Sign up as a TEF Mentor here

TEF Mentor Signup: Reasons to Join the TEF Mentor Guild

1. Empower Africa’s Future Leaders

Joining the Global Tony Elumelu Foundation Mentor Guild gives you the opportunity to make a real difference in Africa’s future. Your mentorship will guide and support the next generation of African leaders as they navigate the world of entrepreneurship.

2. Connect with Africa’s Brightest Minds

As a mentor, you’ll be matched with Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs whose goals align with your expertise and interests. This connection allows you to share your knowledge and experience directly with individuals who are driving change and innovation across the continent.

3. Flexible Commitment, Lasting Impact

With just 2 hours of your time each month for a 12-month period, you can contribute to poverty eradication, job creation, and women’s economic inclusion in Africa. Your commitment may be small, but the impact is significant and long-lasting.

4. Grow Personally and Professionally

Joining the Mentor Guild isn’t just about giving back—it’s also about personal and professional growth. Receive certificates of achievement and access valuable opportunities to enhance your skills and expand your network within the global community.

5. Be Part of Africa’s Entrepreneurial Revolution

The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme has already trained over 1.5 million young Africans. Provided millions of dollars in funding to up to 20,000 entrepreneurs. By joining our Mentor Guild, you become an integral part of Africa’s entrepreneurial revolution, driving positive change and economic development across the continent.

Don’t miss this opportunity to make a difference and shape Africa’s future. Click here for the TEF Mentor Signup and be a part of empowering Africa’s next generation of leaders.

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.

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Africa, despite its low contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, remains the most vulnerable continent to climate change impacts under all climate scenarios above 1.5 degrees Celsius. One of the key takeaways from the conference (COP27) is the vital role that businesses and institutions will have to play to create a climate friendly ecosystem.

As our founder wrote in his piece which stemmed from his conversation with Senator John Kerry, “As the world continues to experience the daily impact of global warming, whether it is the tragic recent flooding in Pakistan, or the less covered, but equally harmful, persistent environmental degradation of Africa’s Sahel region, leaders need to act, not just talk. Equally, Africa should not just be in the conversation, but actively set the agenda.”

In another piece with David Miliband, our founder stated that green entrepreneurship and agripreneurship play critical roles in driving innovative solutions to environmental issues. It is crucial to invest in the people behind these ventures to attain climate equity on the micro level. There are bottom-up solutions that must be pursued.

There is a need for a focus on prioritization, accountability, and commitment on the part of these well-meaning public, private and development institutions.

It also hinges on the pertinence for the emergence of more entrepreneurs whose businesses speak to climate change issues; businesses that focus on Renewable energy, Climate smart agriculture and Landscape restoration.

Africa is rich in natural resources, and the green economy presents a significant opportunity for the continent to achieve sustainable growth and development while protecting the environment. Young entrepreneurs in Africa are well-positioned to take advantage of this opportunity and lead the way in developing innovative, sustainable businesses. There is a need for 21^st century entrepreneurs to diversify and explore terrains, such as the GREEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

Over the years, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has funded over 18,000 African entrepreneurs, and a recent report from our Monitoring and Evaluations team shows that we have funded about 818 number of green entrepreneurs in Africa: 441 and 377 in the Waste management and Energy & power sectors respectively. Majority of the empowered entrepreneurs, about 44%, are in the Agricultural sector, and this goes to show that there is a need for entrepreneurs to delve into other relevant sectors, especially with the current development in the world.

Opportunities for Youth Entrepreneurs in Green Businesses in Africa

• Growing demand for eco-friendly products and services: Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of the impact of their consumption choices on the environment. Young entrepreneurs in green businesses can take advantage of this growing demand by offering eco-friendly products and services, such as organic food, sustainable energy solutions, and environmentally-friendly transportation.

• Access to finance: Green businesses are becoming more attractive to investors, and young entrepreneurs can take advantage of this trend to secure financing for their businesses. There are several funding opportunities available for youth entrepreneurs in green businesses, such as grants from development agencies such as the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

• Innovation: The green economy presents a significant opportunity for young entrepreneurs to innovate and develop new solutions to environmental challenges. The use of technology and innovation can help to improve the efficiency of green businesses, reduce their environmental impact, and improve their competitiveness.

