You can imagine how I felt when I received my second functional rotation posting to The Tony Elumelu Foundation, this meant a change of work environment, people and entirely new tasks, different from where I was coming from.  Yes, I enjoy my comfort zone and I just want to remain where I’m most comfortable. But that will also mean I’m in the wrong place, I can’t belong here because this programme is designed for me to develop basic competencies in about 6 functional areas. This will take me to at least 5 companies, meaning experiencing diverse work environment, people and tasks. What remains the same is the culture of Excellence, Execution and Enterprise that cuts across all the group companies, at least I don’t get to experience any culture shock.  

It’s day 12 here at the foundation and I will say I’m having a smooth transition, what seemed to have started as a slow transition only gets faster as the days go by. Heirs Holdings is a fast-paced work environment and TEF is not short of the same and so I have to equally go with the tide. I usually think to myself, ”I don’t know jack, and these people are experienced and grounded in this job, what can I possibly offer” but as much as I ought to add value to the team, I’m here to also learn. One thing that has helped me so far is the fact that I embarked on this journey having an open mind; to adapt, to learn and add value.  

As someone who had no idea what to expect from a place like TEF, precisely the partnerships and policy unit, I had the opportunity to quickly catch up. My line manager, Oniye Okolo did well to welcome me aboard and talked me through the partnership and strategy roadmap document which gave me better sense of the partnerships and policy unit and the work it does.  

I would say this has been a challenging experience. I remember swearing that I would never write again after my final exams as an English and Literature undergraduate. Apparently, fate was laughing me in the face. Now I have a task to write articles for #TEFAdvocacy and our Graduate Trainee blog posts.  

African Entrepreneurs are the heart of the foundation, hence the #TEFAdvocacy column. We make research into the entrepreneurial policies of various African countries and how they affect entrepreneurs across the continent. We identify their challenges and make appropriate recommendations. 

The Tony Elumelu Foundation has given me the opportunity to challenge my abilities and embrace change as it comes because that is a constant.  Prior to this day, if I were given an option to join TEF, I probably would have been clueless. I would have loved to be part of an impactful philanthropic organisation like TEF, but clueless about what positive contribution to make. These 12 days have been impactful, I have seen the result of the hard work of every team in the foundation and that is enough inspiration and motivation for me. 

The journey at TEF is not over yet. Cheers to more days of a jolly ride. 

~ Author: Eniye Aduwari

The post 12 DAYS IN TEF  appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

The search began and I applied for a lot of Graduate Trainee roles towards the end of 2021. In January 2022, I got a couple of emails, including one from Heirs Holdings, inviting me to participate in several computer-based tests. And to be honest, it was a ray of hope for me as I knew in my heart that “one of these jobs must click.”

It got more exciting as I began to hear back from these different companies to proceed to the next stage. Unfortunately, I could not cross to the next stage in about two of these companies but thankfully, Heirs Holdings came through and I was invited to the last phase of the interview which comprised of a competency-based interview, PowerPoint presentation and a discussion with other applicants.

After the interview, I could tell that I had a slim chance due to the substantial number of applicants involved which made me realise that this was a highly competitive programme, one that would make me feel accomplished if I ever got a chance to get into the fold (HH). I began to console myself as time passed by and I still had not heard from the HH recruiters on whether I would be part of this year’s Graduate programme. Then BOOM, I got a mail asking me to upload my documents.

Wow! I could not contain my joy as I could see my dream coming true. But not long after, another round of suspense that ensued after sending in my credentials drowned out my excitement.

About 3 weeks later, I got another mail congratulating me for emerging successful and stating that I proceed for Medicals. “Finally, I landed myself a job” was the first thought that came rushing to my mind.

After crossing the hurdle of getting to Lagos from Abuja, the Heirs Holdings Graduate Trainee Programme officially began on the 9^th of March with the launch of the Heirs Academy.

Guess what?

I got to see Tony O. Elumelu (TOE) and other CEOs of various investee companies. It got more exciting when the Graduate Trainees were asked to meet with the different CEOs at a cocktail party hosted to commemorate the launch.

“Omo, you be big girl ooo,” was the thought that followed me around throughout the event. Earlier on, during the launch, the HR Director Modupe Adesunloye had mentioned that 18,000 graduates applied for the programme and just 60 of us were selected. So, that highlighted how major this opportunity is for me.

The Programme commenced properly with a 3-week intensive classroom training session. We had a lot of CEOs take us on their journey to the top while providing insight into what their companies do. That was the highlight of the training for me and it was a time that convinced me that I have found a place where I cannot just grow but make significant progress.

