Smoothie Express, her brand, was not only passion-fuelled but also a solution to a struggle she experienced, which was her driving force. She observed the accessibility gap as many companies were not offering healthy meals and beverages on a large scale; that was how her company was birthed. She says her goal is to be the pre-eminent health and wellness lifestyle company in Africa, and this includes a sustainable future.

The African Success Story of Smoothie Express

“I wanted to be at the forefront of real change and in a position to do so. Smoothie Express was not only passion-fuelled, but it was also relatable. This was my struggle as well and I knew I was not only the one facing this struggle. I wanted people to see healthy living as a lifestyle and not a luxury.  This was my driving force.”

Smoothie Express has generated over $1M in revenue since its inception (2015) through its QSR outlets, B2B sales, subscriptions, and events. The business currently has over 30 direct and indirect employees.

“I always say that the TEF programme could not have come at a better time for Smoothie Express. We were selected in 2015 when we had just started operations. We were still fresh into the market and entrepreneurship as a whole and needed all the mentorship and support we could lay our hands on. The support, resources and recognition that TEF brought cannot be over emphasised and it has remained constant over the years. It moulded us into the super business savvy entrepreneurs we are today.”

The TEF program opened her business with a plethora of opportunities. Her business has been featured in different interviews and radio shows. Just recently, she got nominated as one of the 100 entrepreneurs by Seedstars in collaboration with SAFEEM, an accelerator program that gave the company additional 10,000 euros in grant funding.

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 Omowunmi, 2015 TEF Alumni Who Got Funding for Smoothie Business appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Izu Freeman decided to help micro, small and medium businesses to digitalize their processes for free to enable them to close the small business funding gaps in Africa in order to have access to resources to grow and contribute to job creation.

“Seeing the devastating impact of poverty all around me, motivated me into becoming an entrepreneur; knowing that I can contribute both in direct and indirect job creation that will contribute to poverty reduction.”

Seed Funding for MSMEs in Nigeria

The company has users in Nigeria and Ghana.  They have won two National Prizes from National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) respectively in 2021.  They were invited on an all-expense-paid trip to exhibit our solution in GITEXT Dubai in 2021 and LEAP Riyadh Saudi Arabia in February 2022. They are currently in an acceleration program in New York USA; raising $250,000 USD.  They also have a demand to set up in Saudi Arabia and Poland with invitation by top two banks in those countries, respectively. They are in a serious conversation with MTN Nigeria in partnering to cocreate enterprise products for small businesses.

They have also created 4 full-time jobs and over 10 part-time jobs.

“The seed funding got me started in this journey and another transformational aspect of TEF is knowing that I can always get more supports from TEF as soon as I achieve certain tractions. We are contributing to the digitalization of micro, small and medium businesses thereby democratizing access to historical and transparent MSMEs data for proper investment, lending and granting decision making. And we are also contributing to Job creation.”

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 Izu Freeman, 2019 TEF Alumni who is into processing, distribution of products from cassava. appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

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.

The number of undernourished people in sub-Saharan Africa rose from 181 million in 2010 to almost 222 million in 2016. Among children, although the prevalence of stunting decreased from 38.3% in 2000 to 30.3% in 2017, the numbers affected increased from 50.6 million to 58.7 million due to population growth.

How Lahja Started a Food Processing Business

Lahja Amakali is an inductee of the Namibia Business Hall of Fame as an emerging Agri-preneur. His business is aimed at supporting and encouraging people to get involved in agribusiness to reduce importation, poverty level, and malnutrition in Africa.

“What motivated me is to reduce importation of foods from other countries as if we do not have hands and we do not go to university to acquire knowledge like any other people. Many chronical diseases are prevailing, and it is worse when one eats what is produced and processed by another person.”

TEF Grant and Training for Food Processing Business

The training provided on the programme has been an eye opener for Lahja Amakali.

“The TEF classes we were given were my eyes opener. It pulls me closer to peers to discuss and share our challenges and success stories in our businesses. The seed capital pushed me to where I am today especially my 3 shareholders gave up and removed their cash. I could not make it if TEF was not there to rescue Niithete Agro-Business Investment cc (Nabi cc) Thumbs up to TEF. Now we have five flavours, sorghum mint, sorghum lemon, sorghum coffee substitute orange and the pure sorghum coffee substitute. And another research is on pipeline for the slimming group.”

African Success Story in Food Processing Business

The business supports 10 small scale lemon growers, 2 mint growers, 5 sorghum producers. They have 2 full time employees and 8 part time employees. Their products enter the national market through Local Product Merchant shop. They changed the attitude of not believing in blacks that they can process for national and soon International. Contract farmers who supply raw materials are expanding their areas of growing sorghum. Many farmers are starting to grow different varieties such as mint, gingers and so forth.

