Tony Elumelu Foundation Empowers Over 24,000 Young African Entrepreneurs, Reaffirms Commitment to Youth-Led Development
Tony Elumelu Foundation Empowers Over 24,000 Young African Entrepreneurs, Reaffirms Commitment to Youth-Led Development
Tony Elumelu Foundation Empowers Over 24,000 Young African Entrepreneurs, Reaffirms Commitment to Youth-Led Development
Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Mr. Tony Elumelu, has reiterated his belief that joblessness remains one of the greatest betrayals of Africa’s youth, stressing that the continent’s vast potential must be matched with real opportunities to unlock lasting development.
ALSO READ: Photos from OurNigeria News Magazine Hosts 7th Awards Ceremony 2025
Speaking on the Foundation’s impact, Elumelu said meaningful change begins with empowering young men and women who will shape Africa’s future. This conviction led him and his wife to establish the Tony Elumelu Foundation in 2010, with entrepreneurship at the core of Africa’s transformation agenda.
What began as a bold vision has evolved into a continent-wide movement spanning all 54 African countries, supporting the dreams and ambitions of a new generation of business leaders.
Since the launch of the TEFConnect Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has exceeded its initial target of empowering 10,000 entrepreneurs. To date, more than 24,000 young African entrepreneurs have been identified, trained, mentored and funded with non-refundable seed capital of USD 5,000 each to help start and scale their businesses.
The Foundation has also built Africa’s largest digital entrepreneurship ecosystem, with over 2.5 million users accessing world-class business training, mentorship and networking opportunities through its TEFConnect platform.
Elumelu described the initiative as Africapitalism in action, highlighting the role of the private sector in driving Africa’s development by creating both economic growth and social impact. He noted that investing in entrepreneurs translates into jobs, stronger communities, dignity and sustainable prosperity.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation continues to accept applications for its entrepreneurship programme via tefconnect.net until March 1, reaffirming its commitment to empowering Africa’s next generation of leaders through enterprise.
Tony Elumelu Foundation Empowers Over 24,000 Young African Entrepreneurs, Reaffirms Commitment to Youth-Led Development