“Which organization pays so much attention to its employees like this, Abi na scam?” I wondered.

All the facilitators who addressed us had one thing in common and it was the way they articulated the organisation’s core values of Excellence, Enterprise, and Execution. This ignited a desire in me to ensure that I portray these values whether or not I am in the organization.

Afterwards, I was scheduled for my first functional rotation at Africa Prudential Plc, a leading digital technology solutions provider helping African businesses simplify their processes and customer experience using technology. This lasted for three weeks, and it was mind-blowing. To tell the truth, I was amazed at how much I could learn in the Digital/I.T space in such a brief period. At first, it was a feeling of uncertainty and how well I would fit into such an environment. However, as I journeyed, I got to understand the system and at the end of the three weeks, I was able to learn about product management, scrum methodology, Business/Product requirement document, User flow chart, innovation & design thinking.

Now unto my next functional rotation placement, The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). I was assigned to work with the Marketing & Corporate Communication (MCC) unit of the Foundation. It’s only been a few days since I started, and I am already super excited to be trying something entirely new. I have met young minds who exhume so much knowledge in their field and are ready to impart their knowledge into the minds of the graduate trainees that work with them.

My personal learning objective for the period of my rotation here is to be able to: create engaging content on various platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram), and use the Canva application to create designs, edit videos properly and broaden my creative skills. I hope that by the end of my stay here, all my expectations will be met.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to sharing more of my experience with you.

~ Author: Fadekemi Ajayi

The post My Journey into the Corporate World as a TEF Graduate Trainee appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Secondly, in January 2020 I applied for the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme. That’s a story for another day. But the point is that once again not that I don’t dream but the farthest I could see myself with regards to the foundation was being a beneficiary of the programme. I have always admired Tony Elumelu for his philanthropic initiative committed to empowering young Africans towards entrepreneurship. I saw the work the foundation has done on the continent and their partnerships beyond Africa. Little did I know that all I saw was the hard work of a small team of enterprising young men and women delivering excellently on their job. A team I’m now a part of for the next three weeks. You can guess how excited I must be.

I now wake up in the morning, get dressed and head to Heirs Place for work. I’m here now, a graduate trainee at Heirs Holdings, and for three weeks during this graduate trainee programme, I’ll be on a functional rotation to The Tony Elumelu Foundation, I’ll be part the TEF Partnership and Policy team, a TEF graduate trainee. I must be dreaming!

I did have a dream. A dream that began the on the 31st of December 2021, the day I received an email acknowledging the receipt of my application for the role. That email stated the time frame for selection and the stages involved; an online assessment and an interview via a virtual assessment centre. I immediately dropped my phone for some minutes and thought deeply about this email I just read. “Only two stages, I can do it” I thought to myself as I looked out the window riding in the back seat of a bus to Ibadan. And then I pick the phone back up went straight to google, typed “Heirs Holdings” and since then no day passes without me thinking about that phrase. I just found my dream place.

Some may say it was too early to have had that dream, it’s just an email acknowledging an application, I had not even been shortlisted. They may just have been right. However, that quickly turned into a reality as few days later, two days precisely, I received an email scheduling me for an online assessment. I have always said to myself that all I need is to pass an online assessment, once that’s done, I can get through and get the job, any job. I will tell you that this was put to a test from the following stages to the moment I received that call informing me of my acceptance into the academy.

What I thought was a dream began to look like a nightmare. On the 3rd of January 2022, I was set to take my online assessment. Prepared and ready to kill it, but my laptop thought otherwise. No access to webcam and no access to another laptop. I was alone and helpless. I tried but the time went by so fast, assessment had ended and I didn’t even get a chance to start. I went back to the platform hosting other applicants, and as I saw their comments about the concluded assessment, I could no longer hold the warm tears that filled my eyes. As those tears rolled down my cheeks all I could think about was an opportunity I missed, I had to wake up because the dream was over

On the 5th of January,2022, two days after the initial date for my assessment. I received an email inviting me to take the same test. I must be lucky right? I guess my dream is back on. This time around I kept it all to myself, I didn’t want to be told sorry the second time. I took the assessment and on the 8th of January I got an email, immediately I clicked on it, and my eyes fell on the word “Congratulations, you have made it through the first stage assessment.” That was all that mattered, in my mind I had the job already.
The second stage comprised of a case study analysis, presentation of proposed solution to the case studies and a competency-based interview. They were right when they intimated us that it was going to be a rigorous process. It truly was. At this point I had gone through all Heirs Holdings social media platforms; I was positive and ready to have what I had dreamed and hoped for, to be part of the HH People.