The business has created more opportunities for small scale growers. Training them on how to select products for marketing, empower them on backyard garden and produce biogas for cooking and manure for their small garden.

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 2018 TEF Alumni, Lahja Amakali 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.

Identifying this problem

While growing up, Jonathan saw his mom engaged in petty trading in a bid to make ends meet, while his brothers were actively engaged in schooling with the aim of improving their chances in order to get good jobs. At the same time, he saw his mom and other traders make wholesome daily profits, as a result he decided to be an entrepreneur so that he will not only make money but provide jobs for the people around him.

Jonathan Azua owns a Luxuriant cleaning and maintenance company the company that aims at giving customers a higher cleaning experience, this clear promise of value helped to incentivize their first users, even today, this has remained their message and an integral part of their organizational culture. The nexus and common theme of the organization is how to make a difference in the lives of customers, users, and stakeholders.

Seed Capital for Cleaning and Maintenance Business

For Jonathan, the training and the seed capital provided by the programme was a turning point in his entrepreneurship journey.

“Two things stood out for me in the TEF program, the training and the seed capital. Before the training I was managing a business in the informal sector, while I was largely successful at that level, I never knew there were things I was doing wrong, for example, the training helped me to understand important concepts such as corporate governance and structure, it kind of covered something small about everything a business is all about, the training armed me with the knowledge I needed to succeed at scale.

Also, he believes seed capital was a huge leverage, which was a tool for him to achieve his dream. When he started out, he made up his mind that this may be the only business fund he may ever have, so he would not fail himself. He went about investing with that mindset, and as of today, he has about 5 companies in his group just from a single seed, and he believes that the future holds much more for his business in abundance in terms of revenue generation and impact.

“The seed capital changed my life forever, all that I will ever become in life is tied to that seed capital.”

The group makes in excess of $10,000 annually in revenue generation, with over 20 direct and indirect employees.

Currently, they are expanding beyond their primary geographic market segment (Yobe state), as they attempt to become a national player by opening outlets in strategic markets.

“We are proud to be an employer of labour seeing that our country is grappling with an unprecedented unemployment rate, while making money is good business, beyond that, we are proud of being able to gainfully employ people and taking them out of the street, as a result. We see our contributions to the country’s GDP as the hallmark of our work, while our ability to provide goods and services that solve customers’ problems daily has been resounding and encouraging.”

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, Jonathan Azua Who is creating jobs through cleaning and maintenance business appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

The demand for African designs, textiles, and garments is increasing within and beyond the continent. Currently, in sub-Saharan Africa, the combined apparel and footwear market is estimated at USD 31 billion. The textile industry in Africa is estimated to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of ~5% over the forecast period of 2019–2024. 

Identifying this problem

Gladys is a young award-winning creative entrepreneur who is well known for her bespoke, eco-friendly, handmade Ankara notebooks and gift set. She has managed to use her love for art in an extraordinary way. In her quest to challenge the status quo, fighting against discrimination and stigma, Gladys successfully elevated the crafts industry, proving that it is a viable industry and that the craft business can be a profession. Having been raised in an entrepreneurial family, she implemented her experience and knowledge by starting her own business. She used her artistic abilities to develop a firebrand called Krafted Ink, innovative art and craft-oriented organization.

Specializing in African textile journals and gift packaging, mastered the art of combining colors in making gift packaging to ensure lasting smiles in the lives of people. The handmade products include journals, diaries, gift bags, and gift boxes using African print fabric. Gladys started her journey at the age of 21 out of her desire to uphold the African ideals of sharing presents. She has been crafting memories ever since.

Making Handmade Ankara Crafts

Gladys achieved this feat thanks to the TEF program, which helped in achieving her dreams as an entrepreneur.

“Without the Tony Elumelu Foundation Programme, there was no way, not a chance that my business idea was going to take off. The program not only helped the business plan, but it also put me through how to evaluate customer acquisitions, and the business canvas helped me to break down where I was going to get resources. Furthermore, I learned how to establish smart partnerships with Entrepreneurs across Africa because I was exposed to the network during the program.”

“We had an increased visibility that helped our users from 50 per year to more than 50,000 users now and still counting with more than 10 distributors across the 36 states.”

She recently launched an impact project titled ‘Dignity for her product’ to provide a holistic approach to drive change through product, education, and Advocacy, bundled alongside comprehensive menstrual hygiene management and sexual reproductive health programming for adolescent girls. So far, 300 girls have been trained with the hope of training 2000 by the end of 2022.

A revenue model allowing these girls to earn commissions from the sale of Virtuous Reusable Pads was established, empowering them, and making them less vulnerable. The innovation is to assign the girls’ guardians as drop shippers for reusable pads in the community. The girls then sell these pads within their community, creating economic opportunities and helping break the poverty cycle.