• Public and Private Sector support: Many African governments, public and private sectors are recognizing the importance of the green economy and are providing support to young entrepreneurs in green businesses. This support can take the form of policy frameworks, tax incentives, business development services and grants

Challenges for Youth Entrepreneurs in Green Businesses in Africa

• Limited access to finance: Despite the growing interest in green businesses, young entrepreneurs in Africa still facing challenges in securing financing for their businesses. Many investors are still sceptical of green businesses and may be hesitant to invest in untested business models.
• Limited access to technology: Access to technology can be a significant challenge for young entrepreneurs in Africa. Without access to the latest technology, it can be difficult for green businesses to remain competitive and innovative.
• Lack of infrastructure: Inadequate infrastructure, such as poor transportation and energy systems, can make it difficult for green businesses to operate efficiently and cost-effectively.
• Limited market access: Green businesses often face limited market access due to regulatory barriers and high costs associated with certification and compliance. This can make it difficult for young entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and reach new markets.
• Lack of skills and experience: Young entrepreneurs may lack the necessary skills and experience to succeed in green businesses. This can make it difficult to develop and implement effective business strategies, manage finances, and navigate the regulatory landscape.

The green economy presents significant opportunities for young entrepreneurs in Africa to develop innovative and sustainable businesses. However, youth entrepreneurs in green businesses also face significant challenges, such as limited access to finance, technology, and infrastructure, and regulatory barriers.

To overcome these challenges, young entrepreneurs need access to finance, technology, and business development support, as well as policies that promote the growth of green businesses. With the right support, young entrepreneurs in green businesses can play a vital role in promoting sustainable economic growth and development in Africa.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation is making deliberate efforts to promote green entrepreneurship and foster an environment where green entrepreneurs can thrive, we are also calling on well-meaning private and public sectors to join us on this quest to promote an eco-friendly continent.

Here are some of the beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme operating in the Green Industry:

Lombola Lombola started the Bamboo Express company to empower the youth and women locally. Bamboo Express is solving the problem of deforestation, youth unemployment, and lack of income alternatives for rural women. They run a youth apprenticeship program and purchase 90% of raw materials from rural women.

Bimpe Oni runs an eco-friendly company called D’Rose recycling that upcycles solid waste like old tyres, bottles, plastics into recycled furniture suitable for homes, offices, playgrounds, studios, etc. 

The company seeks to address the challenge posed by the tons of plastics and tyres which end up in the ocean on a yearly basis causing water pollution and which drive sea life into extinction. 

Richard Bbaale is a social entrepreneur from Uganda that founded BanaPads in 2010, a company using banana pseudostem wastes, which are usually left to rot after harvesting, to make sanitary towels. 

BanaPads is an award-winning social enterprise registered in Uganda and Tanzania with the aim of manufacturing affordable and eco-friendly (100% biodegradable) sanitary pads to keep village girls in school and create jobs for local women. The pads are also collected to be used as manure and this means that the waste that goes to the local landfill will be reduced since the banana pseudo-stem is a recyclable product. 

Letsogile Kennedy is an award-winning social entrepreneur, architect and founder of Ecohub, a start-up established that innovatively uses plastic waste to produce affordable, architect-designed flat-pack ecobricks and ecohouses. 

EcoHub is a local start-up company that makes eco-bricks from recycled materials. The plan is to manufacture ‘green’ building materials from waste, while at the same time providing affordable housing and sustainable housing that can last for 20 to 25 years. 

The company manufactures eco-bricks that are produced from special material using waste. 

The post <strong>Africa! Let’s go Green!</strong> appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Mentorship involves pairing a less experienced entrepreneur with an experienced entrepreneur who can provide guidance, advice, and support as they navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business. Mentorship is crucial for young entrepreneurs in Africa because it can help them avoid common pitfalls and learn from the experiences of those who have gone before them. Mentors can provide insights into the industry, the market, and the regulatory environment, among other things.

On the other hand, entrepreneurial networks are groups of like-minded entrepreneurs who come together to share knowledge, resources, and support. These networks are critical for young entrepreneurs in Africa because they provide a space for entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and collaborate on business opportunities. Networks can also help young entrepreneurs gain access to resources and opportunities they would not otherwise have.

These are a few reasons why Mentorship and Networks play crucial roles in grooming young African entrepreneurs:

Access to Capital

One of the biggest challenges facing young entrepreneurs in Africa is access to capital. Mentors and networks can help young entrepreneurs access capital by providing connections to investors, introducing them to potential partners, and helping them develop business plans and pitch decks that are more likely to attract funding. With the right mentorship and network, young entrepreneurs can gain the financial backing they need to get their businesses off the ground.