For a process that was meant to take 4-5 weeks, days turned into weeks and weeks into months. The things that happened within that time, the things I felt and thought about, I can only smile when I look back. I was devastated. Others had received feedback, “don’t worry they may be getting back to people in batches” everyone said to me but I will think to myself “how are you guys sure? These people have chosen their candidates”. Somewhere in those thoughts and words, there was a ray of hope.

My dream came true on the 4th of March, 2022 at about 1pm, I received a call, it was a strange number, the voice was courteous, I knew it in my guts that this was it, even before I heard “…calling from Heirs Holdings” and when I did, my feelings were confirmed. “Will you be available for a pre-employment medical screening between today and 5pm tomorrow?” I was tempted to laugh because this is the statement I have been waiting for. “Welcome to Heirs Holdings.” My heart almost exploded!

Today marks my 8th week with Heirs Holdings as a gradate trainee. I have been through 4 weeks intensive classroom instructor led sessions, 4 weeks functional rotation, 1 spent with the partnerships and policy team of The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

I believe my contact with the foundation in the past was no coincidence. It’s interesting that during my time of waiting, I once received a notification on Twitter, I opened it and saw a post from Nelson celebrating his joining the foundation as a Communications Executive. I liked the post and felt that one day I’ll see Nelson. That day happened to be a few days ago. 4th of February,2022 was my mum’s birthday. How does my mum’s birthday relate to this right? We were on our way to the beach that day and as we drove through Victoria Island, we realised that we needed some cash, the first ATM we tried did not dispense cash and we drove ahead. Here we are at Heirs Towers. “I’m meant to be part of this” I thought to myself as I used the UBA ATM.

One thing I now realize is that my dream never died. I didn’t see it when I expected but it came true.

“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams you dare to dream really do come true.”

~ Judy Garland

Dare to dream

Author: Eniye Aduwari

The post Dare To Dream: The Story of A TEF Graduate Trainee appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

They encouraged and counselled us on how to incorporate these principles into all we do, both at work and at home (work-life integration). As a result, I have begun the process of altering my lifestyle to reflect these values.

One of the highlights of my first three weeks as a Graduate Trainee was interacting and forming an excellent network with other Graduate Trainees from different walks of life, disciplines, and backgrounds. It has been an insightful experience finding myself in the middle of such diversity. I was with the Marketing & Corporate Communications (MCC) division of the philanthropic arm of the Heirs Holdings Group, and we recently concluded the application drive for the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme. It was a phenomenal experience coming up with different ideas to encourage people to register for the programme before the deadline. I also had the opportunity to chat with some prospective candidates and assist them with the difficulties they were encountering during the application process while making sure to escalate when necessary.

I was given the task of creating and posting engaging social media content for LinkedIn and I must say, this opened my eyes to the struggles of content creation. However, with an amazing team by my side, I pulled through! My first post got some encouraging engagement and reactions that kept me going. Subsequently, my posts alternated between having a high level of engagement and sometimes little to no response. I’m still figuring out what works best on the LinkedIn platform, but I cannot deny the knowledge gained. So far, I have learnt how to create designs on Canva, engaging content on social media and how important it is to give and receive feedback. My writing skills in addition have also nicely improved during this content creation experience.

One of the major challenges I have faced so far has to be surviving Lagos. Eko indeed is not an easy city and commuting from the mainland to the island is quite exhausting.

I wake up as early as 4 am and leave the house by 5:30 am at the latest to avoid being late or sucked into the unpredictable traffic. Sometimes, I find myself nodding off on my way to work which is risky, but I guess these are part of the sacrifices I make to be a success. As Thich Nhat Hanh said, “People sacrifice the present for the future. But life is available only in the present. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step can bring us to the here and the now”.

On an occasion last week, I left my house by 5:30 am to get to the Obalende bus stop by 6.45 am. On getting there, I noticed the weather was gloomy and windy. Following my routine, I got on a bike to transit to the office but kept thinking to myself ‘Thank God I’m almost at work and the rain didn’t meet me on the road’. Little did I know the rain had other plans!

After barely 2 minutes on the bike, the wind, the sand, and the dust united and took a stand against us all on the road. I was struggling to see amidst this weather commotion and till today I remain baffled as to how the bike man was able to see through the dust and wind and make talk less of drive through it. At that moment, my earlier prayer and thought switched from thanksgiving to supplication. From thanking God for not letting rain meet me outside to a safe journey to the office without being involved in an accident.

