Tony Elumelu Foundation: Empowering African Entrepreneurs with $100M Commitment

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) continues to lead Africa’s entrepreneurship revolution, empowering 2.5 million Africans through training programs over the past decade. By 2025, TEF plans to empower an additional 10,000 African entrepreneurs, reinforcing its mission of catalyzing economic growth on the continent.

Over the past 10 years, TEF has committed $100 million to drive entrepreneurship in Africa. This initiative has trained millions of individuals, providing them with critical skills to launch and scale businesses. The program’s focus on fostering a culture of innovation and resilience is transforming African economies.

Highlights include:

• Empowering 15,847 entrepreneurs since inception.
• Providing non-refundable seed capital to entrepreneurs.
• Supporting businesses across all 54 African countries, with a strong focus on women and youth.

TEF recently announced the opening of applications for its 2025 Entrepreneurship Programmes, which will include the flagship BeGreen Africa initiative. The programs aim to equip participants with:

• World-class training in business management and leadership.
• Seed funding to jumpstart business ventures.
• Mentorship from leading industry experts.

Interested entrepreneurs can apply through the TEF platform until March 31, 2025. The application process emphasizes inclusivity, encouraging individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate.

The BeGreen Africa program reflects TEF’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. By encouraging green entrepreneurship, TEF is aligning its efforts with global climate goals while creating job opportunities in sustainable industries.

TEF’s initiatives have created a ripple effect in African economies, with funded entrepreneurs generating thousands of jobs. This impact aligns with the foundation’s vision of empowering individuals to become self-reliant and foster prosperity within their communities.

Many beneficiaries credit the TEF program for transforming their business ideas into successful ventures. “TEF gave me the tools to turn my passion into a thriving enterprise,” said one participant.

Tony Elumelu, founder of TEF, emphasizes that empowering Africa’s entrepreneurs is key to unlocking the continent’s potential. “Our entrepreneurs are the future of Africa. Through them, we can drive sustainable development and create lasting impact,” he stated.