Access to Markets

Young entrepreneurs in Africa often struggle to gain access to markets. Mentors and networks can help them overcome this challenge by providing them with connections to potential customers and business partners. By leveraging the networks of their mentors and fellow entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs can expand their reach and tap into new markets they would not otherwise have access to.

Mentorship for Personal Development

Mentorship is not just about business development; it is also about personal development. Mentors can help young entrepreneurs develop essential soft skills such as communication, leadership, and emotional intelligence. By providing guidance and support, mentors can help young entrepreneurs grow as individuals and become better equipped to handle the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Building Resilience

Entrepreneurship is a challenging and often unpredictable journey. As our Founder often says, “Entrepreneurship is not linear; there are ups and downs”

Mentorship and networks can help young entrepreneurs build resilience by providing a support system that can help them weather the ups and downs of starting and growing a business. By having someone to turn to for guidance and support, young entrepreneurs can maintain their focus and drive even when things get tough.

Encouraging Innovation

Innovation is a critical driver of economic growth and development in Africa. Mentorship and networks can help young entrepreneurs become more innovative by exposing them to new ideas, technologies, and business models. By connecting young entrepreneurs with experienced mentors and fellow entrepreneurs, networks can help spark new ideas and drive innovation across industries.

Community Building

Mentorship and networks can also help build stronger communities of entrepreneurs in Africa. By bringing together young entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and other stakeholders, networks can foster collaboration and encourage the sharing of knowledge and resources. This, in turn, can help build a more robust and supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa.

Knowledge Transfer

Mentorship and networks can help transfer knowledge and experience from one generation of entrepreneurs to the next. By providing guidance and support to young entrepreneurs, mentors can help ensure that the lessons learned by experienced entrepreneurs are not lost. This can help create a culture of entrepreneurship in Africa that is grounded in the experience and wisdom of those who have gone before.

Mentorship and networks are essential for supporting youth entrepreneurship in Africa. By providing guidance and support, it makes it less difficult for them to develop the skills and knowledge needed to grow their businesses. Many entrepreneurs require handholding and strategic linkages to be able to grow and scale their businesses. It is also very important that this handholding and coaching come from a professional or an expert in a field that an entrepreneur is operating in.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation sees Mentorship and Networking as key pillars for African entrepreneurs and equipping them for their entrepreneurial journeys.

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منذ عام 2015 ، مكن برنامج ريادة الأعمال التابع للاتحاد الأفريقي – وهو المحفز الوحيد لريادة الأعمال الممول من أفريقيا-15847 من رواد الأعمال الأفارقة برأس مال أولي غير قابل للإرجاع قدره 5000 دولار لكل منهم ؛ اثني عشر أسبوعا من التدريب على إدارة الأعمال ؛ الوصول إلى الموجهين ذوي الخبرة ؛ والعضوية في أكبر نظام بيئي لريادة الأعمال في أفريقيا.

في عام 2021 ، صرفت مؤسسة توني إلوميلو 24.75 مليون دولار أمريكي إلى 5000 رائد أعمال أفريقي في جميع أنحاء إفريقيا لبرنامج ريادة الأعمال لعام 2021. لا يزال برنامج ريادة الأعمال التابع للمؤسسة أحد أكبر استجابات القطاع الخاص لدفع الانتعاش الاقتصادي للشباب والنساء والشركات الصغيرة والمتوسطة الأفريقية نظرا لآثار جائحة كوفيد-19 في جميع أنحاء أفريقيا.  في جميع أنحاء أفريقيا ، بدأ المستفيدون من برنامج ريادة الأعمال التابع لمؤسسة توني إلوميلو وينمون أعمالا رائدة خلقت بشكل جماعي أكثر من 400,000 وظيفة مباشرة وغير مباشرة.