She pitched for another grant and won an additional $15000, $5000 from AGS tribe Enterprise Challenge, winning first place during the pitch competition (Now Herconomy E), and $10000 from the funding space 2019   through the Rising tide Africa during the pitch competition.

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, Gladys Chibanda Who is into the Production of handmade Ankara crafts appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Identifying this problem

Drawn to the need of adolescent girls, Tabitha Abimiku decided to become a social entrepreneur. She discovered that only one out of ten girls use a sanitary pad; others settle for more unhygienic options like rags and banana leaves which have serious adverse health effects, with some girls missing school during this period. Driven by the need to provide a lasting solution to this problem, she did her research and developed Virtuous core Reusable Pad in 2018.

Making Reusable Sanitary Products

Before her encounter with the TEF program, she never got the validation, support, or acceptance she needed; on the verge of giving up her dream, she got selected for the 2019 TEF program. She got visibility and validation for business; it gave her confidence that her company could transform Africa, which increased her confidence level and knowledge and capacity building during the program.

The seed funding has been very crucial in scaling her business by enabling her increase production.

“With the seed funding of $5000, she was able to purchase machinery and increase her turn out from 10 from 5000 pieces of pad per day; with this, she expanded the business and moved from producing at home to a NAFDAC-approved factory.”

Tabitha Abimiku has created 8 new jobs since funding and has increased her annual revenue from $6,000S to $47,000 since funding.

Furthermore, her business has gotten more visibility across the country and have produced sanitary products for reputable organizations like EHA clinic and Urban Shelter Limited.

“We had an increased visibility that helped our users from 50 per year to more than 50,000 users now and still counting with more than 10 distributors across the 36 states.”

She recently launched an impact project titled ‘Dignity for her product’ to provide a holistic approach to drive change through product, education, and Advocacy, bundled alongside comprehensive menstrual hygiene management and sexual reproductive health programming for adolescent girls. So far, 300 girls have been trained with the hope of training 2000 by the end of 2022.

A revenue model allowing these girls to earn commissions from the sale of Virtuous Reusable Pads was established, empowering them, and making them less vulnerable. The innovation is to assign the girls’ guardians as drop shippers for reusable pads in the community. The girls then sell these pads within their community, creating economic opportunities and helping break the poverty cycle.

She pitched for another grant and won an additional $15000, $5000 from AGS tribe Enterprise Challenge, winning first place during the pitch competition (Now Herconomy E), and $10000 from the funding space 2019   through the Rising tide Africa during the pitch competition.

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, Tabitha Abimiku Who is Making Reusable Sanitary Products Accessible & Affordable to Girls appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Identifying this problem

Olabisi Akanbi decided to provide a solution by setting up a business that collects, reuses, recovers, and recycles waste products. EMSMAT uses branded metal drums, plastic wheeled bins, and cellophane waste bags as storage devices and to evacuate solid waste from their clients every 7 days interval. We have started operation on a pilot scale since September 2012 by using hired vehicles before procuring our own truck which are been loaded and offloaded manually. Every client gets registered by filling out our registration form with a registration fee of N3,000 and receives the waste bin in less than 24 hours.

The Integrated Waste Business Solution

Our price range according to a major market segment in our customer base is as follows: Single Household/family dwelling (N500), Multifamily dwellings (N1,000), Light industries like bakeries, eateries, etc (N2,000), Small Hotels, banks, mini estate (N5,000), Big Hotels, Hospitals (N10,000) and among others. There are 4,197 clients in the area.

At full capacity by procuring at least two (2) numbers of fairly foreign used (Tokunbo) waste compacting trucks at (N4,900,000) each totalled (N9,800,000) to evacuate at least 1,200 Clients on weekly basis with the support of TONY ELUMELU FOUNDATION PROGRAMME, the company will realize a monthly turnover of (N4,111,200) with about 15 employments will be newly created.   

“My business is changing the attitude of indiscriminate dumping of refuse on waterways, drainages, uncompleted buildings and even on roads by the citizens of Keffi Nasarawa State Nigeria. We offer waste bins to Keffi community to curb the menace caused by the indiscriminate dumping of refuse, we collect this waste on weekly basis from individual premises, sorting, processing the recyclable waste materials and dispose non-recyclable materials for farmers as fertilizers.”

Although his business operation started on a pilot scale in 2012, there was need for funding to scale up his business and increase his revenue. The $5000 TEF grant has been the beginning of his business success. He has created 6 new jobs and has increased his revenue to $4500. His waste management business has also been beneficial to the environment as the child mortality rate has been reduced as over 10,000 people in the communities where they work now have access to a safe, clean and healthy environment. He also conducts public sensitization about how to maintain personal hygiene and safe environment.

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 2015 TEF Alumni, Olabisi Akanbi Who is Improving the environment through integrated waste management practice appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.