Would you believe me if I told you that despite all that, I still got caught in the rain right before I arrived at the office? Well, that is exactly what happened. ‘Drenched in rain’ would be an understatement to describe that morning. I immediately sought shelter at the nearby fuel station and began waiting for the already angry rain to subside. After 10 minutes, the rain was not giving way! What could I have done but take extreme measures? And mind you, I cannot run late to work or make excuses for my lateness. Remember, excellence! So, I removed my wig. My shoes were already soaked; hence there was no need to take them off. Bearing in mind the short distance from my place of refuge to the office, I decided to run in the rain to the office. Yes, I ran!

Once I got to the office, I headed straight for the restroom to dry myself and gear up for the tasks of the day. 

My life as a graduate trainee has been a whole new experience different from what I have known. It has been exciting, stressful, and impactful, and ultimately, it has been worth it! The learning process is never-ending. I look forward to more challenging tasks and work schedules preparing myself with all I have learnt and all I am yet to do for success. It has been fascinating and exhilarating working at the Tony Elumelu Foundation as it is a totally new experience for me in all ramifications, but I believe and trust myself to turn out to be more efficacious in what I do while keeping an open mind.

~ Author: Amaka Eluemuno

The post As a TEF Graduate Trainee, The Learning Process is Never-ending. appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

At the Marketing and Corporate Communication team, we convey the attitudes, beliefs, and goals of the Tony Elumelu Foundation thereby informing the public about what we do at the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

My focus is on coming up with different social media content and engaging African entrepreneurs in the Twitter space during and after the application phase. Creating and posting engaging social media content for Twitter has been quite difficult yet insightful because it was a whole new playing field for me.

Creating content has been tasking. However, with an amazing team by my side, I have been able to pull through. Trying to figure out what works best on Twitter has been the most challenging part of the journey but the increase in my Twitter post’s reach and engagements daily gets me excited and gives me a sense of accomplishment. So far, I’ve learnt how important it is to give and receive feedback. Also, my writing and design skills have improved due to the nature of my tasks.

To overcome the challenging part of my job which is beating Lagos traffic, I wake up as early as 3:30 am, and leave the house by 5:15 am at the latest to catch up with the first bus that leaves Festac town for CMS every business day of the week, depriving myself of sleep and breakfast leaving me to battle with sleeping in buses every morning, but like Nathan W. Morris said: “The speed of your success is limited only by your dedication and what you’re willing to sacrifice.”

So, my sleep and breakfast are what I am willing to sacrifice to speed up my success in life, and every time a bus I board passes an unknown route I put on my phone location lol

3 weeks spent in the Marketing and Corporate Communications team of the Tony Elumelu Foundation has been a whole new experience different from what I’ve known. It has been exciting, stressful, impactful and a whole lot more. The learning process never ends. I still look forward to the next challenge, tasks, and work schedule of which I’m also preparing myself to take the bull by the horn because of what I’ve learnt so far. It has been quite fascinating and exhilarating working at the Tony Elumelu Foundation in all ramifications, but I believe and trust myself to turn out to be more efficacious in what I do.

Every knowledge gained here at the Marketing and Corporate Communication team of the Tony Elumelu Foundation has fully prepared me for the tasks ahead and can only lead me to a better future anywhere I find myself for my next job rotation, but first I’ll be heading back to class for a one-week intensive session before heading for my next job rotation, I can’t wait to start my next journey within Heirs Holdings.

~ Author: Nurudeen Odetayo

The post It’s Been 3 Weeks of Rewarding Growth, I Am Ready for the Next Chapter appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

In my first week, I was tasked with creating content for the foundation’s social media channels to raise awareness for the programme and ramp up outreach to encourage people to apply. It felt foreign at first because I have never been asked to do something like that in my past roles. In fact, across my personal social media pages, there are just one or two pictures of mine, a few posts, tweets, and retweets. Social media up until this point was like a getaway for me, a place to go laugh or just consume information on whatever field or subject I was looking for. But here I was, trying to come up with quality content that’d appeal to people to engage your post and follow through on what you were asking them to do. Essentially being on the other side of the equation.

“This is going to be tough,” I thought initially. Then, I quickly remembered my 3E’s. Peter Ashade didn’t drum it into my ears for no reason. I got to it immediately. I went through the Foundation’s social media pages to have a feel of what they had been posting previously, and see what it was all about. I realized a few things; it was a bit too formal and uptight. In today’s generation, people want something they can relate to, engage with, and feel like they’re part of. Through the use of slangs, real-world happenings converted to memes or posts filled with humour that would prompt a reply or reaction from the audience you wish to reach. I eventually came up with 5 different content that cut across the foundation’s social media channels (Twitter: @TonyElumeluFDN, Instagram: @tonyelumelufoundation, LinkedIn: @TheTonyElumeluFoundation and Facebook: @thetonyelumelufoundation). Do well to follow, keep up it and engage as well.