وفقا لرائدة الأعمال توني إلوميلو لعام 2015 ، حواء ليمان ، صاحبة الأعمال ومؤسس أفريك عباية: “أنا فخور دائما بالقول إنني من المجموعة الافتتاحية لبرنامج ريادة الأعمال لمؤسسة توني إلوميلو. يقع عملي في كادونا ، في شمال نيجيريا. لقد استفدت من هذا البرنامج في عام 2015 ، وفتح الكثير من الأبواب والفرص. لا يتعلق الأمر فقط برأس المال الأساسي ، ولكن ما يسحرني حقا في البرنامج هو المعرفة. أنا أسميها برنامج ماجستير إدارة الأعمال المصغرة,

لأنه من مرحلة التفكير يعلمك كيفية التعبير عن عملك حقا ، وأعطاني خطة عملي الأولى. الشبكة والرؤية والفرص لا حصر لها. لا يمكن أن تكتمل تجربتي في ريادة الأعمال بدون مؤسسة توني إلوميلو. سأبدأ التصدير إلى بلدان أخرى قريبا من باب المجاملة المؤسسة. نحن الآن نوظف عشرة موظفين دائمين وثمانية موظفين إضافيين على أساس العمولة.”

وتعليقا على إطلاق برنامج مؤسسة توني إلوميلو لريادة الأعمال لعام 2022 ، قال الرئيس التنفيذي لمؤسسة توني إلوميلو ، إيفيينوا أوغوشوكو: “نحن في مهب باستمرار نوعية الشركات التي تأتي من أفريقيا كل عام. هذا يحفزنا على توسيع نطاق جهودنا لتمكين المزيد من رواد الأعمال في القارة. الابتكار والمعرفة والمرونة من رجال الأعمال الأفارقة أمر أساسي لرسم التحول الاجتماعي والاقتصادي في أفريقيا وتحقيق أهداف التنمية في القارة. نحن فخورون أيضا بزيادة مشاركة الإناث في برنامجنا ، خاصة مع مجموعة 2021 حيث شهدنا اختيار 68 ٪ من رائدات الأعمال.”

وصرح الأمين المؤسس لمؤسسة توني إلوميلو ، الدكتور أ ف. إلوميلو: “من خلال برنامج ريادة الأعمال لمؤسسة توني إلوميلو ، نسعى إلى إضفاء الطابع الديمقراطي على الحظ. يلعب العمل الشاق دورا مهما لا يمكن إنكاره في النجاح ، ولكن يجب على المرء ألا يستبعد دور الحظ – شخص ما على استعداد لاغتنام فرصة لك أو لفكرة العمل من خلال تمكينك من خلال التدريب أو الإرشاد أو التمويل. أملنا هو أنه من خلال برنامج ريادة الأعمال لمؤسسة توني إلوميلو ، سنساعد قائد الأعمال التالي أو قائد الصناعة على أن يكون من المفترض أن يكون. هذه هي طريقتنا الخاصة لرد الجميل وأيضا لتمكين الجيل القادم وراءنا حتى يتمكنوا من الذهاب إلى أبعد مما لدينا. بصفتك أحد الوالدين ، فإن رغبة المرء هي أن يقوم أطفالك بعمل أفضل منك ، وبالتالي ستوفر الموارد والمواد التي يحتاجونها للتأكد من أنهم يذهبون بعيدا في الحياة. وبالمثل ، نقوم في المؤسسة بتزويد الجيل القادم بالأدوات التي يحتاجونها لتحقيق النجاح.”

وباعتبارها البطل الأول لريادة الأعمال في أفريقيا ، تعمل مؤسسة توني إلوميلو على تمكين النساء والرجال في جميع أنحاء القارة الأفريقية من خلال ريادة الأعمال لتحفيز النمو الاقتصادي ، ودفع عجلة القضاء على الفقر وضمان خلق فرص العمل. تكمن مهمة المؤسسة في فلسفة الرأسمالية الأفريقية ، التي تضع القطاع الخاص باعتباره العامل الرئيسي في خلق الثروة الاقتصادية والاجتماعية في أفريقيا. من خلال تيفكونكت ، المنصة الرقمية الخاصة بالمؤسسة ، قدمت الدعم لبناء القدرات ، والروابط الاستشارية والسوقية ، لأكثر من 1.5 مليون أفريقي.

برنامج مؤسسة توني إلوميلو لريادة الأعمال مفتوح لأصحاب المشاريع في جميع أنحاء أفريقيا: الشركات الناشئة الجديدة والشركات الشابة القائمة ، التي تعمل في أي قطاع. يجب على المتقدمين المحتملين التقديم الآن على مركز الشبكات الرقمية لرواد الأعمال الأفارقة, www.TEFConnect.net. للحصول على قائمة بأسماء رواد الأعمال المختارين لعام 2021 توني إلوميلو ومزيد من المعلومات حول برنامجنا ، يرجى زيارة الموقع الإلكتروني لمؤسسة توني إلوميلو هنا.

