In 2017, before the TEF program, Olanrewaju was only selling one product on the street around the city. Presently he has seven products in about nine states in Nigeria and has created direct jobs for 14 Nigerians. He provides farm jobs for women – 8 women working in his factory and several women selling his products in the markets with monthly revenue of about 5000 USD. His company has local and international partnerships, with the products leaving Nigeria’s coast to Europe and America. 

African Success Story in Food Processing Business

Olarewaju said the seed capital and the 12 weeks of entrepreneurship training have been vital for his business. During the 2019 TEF forum, he was able to exhibit at the UBA marketplace and connected with several people that have impacted his business in terms of finances and recommendations.

“We have provided market opportunities for farmers -hundreds of tonnes of farm-produced processed.  We have provided off-farm jobs for women- 8 women working in our factory and several women selling our products in the markets.  We have created opportunity for industrial attachment for students- 12 students directly trained and more than 500 on excursion.”

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 ensuring inclusive economic empowerment. Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has trained over 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFconnect, and disbursed nearly USD$100 million in direct funding to 18,000 African women and men, who have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs. 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.

The post Meet 2017 TEF Alumni, Olanrewaju Fadodun who started food processing and training services business appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

After losing her father in his early life, Mechi Amaah had to look after pigs and sell them under her mother’s supervision to provide for their necessities. Upon getting to the university, she did business selling various things to make ends meet and decided to settle on manufacturing and selling hair products solely. 

How Mechi started with the cosmetic business idea

Mechi founded Black and Natural Cosmetics, a 100% organic cosmetic manufacturing company aimed to encourage the consumption of organic hair cosmetics, initially and subsequently, skin cosmetics. To join environmental protection and sustainable development, Black and Natural Cosmetics derives all its ingredients from plants, some of which are organically processed.

Mechi Amaah was about expanding his business when COVID-19 pandemic hit the world and everywhere was under lockdown. However, the seed capital she got from the foundation enabled her to diversify and employ 2 more workers, thereby saving her business from liquidation. Coupled with the training received on the programme on business management, she has been able to take her business to another level and created a high level of impact in her community.

“The training the program offered, helped me to keep tabs on my mission, vison and most importantly, my finances. Ever since the program, I can proudly say the books of my businesses are in order.”

Funding for Mechi’s cosmetic business idea

Since getting the grant, she has employed 4 more staff to help with her business and now has 7 employees working directly under her. Also, her annual revenue has increased by 70%, with her opening two other companies and awards to her name.

“To give back to my community, i have created jobs and am currently working on an accelerator program to train young girls with vocational training skills that can enable them gain employment or start up their own business. This will go a long way to reduce unemployment in my community and country.”

Being a graduate of accounting, she helps budding entrepreneurs set their accounts straight and helps them plan their business. Currently, she has built a community of about 30 entrepreneurs. These will go a long way to reducing unemployment in her community and country.

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 ensuring inclusive economic empowerment. Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has trained over 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFconnect, and disbursed nearly USD$100 million in direct funding to 18,000 African women and men, who have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs. 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.

The post Meet 2019 TEF Alumni, Mechi Amaah who is into production of organic and eco-friendly cosmetics appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

In Nigeria, the supply or provision of public drinking water is not reliable. Ground water and pipe-borne water are the major sources of drinking water. These sources are said to be unsafe sources of drinking water because findings indicated that groundwater sources contain trace elements, dissolved solids and pathogens in excessive quantities that may be dangerous to the health of the people.

Identifying the clean water problem

The realization of the renewed global commitments toward the millennium Development Goals (MDGs) required the development of locally sourced alternative low-cost drinking water schemes that will provide sustainable access to safe drinking water in both rural and urban settings in developing countries (UNDESA, 2004). 

Sachet water belongs to the lower consumption segment in the beverage and water sector. However, it accounts for about 70% of total packaged water sold in Nigeria and only about 18% of urban households in Nigeria depend on packaged sachet water as the primary source of drinking water.

Fund for his Clean Sachet Water Business Idea

This challenges and the need to address them prompted Olusegun to set up Dotsom Enterprise, a company that produces quality and hygienic sachet water.

Dotsom Enterprise is an approved firm that wants to solve the problems of clean water scarcity by providing unique, innovative, and wholesome sachet water with 20 percent extra value at same price with competitors to meet rising needs for wholesome and affordable water in satisfactory quantity.

“The rising demand for wholesome water particularly during hot weather in my locality and its environs is yet to be adequately met as many are always in search of clean and affordable water at every season. The present supply cannot meet popular demand. Hence, my firm is strategizing to meet these needs by introducing 70cl sachet water which represents 20% – 30% extra value to customers as against competitors’ 50cl/60cl that are currently available in the marketplace.”

Olusegun decided to be an entrepreneur for the passion he had for it and ultimately to meet the needs for wholesome sachet water in his locality. He was motivated by the inadequacy of quality sachet water in his community.

“I wanted to change the situation of shortage of good sachet water in my community with my business. This was so important because it has direct impact on the health situations of the people in my locality.”

Currently, he has 11 people under his direct employ and generates revenue ranging from $500 to $600 monthly, and the company’s market share has increased by 20%. With this, the transmission of diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, hepatitis A, typhoid, and polio, which causes the death of 100,000 children under the age of 5 in Nigeria yearly, is greatly reduced.

“The TEF programme has indeed helped me realized my dream of meeting the needs for wholesome and quality sachet water in my locality. Most importantly, the TEF training, funding and mentorship have made a   whole lot of difference and greatly changed my entire life.”

Olusegun has explored the opportunity of becoming a consultant to others in the field of water production. He is also tutoring potential entrepreneurs on how to kick start a successful business venture.

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 ensuring inclusive economic empowerment. Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has trained over 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFconnect, and disbursed nearly USD$100 million in direct funding to 18,000 African women and men, who have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs. 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.

The post Meet 2019 TEF Alumni, Olusegun Ayodele who was funded for his sachet water business idea appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.