These pieces of content were posted across the board, and it was quite chilling because I came up with them in one day. Talk about being a natural, huh?? I was also happy when more of the content got a lot of reach and attracted impressive engagement. 

The director of communications, Somachi Chris-Asoluka used the first task to gauge my performance and creativity levels to assign handling a particular social media page to me and also my other colleagues as well. I was assigned the Foundation’s Instagram page. It was quite tough for me because I felt like I was more of a Twitter person, but Somachi Chris-Asoluka encouraged me and opened my eyes to see that I was good and very creative enough to tackle my tasks head-on. This confidence and words of encouragement reinforced my drive and gave me newfound levels of belief to handle my role better. In the words of Napoleon Hill ” What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve”.

I and my colleagues were also put through different aspects such as external relations, creating engaging content, fundamentals of writing a press release, understanding partnerships for sustainable development as well as monitoring and evaluation in line with the functions of the foundation. The whole process of working in the MCC unit has been an eye-opener. Also, the environment and culture at the Foundation are one that allows anyone to thrive. I was given the reigns to the social media pages with utmost creative freedom even without prior knowledge about marketing, corporate communications, or content creation but in a few weeks, with guidance and research, I’ve been able to figure out what people, take years in the university to learn.

I am also grateful to the colleagues I have, fellow graduate trainees and staff. Everyone is readily available to help and share the information which makes it easier to acclimatize and perform better in your role. To be frank, content creation is not as easy as it may seem and there are a lot of technical things involved like using a content calendar or planner to organize whatever content you’re putting out, maximizing your reach, and prompting engagement from your audience through quality posts. Nevertheless, I’ve been able to absorb knowledge like a sponge in water as well as be afforded the opportunity to network with my colleagues and grow my circle. One of the major highlights during the period was meeting one of my idols, Samuel Eto’o Fils during one of the units’ marketing rounds. The general Heirs Holdings culture is one I’d encourage other organizations to adopt as it is vital to the growth of both the employee and the company as well.

My journey so far in my time here has been filled with experiences that’d last a lifetime and I look forward to my next job rotation, the skills, network opportunities and experiences I’d get to pick up on and contribute to my all-round growth and career advancement while contributing to the success of the organization.

~ Author: Tobenna Etumnu.

The post My Third Week as a Tony Elumelu Foundation Graduate Trainee appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Seeing my reach and engagements grow Facebook post by Facebook post gets me excited and gives me a sense of accomplishment. I learnt that working hard isn’t only about putting in long hours; it’s also about being dedicated to one’s craft, achieving greatness, and continually striving to improve with each passing minute. 

To tell you the truth, I had no idea what to expect from a foundation like TEF. As a fresh graduate, I was concerned that my viewpoint would be ignored in such a large Foundation because others would assume I lacked expertise. When my fellow graduate trainees and I proposed suggestions, the TEF team always listens carefully. I have never been made to feel inexperienced, and I am frequently encouraged to work on my suggestions.  The TEF family has been extremely warm and accommodating. (I’m not sure I’ll get tired of saying it.) It’s also crucial to them that you know exactly what you want out of your job experience; after all, you’ve come to them.

My line manager’s words of encouragement boosted my confidence and confirmed that I could fulfil the role’s criteria. I believe that creating my weekly plan, which informs me and my team about what I would be doing each day, has been extremely beneficial.

I was assigned some rather difficult assignments on a couple of instances over the week, which were extremely beneficial because I felt stretched and accomplished far more than I had anticipated. The crew was also eager for my comments and was genuinely interested in my plans, such as my next career moves. Several times during my first few days here, I was asked what I hoped to gain from this programme. I didn’t know what to say; all I wanted to do was learn a little bit here and there, but if you asked me today, I’d have a better answer: I’d like to learn more about the working environment in places like this and gain a better understanding of it and of what professional life is like, and I’m also hoping to pick up some tips that may help me advance in my future career. 

Additionally, the benefits of my experience at TEF’s MCC division have not been restricted to the opportunities to work with amazing people. I’ve also been taking the time to network and grow my circle and it’s been a great experience so far. A big part of what I wanted out of this program was to try new things, and my time here has met that criterion in the first two weeks.  I’m enjoying not only the work I’m doing, but also the individuals I’m working with, whether it’s coming up with fresh ideas for my Facebook posts on my own or brainstorming with my teammates.