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Desde 2015, o Programa de Empreendedorismo TEF – o único catalisador de empreendedorismo de seu tipo financiado pela África – capacitou 15.847 empreendedores Africanos com capital inicial não reembolsável de $ 5.000 cada; doze semanas de treinamento em gestão de negócios; acesso a mentores experientes; e adesão ao maior ecossistema empresarial da África.

Em 2021, a Fundação Tony Elumelu desembolsou US $ 24,75 milhões para 5.000 empreendedores Africanos em toda a África para seu Programa de Empreendedorismo 2021. O Programa de Empreendedorismo da Fundação continua a ser uma das maiores respostas do setor privado para impulsionar a recuperação econômica de jovens Africanos, mulheres e PMEs, dados os efeitos da pandemia covid19 em toda a África. Em toda a África, os beneficiários do Programa de Empreendedorismo da Fundação Tony Elumelu estão iniciando e desenvolvendo empresas pioneiras que criaram coletivamente mais de 400.000 empregos diretos e indiretos.

De acordo com a Empreendedora Tony Elumelu 2015, Hauwa Liman, dona e fundadora de uma empresa denominada Afrik Abaya: “Tenho sempre orgulho de dizer que faço parte da coorte inaugural do Programa de Empreendedorismo da Fundação Tony Elumelu. Minha empresa está localizada em Kaduna, no norte da Nigéria. Eu me beneficiei desse Programa em 2015, e ele me abriu muitas portas e oportunidades. Não se trata apenas do capital semente, mas o que realmente me fascina no Programa é o conhecimento. Chamo isso de mini-programa de MBA, porque desde a fase de idealização ensina como realmente articular o seu negócio, e me deu meu primeiro plano de negócios. A rede, a visibilidade e as oportunidades são infinitas. Minha experiência de empreendedorismo não pode ser completa sem a Fundação Tony Elumelu. Vou começar a exportar para outros países em breve, cortesia da Fundação. Agora empregamos dez funcionários permanentes e oito funcionários adicionais com base em comissão. ”

Comentando sobre o lançamento do Programa de Empreendedorismo da Fundação Tony Elumelu 2022, o CEO da Fundação Tony Elumelu, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, compartilhou: “Ficamos constantemente impressionados com a qualidade dos negócios que vêm da África todos os anos. Isso nos motiva a escalar nossos esforços para capacitar ainda mais empreendedores no continente. A inovação, o conhecimento e a resiliência dos empreendedores Africanos são fundamentais para mapear a transformação socioeconômica da África e cumprir os objetivos de desenvolvimento do continente. Também estamos orgulhosos do aumento da participação feminina em nosso Programa, especialmente com a coorte de 2021, onde testemunhamos uma seleção recorde de 68% de mulheres empresárias ”.

O curador fundador da Fundação Tony Elumelu, Dr. A. V. Elumelu declarou: “Por meio do Programa de Empreendedorismo da Fundação Tony Elumelu, buscamos democratizar a sorte. O trabalho árduo desempenha um papel importante e inegável no sucesso, mas não se deve desconsiderar o papel da sorte – alguém que está disposto a arriscar com você ou com uma ideia de negócio ao capacitá-lo por meio de treinamento, orientação ou financiamento. Nossa esperança é que, por meio do Programa de Empreendedorismo da Fundação Tony Elumelu, possamos ajudar o próximo líder empresarial ou capitão da indústria a ser quem ele deve ser. Esta é a nossa maneira de retribuir e também de capacitar a geração que está atrás de nós para que possam ir ainda mais longe do que nós. Como pai, o desejo é que seus filhos se saiam melhor do que você e, assim, você fornecerá os recursos e materiais de que eles precisam para garantir que durem muito. Da mesma forma, na Fundação estamos equipando a próxima geração com as ferramentas de que precisam para ter sucesso ”.

Como principal defensora do empreendedorismo na África, a Fundação Tony Elumelu  está capacitando mulheres e homens em todo o continente Africano por meio do empreendedorismo para catalisar o crescimento econômico, promover a erradicação da pobreza e garantir a criação de empregos. A missão da Fundação está enraizada na filosofia do Africanpitalismo, que posiciona o setor privado como o principal facilitador da criação de riqueza econômica e social na África. Por meio do TEFConnect, a plataforma digital proprietária da Fundação, ela forneceu suporte de capacitação, consultoria e vínculos de mercado para mais de 1,5 milhão de Africanos.

