do Desenvolvimento (DEG) l'Agence allemande de coopération internationale (GIZ), la Banque Africaine de Développement (BAD), Google, le Fonds des Nations Unies pour l'enfance (UNICEF), Generation Unlimited (GenU) et la Fondation Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (KBZF).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Empreendedores são o futuro da África.”

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

Impacto TEF

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

Sobre a Fundação Tony Elumelu

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

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

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

Together, they delved into how Africa’s private sector and entrepreneurs are driving sustainable, inclusive growth and reshaping global market systems from the continent’s unique perspective. 

• 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. 

• And I must say that it’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. 

• 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’s no rivalry between both. 

• 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. 

• I think that inclusive capitalism is not about charity. It’s about value creation. It’s about inclusion. It’s about making sure that businesses don’t work for profit alone, don’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. 

• 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. 

• We thought we couldn’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’t do it alone, and that’s why we’re not going on that journey alone. We go with people. 

• 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. 

• That is private sector. But when we talk of private sector investment, it’s not just in fiscal infrastructure, but investing in young people is an investment that helps to catalyze more prosperity. 

• 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. 

• I think it’s all about long-term interest: the interest of Africa is one that we have, will create local value on the continent. 

• 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. 

• 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. 

• 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. 

• 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’s not African private sector. 

• it’s Africa’s private sector: private sector that does business in Africa. We need to start rethinking, reimagining how we operate on the continent. 

• We need to begin to see, and that’s why I’m 100% aligned with the intersection of community shareholders, value creation, everyone being on table. 

• There’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. 

Watch the session here: https://youtu.be/atxv5LuBvig?si=kmGo_A_ehkc70arO 

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

Esta parceria foi consolidada durante uma visita de cortesia ao Sr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, fundador da Fundação Tony Elumelu e Presidente da Heirs Holdings e do United Bank for Africa (UBA), no Hilton, Abuja. O Controlador-Geral, Serviço Federal de Bombeiros, Samuel Adeyemi Olumode, FCNA, ACTI, liderou uma delegação de quadros superiores para o compromisso de alto nível.

Durante o compromisso, o Serviço também investiu formalmente o Sr. Peter Ashade, CEO do Grupo United Capital Plc, como Embaixador Nacional de Segurança contra Incêndios, em reconhecimento das contribuições significativas do Grupo Heirs para aumentar a consciência de segurança e promover iniciativas de segurança contra incêndios focadas na comunidade em todo o país. Esta honra reforça ainda mais a parceria em expansão entre o Serviço Federal de Bombeiros e o ecossistema Tony Elumelu. Como parte da colaboração, o pessoal do Serviço Federal de Bombeiros será destacado em todas as infra-estruturas do portfólio de negócios do Sr. Tony Elumelu em todo o país, atuando como oficiais de segurança para apoiar a conformidade, fortalecer o monitoramento de segurança e aumentar a conscientização sobre a prevenção de incêndios em todas as instalações.

O Sr. Elumelu sublinhou a necessidade urgente de aprofundar a sensibilização para a segurança contra incêndios a nível comunitário, observando que milhares de agregados familiares, mercados locais e povoações indígenas continuam vulneráveis devido ao acesso limitado a uma educação estruturada sobre prevenção de incêndios. Ele sublinhou que capacitar os cidadãos com conhecimentos práticos que salvam vidas melhorará significativamente a resiliência nacional e reduzirá a frequência e a gravidade dos surtos de incêndio.

No âmbito da colaboração, o Serviço Federal de Bombeiros formará 200 pessoas em cada estado da federação e na FCT, totalizando 7.400 beneficiários.

O programa centrar-se-á em competências essenciais de prevenção de incêndios, práticas de alerta precoce e procedimentos básicos de resposta a emergências. Os participantes também serão preparados para atuar como defensores da segurança contra incêndios nas suas comunidades, criando um efeito multiplicador que promove a vigilância e um comportamento de segurança responsável em todo o país.

O Controlador Geral descreveu a parceria como um marco na jornada da Nigéria em direção a uma abordagem mais preventiva da gestão de incêndios. Ele expressou profundo apreço ao Sr. Elumelu e à Fundação por defenderem um modelo centrado na comunidade que se alinha com as melhores práticas globais. Assegurou ainda que o Serviço irá ministrar a formação com profissionalismo, transparência e impacto mensurável em todas as zonas.

Espera-se que a iniciativa reforce significativamente a preparação das bases, melhore a capacidade de primeira resposta e promova uma cultura de longo prazo de segurança contra incêndios nas comunidades.

The post Tony Elumelu Foundation Partners Federal Fire Service to Train 7,400 Nigerians on Fire Safety Preparedness appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Monday, November 17, 2025

Opening

• Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

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

• It is an honour to be here.

• Let me be blunt:

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

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

Nigeria is Entrepreneurial — But We Must Build to Last

• Too many of our businesses never get past the struggle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Private Sector: The Engine of Nigeria’s Renewal

• Here’s the bottom line:

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

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

• But you cannot do it alone.

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

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

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

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

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

We Need the Right Environment

• We need a Nigeria where:

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

• Infrastructure works.

• Financing is truly accessible.

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

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

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

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

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

• That is the future.

Public and Private Sectors: Collaboration is Key

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

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

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

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

• Design policies that spark innovation.

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

• Every job we create fights insecurity.

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

Digital is the Game Changer

• Let’s talk digital.

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

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

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

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

• We Africans must be included in the AI revolution.

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

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

Call to Action: Build for Generations

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

• We must turn pain into progress, hustle into history.

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

• Resilience must lead to innovation, not just survival.

• So, let me challenge every one of you:

• Don’t just start, SCALE.

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

• Don’t just think of today — think generations.

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

• That’s how we create a future where everyone

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

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

• Thank

DEDO DO PÉ

The post Keynote Remarks: Empowering Nigeria’s Entrepreneurs: Building Institutions That Last appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.