Though it was wonderful to work with my coworkers, I also loved the idea that we didn’t have to do everything together and that I was allowed to work alone and remind myself of my abilities and contributions to the Foundation.  Another thing that makes me happy is the support I’m getting from my colleagues. Not only have they been eager to answer my questions, but my line manager has expressed a willingness to assist me with whatever I require to feel at ease, as they believe that the happier you are at work, the more likely you are to stay and contribute your knowledge and experience to help the organisation achieve its goals.  Asking for help is difficult for me, but I know that when I do, help will be provided, and I am grateful for that.

 Even though I am aware that my team is available to assist me with my work, it takes a lot of self-motivation for me to summon the guts to ask for assistance.  I understand that I am still in the early phases of my work and that things will change and evolve over my time here. But, for the most part, things have gone well so far, and I’m pleased with where I’m at. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after a long and tough job hunt, and I am looking forward to seeing what occurs in the following weeks.

~ Author: Chiemezie Nwosu

The post There’s Nothing More Incredible in Life Than Reinventing Yourself appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

I finished my NYSC in March 2020, about two weeks before the effects of the pandemic were being felt around the world and before the nationwide lockdown began. I didn’t envisage it would be that tough to get something definite to do as I was just fresh from service, but companies were being very careful about recruitment owing to uncertainties arising from the pandemic.

Towards the end of the year, I got a good offer. I worked there for about a year, but I was eager to try something new. Considering my finance and accounting background, I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do and the career I needed to advance myself. I wanted more than I was getting at the time. I felt like I was just scratching the surface and I needed that big break, so I put in applications to organizations looking for roles that’d suit me and I applied to the Heirs Holdings Graduate Trainee Programme amongst others. I knew the company was owned by Tony Elumelu but that was all the information I had about the organisation. I mean, the thought of working in a company owned by a world-renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist is always going to be a good opportunity… scratch that, a great opportunity. I did some extra research on what the company was really into and how I could possibly fit it and contribute, in the grand scheme of things, to the growth and success of the organisation. Yes! you read that right. I was already looking forward to working and contributing having just applied. I had spoken to a few friends and believed that with all things being equal, Heirs Holdings was where I wanted to be.  I believed it would afford me the opportunity to touch different career bases and develop myself and advance my career and I was quite confident I could get into the programme.

The recruitment process was quite rigorous. There were three phases to the recruitment: the online cognitive test, a case study hack, and the assessment centre. The assessment centre also included three phases: a PowerPoint presentation of the case study, a group exercise, and the competency-based interview. I slowly but steadily moved through each phase and completed the whole process. Passing each phase only strengthened my faith that I was doing something good.

Now, all I had to do was play the waiting game. Days turned to weeks and weeks into a month. My anxiety had gotten the better of me. I asked around and realized some applicants had gotten an email to upload their documents. This came as a shock to me as I was really hoping to get in. I got so anxious that I put a call through to one of the numbers that reached out during the recruitment process, and I was told the process was over. I was crushed. I confided in my mum, and she asked me to believe, “Maybe, they’re reaching out to people in batches, keep up the hope. If they don’t eventually get back to you, I believe in you, and you’d definitely get your big break” she said. To be honest, I accepted what seemed like my reality and moved on. I got accepted by another organization from one of the applications I had sent out and started there. It was also an opportunity other people would kill for, but I mostly felt like I was settling as this was supposed to be like a last resort or a second option. Well, what do they say? “When life gives you Lemons, you make Lemonade”.

On the 4^th of March, I got a call from HR personnel telling me I had been accepted into the programme and was asked if I’d be available to resume the following week. I was shocked and didn’t know what to say. Doubt began to creep in, “Tobe, are you sure this is what you want?”, “Do you think this is worth it?”, “Why don’t you just stay where you are? You are beginning to get comfortable”. I quickly snapped back to reality and asked I be given some time to give an answer. I quickly made a few calls to my parents, friends, and a few senior experienced individuals I had access to. I didn’t get the kind of answers I was looking for. Ultimately, the decision rested on my shoulders. I wondered why I was having second thoughts because this was what I had wanted right from the start. I cussed at myself for having doubts and put in a call back to HR to give the affirmative on the offer. Not long after, I received a mail and had my medicals done. I love oranges, life was giving me oranges and best believe I was going to make the best orange juice possible.