O Programa de Empreendedorismo da Fundação Tony Elumelu está aberto a empreendedores em toda a África: novas start-ups e empresas jovens existentes, operando em qualquer setor. Os candidatos em potencial devem se inscrever agora no hub de rede digital para empresários Africanos, www.tefconnect.net. Para obter uma lista dos empreendedores Tony Elumelu de 2021 selecionados e mais informações sobre nosso programa, visite o site da Fundação Tony Elumelu aqui.

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Depuis 2015, le programme d’entrepreneuriat TEF – le seul catalyseur d’entrepreneuriat africain financé en son genre – a doté 15 847 entrepreneurs africains avec un capital d’amorçage non remboursable de 5 000 $ chacun ; douze semaines de formation en gestion d’affaires ; accès à des mentors expérimentés; et l’adhésion au plus grand écosystème entrepreneurial d’Afrique.

En 2021, la Fondation Tony Elumelu a versé 24,75 millions de dollars US à 5 000 entrepreneurs africains à travers l’Afrique pour son programme d’entrepreneuriat 2021. Le programme d’entrepreneuriat de la Fondation reste l’une des plus grandes réponses du secteur privé pour stimuler la reprise économique des jeunes, des femmes et des PME africains compte tenu des effets de la pandémie de covid19 à travers l’Afrique. À travers l’Afrique, les bénéficiaires du programme d’entrepreneuriat de la Fondation Tony Elumelu lancent et développent des entreprises pionnières qui ont collectivement créé plus de 400 000 emplois directs et indirects.

According to 2015 entrepreneur Tony Elumelu, Hauwa Liman, female business owner and founder of Afrik Abaya: “I am always proud to say that I am part of the inaugural cohort of the Tony Elumelu Foundation entrepreneurship program. My company is located in Kaduna, in the north of Nigeria. I benefited from this program in 2015, and it opened up a lot of doors and opportunities for me. It’s not just the seed capital, but what really fascinates me about the program is the knowledge. I call it a mini-MBA program because from the ideation stage it teaches you how to really articulate your business and it gave me my first business plan. The network, visibility and opportunities are endless. My entrepreneurial experience cannot be complete without the Tony Elumelu Foundation. I will soon start exporting to other countries thanks to the Foundation. We now employ ten permanent employees and eight additional employees on the commission.”

Commenting on the launch of the 2022 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Program, Tony Elumelu Foundation CEO Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu said: “We are constantly blown away by the quality of companies that come from Africa each year. This motivates us to step up our efforts to empower even more entrepreneurs on the continent. The innovation, knowledge and resilience of African entrepreneurs are essential to map Africa’s socio-economic transformation and achieve the continent’s development goals. We are also proud of the increased participation of women in our program, especially with the 2021 cohort where we witnessed a record 68% selection of women entrepreneurs.”

they can go even further than us. As a parent, the desire that your children can do better than you and that you provide the resources and materials they need to make sure they are successful in life. Likewise, at the Foundation, we are equipping the next generation with the tools they need to be successful.”

As the first champion of entrepreneurship in Africa, the Tony Elumelu Foundation empowers women and men across the African continent through entrepreneurship to catalyze economic growth, drive poverty eradication and ensure job creation. The Foundation’s mission is rooted in the philosophy of Africapitalism , which positions the private sector as the essential provider of economic and social wealth creation in Africa. Through TeFconnect , the Foundation’s exclusive digital platform, it has been provided capacity building support, advisory advice and market connections to more than 1.5 million Africans.

The Tony Elumeulu Foundation Entrepreneurship Program is open to entrepreneurs across Africa: new start-ups and existing start-ups, operating in any sector. Potential applicants should apply now on the digital hub for African entrepreneurs. www.tefconnect.net. For a list of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs selected in 2021 and more information about our program, please visit the Tony Elumulu Foundation website here.

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Lagos, Nigeria: The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy empowering young African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries, has opened applications for the 2022 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme on www.TEFConnect.com African entrepreneurs with business ideas or existing businesses under 5 years, are encouraged to apply now for $5000 seed capital, mentorship, business management training and more on the 2022 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme.

