The BeGreen Africa Entrepreneur Workshop was held in partnership with State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy (SDYACE), UNICEF, the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and UBA Kenya to empower young and innovate entrepreneurs in waste management to develop comprehensive business plans and innovative solutions for their businesses.  

BeGreen Africa is a green entrepreneurship pilot programme co-created by The Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNICEF Generation Unlimited (GenU), IKEA Foundation, and young green entrepreneurs. The key objective of this program is to create a holistic, sustainable, and youth-led green entrepreneurship initiative in the waste sector in Kenya, and the green sector in Nigeria, Morocco, Senegal and South Africa, to advance marginalized youth’s social and economic prosperity, while addressing the triple planetary crisis by reducing inequalities, and creating sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their peers. 

The waste management sector presents immense opportunities for entrepreneurs to drive environmental and social change. With increasing urbanization and industrial activities, effective waste management has become crucial for sustainable development. The BeGreen workshop provided Entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge to develop innovative and sustainable business ideas; prepare comprehensive business plans and value proposition aligned to their innovative business ideas. 

Kenya was selected as the pilot country for this program due to its dynamic entrepreneurial landscape and the need for sustainable waste management solutions. The country’s growing youth population presents a unique opportunity to harness their potential in driving the green revolution. The programme targets to mentor and train 1,000 entrepreneurs from across Kenya. Out of these entrepreneurs, 120 will qualify to benefit from the USD 5,000 seed funding to kickstart their green business ventures. 

Ms. Mary Mulili, CEO/MD of UBA Kenya provided opening remarks on behalf of the CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Somachi Chris-Asoluka, during the workshop, “At the Tony Elumelu Foundation and UBA Kenya, we believe that empowering young entrepreneurs is key to driving sustainable development and economic growth. The BeGreen Africa initiative is a commitment to fostering innovative solutions in the waste management sector. We are proud to support these young Entrepreneurs who are dedicated to creating a greener and more sustainable future for Kenya and Africa at large. This commitment aligns with our organizational strategy to promote innovative financial solutions and foster economic growth while protecting the environment.” 

Sandra Simbiri UNICEF Generation Unlimited (GenU) Programme Specialist added, “UNICEF is proud to be a partner of the BeGreen Africa Programme, that empowers young entrepreneurs. This program is not only about creating jobs but also about instilling a sense of responsibility towards our planet. By supporting these young Entrepreneurs, we are investing in the future of Kenya and contributing to the global efforts to combat climate change and environmental degradation.” 

The BeGreen Africa initiative underscores the importance of youth empowerment in addressing the global climate crisis. By equipping young entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and resources, the program aims to create a new generation of leaders who are capable of driving sustainable change.  

Climate change is a reality, and it is the major driving force behind the Green Industrial Revolution. New and innovative technologies are needed to create ‘green jobs’ that are able to tackle climate change, and usher in prosperity for the combined benefit of people and planet. If young people are to lead the Green Industrial Revolution, they must be supported to grow the economy while protecting natural resources. 

The End 

For media inquiries, please contact: 

Catherine Awuor 

Head, Marketing & Corporate Communication 

UBA Kenya, catherine.awuor@ubagroup.com; 

About the Tony Elumelu Foundation 

The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries, and increasing women economic empowerment. Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has provided access to over 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed over USD$100 million in direct funding to 20,000 young African women and men, who have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs. 

About UNICEF Generation Unlimited (GenU): 

Generation Unlimited is a global partnership aimed at connecting every young person to opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact. 

About UBA Kenya 

UBA Kenya Bank Limited is a subsidiary of United Bank for Africa Plc (“UBA”, “The Group”). UBA Group is a leading Pan-African financial services group with presence in 20 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and Dubai. UBA Kenya Bank has footprints in 3 Counties in Kenya: Nairobi, Nakuru & Mombasa. 

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Here are some notable quotes from the event:

We need to do whatever it takes to empower our youths because they are the future of the continent – Wambui Gichuri, African Development Bank (AfDB)

Entrepreneurship is an essential part of Africa’s employment challenge and it is where we have to put our focus as a multilateral development bank – Wambui Gichuri, African Development Bank (AfDB)

It is important that governments start looking at entrepreneurship as a fundamental core topic that needs to be integrated into the educational system – Shoroke H. Zedan, World Youth Skills

We need to do whatever it takes to empower our youth because they are the future of the continent – Wambui Gichuri, African Development Bank (AfDB)

We need to acknowledge the fact that while there are a lot of issues in different African countries. We have to be able and willing to share knowledge and see how entrepreneurs can start connecting with others across the continent – – Shoroke H. Zedan, World Youth Skills

We need to rethink how incubators can function in a manner whereby the projects of young entrepreneurs will start complementing each other rather than each one going in a separate direction – Shoroke H. Zedan, World Youth Skills

I am a very proud Tony Elumelu Foundation beneficiary – Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola – Founder, Wecyclers and Fellow, Tony Elumelu Foundation

We are a unique continent and so we cannot take the kind of solutions that are working in Europe and America. We have to look at what issues we are facing and try to help out our young people – Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola – Founder, Wecyclers and Fellow, Tony Elumelu Foundation

Let us skill our youth, and provide them with the necessary support to improve their business concepts so that they can start to grow and scale their businesses in order to create jobs not just for themselves but for others.        Martha T.M. Phiri, PhD, African Development Bank (AfDB)

COVID-19 has brought to light the enormous vulnerabilities that we have if we don’t create jobs for the youth – Martha T.M. Phiri, PhD, African Development Bank (AfDB)

Let us support government policy measures that aim to strengthen and increase social protection but at the same time enhance governance systems – Martha T.M. Phiri, PhD, African Development Bank (AfDB)

The pandemic has in some ways leveled the playing field – Alexandra Robinson, AISEC

Young people are the ones that are really systematically deeply disproportionately impacted by this pandemic – Alexandra Robinson, AIESEC

Sharing ownership with policymaking and intervention creation and even in delivery interventions can give young people the opportunity to train others – Alexandra Robinson, AIESEC

I advocate for any policy that involves young people as co-owners of the policymaking process. I really believe that when young people are given co-ownership of the table, not just invited to someone else’s, they are able to have those meaningful conversations. Alexandra Robinson, AIESEC

The SMEs are the major contributors to African economies – Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, Tony Elumelu Foundation

SMEs have a really big job to play in Africa – Martha T.M. Phiri, African Development Bank (AfDB)

I believe we should give more young people a safe place to fail and access to really learn, with real capital, real stakes, real opportunities through success but also through making mistakes to make them the active humble leaders we need in the world – Alexandra Robinson, AIESEC

Transparency is integral to good governance – Leroy Mwasaru – Founder, Greenpact Kenya and Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumnus

Governments must provide policies that enable businesses to thrive. If African countries come together, we will be able to grow resilient sustainable businesses that empower people while protecting the environment – Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola – Founder, Wecyclers and Fellow, Tony Elumelu Foundation

It is as a result of sharing what we have been doing that we hope there are less failures and more successes –     Leroy Mwasaru – Founder, Greenpact Kenya and Tony Elumelu Foundation Alumnus

We must not underestimate the level of disruption and uncertainty that young people all over the world have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa – Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, Tony Elumelu Foundation

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