The programme kicked off fully on the 9^th of March to coincide with the launch of the Heirs Academy and we were the pioneer set. Out of 18,000 candidates who applied to the programme, only 61 of us were able to get in. Talk about feeling special. The real work had just begun. The Chairman, Tony Elumelu was at the launch and spoke to us. He reiterated how he wanted to make CEOs of us in the next 5-10 years. “Well, this is going to be one heck of a fun ride”, I thought. The launch ended with a cocktail event where we got to mingle and speak with the group CEOs and staff of the investee companies. I’m sure you’re wondering if I had the opportunity to speak with “you know who”, well I couldn’t.

It’s only natural that so many people would also want to have an opportunity with such a successful person. Well, not to worry, I’d have many more chances for that, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. The next three weeks were full of classroom sessions where CEOs, directors and staff from the group and investee companies came to speak to us and deliver exciting and insightful presentations on the general Heirs Holdings culture as well as their experiences while working. Lol, I now live and breathe the 3E’s (Excellence, Execution and Enterprise) that guide the operation and workings of the group. Being able to meet other Graduate Trainees from diverse backgrounds, bond with them and continue to build my network was one of my favourite things about this classroom period. The highlight of it was getting Peter Ashade, the CEO of United Capital and Somachi Chris-Asoluka, the Director of Partnerships & Communications for Tony Elumelu Foundation to take me on as mentees. Talk about progress.

I’m currently on my first functional job rotation with the Marketing and Corporate Communications division of the Tony Elumelu Foundation. It’s been an amazing first week as I get to work directly with Somachi Chris-Asoluka.

Unfamiliar territory? Yes, nevertheless I look forward to working across the group and picking up on all the skills I’d need to develop my all-round abilities.

~ Author: Tobenna Etumnu

The post My Journey to Heirs Holdings as a Graduate Trainee appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

It is the second week of the three weeks job rotation with the Partnership and Policy Department of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and it has been nothing short of an amazing experience. I have learnt a lot of things in such a short period of time and am still learning. I am also impressed at the rate at which I am honing my writing skills – all thanks to my senior colleagues, who make the learning process an easy one.  

In the past few days, I have gained new knowledge and experiences. One of which is learning how the foundation writes its proposals for partnerships. It’s very distinctive. Earlier this week, I joined the team for a meeting with an external body, it was an educative and exciting experience. I also got to work on a proposal with a senior colleague – it was simply amazing. I am truly pleased with how the team is carrying me along and ensuring that I learn all that there is to learn to be a part of the team. 

I have been assigned daily tasks, one of which is to interview some of the TEF Alumni Entrepreneurs and learn more about their entrepreneurial careers. These interviews are published daily, on the foundation’s official website, under the ‘TEF ALUMNI CORNER.’

The members of the team I work with are amazing, they are young and filled with so much wisdom and great intellectual capabilities. Working with and watching them work everyday, gives me that constant reassurance that this is definitely where I want to be – that my growth is assured here.

BUT! The gold does come along with some mire.

Although being a graduate trainee in Heirs Holdings and having my first job rotation with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, is incredible, the excitement is often, met by a collision with the realities of urban Lagos. It so happens, that the sparkle risks being short lived, usually at the beginning and close of work. No thanks to when you must shuttle between the ‘Mainland’ and the ‘Island’ daily. That alone, can drain a person, both physically and mentally.

I observe people. And, I have noticed how commuters fall asleep or battle with sleep in cars and buses, in the mornings (on their way to work) and in the evenings (after the close of work). While this ‘evening sleepiness’ can be understood and be linked to being exhausted from the day’s work, the fact that it seeps into the mornings? That’s a big NO! It’s not meant to be so.

As someone who spent most of her life in the eastern and northern parts of the country, I have come to realise that a lot of people working in Lagos barely catch some sleep. They leave their homes quite early in the mornings and return late in the evenings, do some work at home, and end up going to bed quite late at night. With such routine, they barely get up to seven to nine hours of sleep per night, as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation Guidelines, and the cycle continues. All the while endangering the body (which needs rest) and risking mental breakdown.

Another contributor to this acrid routine would be the endless and heavy traffic in the city. One gets stuck in traffic, most times for hours. And when you get to the end of the jam, you wouldn’t even be able to place your hands on the major cause of the ‘hold up’. It’s usually like MAGIC! Sadly, in most cases, the traffic tie-up is often caused by little or nothing. I think it’s just safe to refer to Lagos as the ‘Centre of Traffic Jam’. It is even crazier how most Lagosians seem to have accepted it as part of their lives, they basically see it as ‘normal’.