Since 2015, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme – the only African-funded entrepreneurship catalyst of its kind – has empowered 15,847 African entrepreneurs with non-returnable seed capital of $5,000 each; twelve weeks of business management training; access to experienced mentors; and membership to Africa’s largest entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In 2021, the Tony Elumelu Foundation disbursed USD$24.75 million to 5000 African entrepreneurs across Africa for its 2021 Entrepreneurship Programme. The Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme remains one of the largest private sector responses to driving the economic recovery of African youth, women and SMEs given the effects of the covid19 pandemic across Africa.  Across Africa, the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme beneficiaries are starting and growing trailblazing businesses that have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs.

According to 2015 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur, Hauwa Liman, female business owner and Founder of Afrik Abaya: “I am always proud to say that I am from the inaugural cohort of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme. My business is located in Kaduna, in northern Nigeria. I benefitted from this Programme in 2015, and it opened up lots of doors and opportunities. It is not just about the seed capital, but what really fascinates me about the Programme is the knowledge. I call it a mini-MBA programme, because from the ideation stage it teaches you how to really articulate your business, and it gave me my first business plan. The network, visibility and opportunities are endless. My entrepreneurship experience cannot be complete without the Tony Elumelu Foundation. I will start exporting to other countries soon courtesy of the Foundation. We now employ ten permanent staff and an additional eight staff on a commission basis.”

Commenting on the launch of the 2022 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu shared, “We are constantly blown away by the quality of businesses that come from Africa every year. This motivates us to scale our efforts to empower even more entrepreneurs on continent. The innovation, knowledge and resilience of African entrepreneurs is central to charting Africa’s socio-economic transformation and meet the continent’s development objectives. We are also proud of the increase in female participation on our Programme, especially with the 2021 cohort where we witnessed a record 68% selection of women entrepreneurs.”

Founding Trustee of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr. A V. Elumelu stated: “Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, we seek to democratise luck. Hard work plays an important and undeniable part in success, but one must not discount the role of luck – someone being willing to take a chance on you or business idea by empowering you through training, mentorship or funding. Our hope is that, through the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, we would help the next business leader or captain of industry be whom they are meant to be. This is our own way to give back and also to empower the generation coming behind us so that they can go even further than we have. As a parent, one’s desire is for your children to do better than you and so you will provide the resources and materials that they need to ensure that they go far in life. Similarly, at the Foundation we are equipping the next generation with the tools they need to succeed.”

As the foremost champion of entrepreneurship in Africa, the Tony Elumelu Foundation is empowering women and men across the African continent through entrepreneurship to catalyse economic growth, drive poverty eradication and ensure job creation. The Foundation’s mission is rooted in the philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector as the key enabler of economic and social wealth creation in Africa. Through TEFConnect, the Foundation’s proprietary digital platform, it has provided capacity-building support, advisory and market linkages, to over 1.5 million Africans.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is open to entrepreneurs across Africa: new start-ups and existing young businesses, operating in any sector. Prospective applicants should apply now on the digital networking hub for African entrepreneurs, www.tefconnect.com For a list of the selected 2021 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs and more information on our programme, please visit the website of the Tony Elumelu Foundation here.

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Imposter syndrome, this crippling, overwhelming and suffocating feeling, has always held me in a chokehold, having me settle for less than I deserve. “If I let this opportunity go, I will never find another like it”, I subconsciously tell myself, and so I cling on to situations, people and things that do not serve me. 

The worst part is that in managing this feeling, I learnt to find solace in disappointment, because that is what I believed I deserve. I stopped trying to grow. I was ready to give up at the slightest inconvenience, because maybe I didn’t deserve any better. 

Until I tried. 

One day, I just decided to go for it; go for the opportunities my head told me I could never be qualified for, take the first step towards achieving the goals I had talked myself out of, hold myself to the highest standards that I was not sure I could live up to. 

I tried and guess what? I failed. But this time I decided to try again. 

This is how I started to grow. I started to love myself and I learnt to take it easy on myself. No matter what the outcome is, I have learnt that I need to try. I need to fail fast and fail forward. I am made for greatness, so my failures will be great, but then, so will my successes. 

PS: I have always hated Christmas because while everyone around me is being merry and winding down after a long year, for me it signifies the end of yet another year where I haven’t achieved the goals I set for myself at the start of the year. 

I have decided I am going to look forward to this Christmas, because if there is one thing I have achieved this year, it is that I have learnt a lot. I have been bold and daring. I have tried and failed. I may be an imposter, but at least now, I know who I am and who I am not. 

If you are reading this, this is your sign to take that leap of faith. 

Moyo Olisa, 
Mentorship Manager,
Tony Elumelu Foundation. 

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