Again, there are myriad of yellow buses (Danfo) in Lagos in rickety states. Two days ago, I boarded a bus to Obalende and almost immediately, it started raining heavily. Being seated on that bus was equivalent to walking right under the heavy downpour without an umbrella, I was totally drenched. The bus had a rusted and leaking roof, broken doors and windows and wooden seats that screamed ‘discomfort’. Yet, most of the passengers didn’t really care, all they were concerned about was getting to work early. It was a perfect description of ‘Suffering and Smiling!’

Added to the downpour, some of the roads are in dilapidated states. That day, I can clearly remember getting off the bus and walking barefooted to the next bus stop because of the flooded roads, the mini ‘River Niger’, and the fear of ruining my work shoes. And oh, there are the rowdy crowds, the head throbbing blaring of car horns and having to jump off the bus as soon as you approach your destination. Will I ever get used these? That I’m not so sure of – lol.

At the end, aren’t these and more, what make Lagos enthralling? The pain and the pleasure combined? Lagos remains a city rife with opportunities and I am glad it gave me one, in Heirs Holdings and TEF.

So far, life as a graduate trainee has been a roller coaster ride. It has been filled with interesting, wonderful, and crazy experiences, and I am getting used to the new life. The good surely outweighs the bad. I love it here in Heirs Holdings and in Tony Elumelu Foundation and I believe all that is needed is a little bit of adjustment. I am certain it can only get better, and these are, stories I would tell in the nearest future with a smile on my face, seated in my beautiful mansion with a glass of wine in my hand.

~ Author: Chinenye Akandu

The post My Transition into the Corporate World and Immersion into the 3 Core Values appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation has utilised the power of partnerships to make funding available for more entrepreneurs. Through the various partnerships we entered over the years, we have been able to fund over 15,000 entrepreneurs over the course of 7 years. Great right? I know, we have exceeded our initial target by 50% in less than 10 years!

The Partnerships and Policy department renews past commitments and accesses new networks for long term opportunities. Some of our partners include AFDB, UNDP, CEDA, GIZ and in recent time, Google.

Basically, we search for partners who share the same goal with us for the purpose of securing funding to sponsor additional entrepreneurs, provide 2^nd stage funding, and make business support and mentorship available. The Partnerships and Policy department also researches policies that affect entrepreneurs in the 54 African countries. We all know that a large number of countries in Africa are on the UN’s 2020 list of least developed countries in the world, so we are taking further steps to make life easier for entrepreneurs.

The Partnerships and Policy department also reviews various policies that affect entrepreneurship in African countries and make recommendations on how they can be better improved for the sake of the entrepreneurs and the economy of the country. With our connections, we interact with stakeholders on how to improve the ease of doing business across Africa to encourage entrepreneurship and make running entrepreneurial ventures significantly easy and profitable which in turn leads to economic growth.

So, what have I been doing since I joined the team? I have been reading a lot on these policies. Trust me, it is a lot of work. I read a lot of research papers on entrepreneurship in different countries, the national policy on entrepreneurship, complaints of entrepreneurs in these countries. With this, I can discover some challenges faced by entrepreneurs in African countries, policy deficits and then make recommendations on how to solve these challenges. I have also been working on a proposal for a partner to secure additional funding and looking at how audit reports for the Tony Elumelu Foundation are done.

One might think that The Tony Elumelu Foundation would be a workplace with limited work but that is not the case. I can confidently say that we work very hard to make sure that the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is a success. We are always looking for a better approach to improving our processes. We have just finished the application stage of the TEF entrepreneurship programme cycle.  The Marketing and Corporate Communications (MCC) department were hard at work publicising the applications closing date across all social and traditional media platforms, to ensure that a lot of entrepreneurs are aware of this opportunity and that they apply.

The operations department is making sure that the website (www.tefconnect.net) is accessible with no complaints, helping entrepreneurs with their applications and preparing for the selection process. And as I highlighted earlier, the Partnerships and Policy department are working on proposals to get additional funding ahead of the seed capital disbursement stage. There is so much work to be done and we are doing it speedily without compromising the quality of work.

Lest I forget, I have gotten my work tools and my laptop is such a beauty. Every Friday at the Tony Elumelu Foundation we try to unwind, we ate banana bread last Friday and it was delicious. The food is great by the way.  The work environment is very conducive and encouraging. I have learnt a lot and I know I will be taking with me a wealth of knowledge from my rotation at the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

~ Author: Opeyemi Ayodeji

The post How the HH Graduate Trainee Programme is Enriching My Professional Career appeared first on The Tony Elumelu Foundation.