In 2010, Dr. Elumelu and I shared a vision of a self-sustaining African continent, powered by the ideas, resilience, and creativity of young African men and women.
As an entrepreneur, I knew the opportunities that Africa offers and the transformative power of entrepreneurship. As an African, I was keenly aware of the challenges facing our next generation, their resilience and their ambition.
We launched our Foundation and set out on a journey to transform Africa and catalyse that next generation. That vision advanced significantly in 2015, when we launched the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme, committing US$100 million to empower 10,000 African entrepreneurs over 10 years.
Today, 15 years since we began this journey and 10 years since our flagship entrepreneurship programme launched, we gather to announce the 11th cohort of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme: 3,000 young African men and women will be empowered by the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
As we enter the second decade of the Programme, we are able to look back, humbled by the impact achieved, but also acutely conscious of the many we have not been able to help.
With the announcement of this latest cohort, we will have impacted not 10,000, our initial commitment, but over 24,000 African entrepreneurs! We have funded more than twice the number of people we set out to identify and nurture when we announced that initial commitment.
To fully appreciate this transformational journey, here is our impact in numbers:
Achievement Highlights (2015-2025):
- 24,000+ total beneficiaries from 2015 till 2025
- $100M+ direct funding
- 5M jobs created
- $4.2 billion revenue generated
- 2 million Africans lifted from poverty
- 4 million households impacted
- 45% Women Entrepreneurs
My gratitude goes out to the entire TEF team, past and present, our global partners, and the stakeholders who have helped make our dream a reality.
As we look forward, we rejoice with the success of entrepreneurs and are emboldened to create even more impact.
Let us keep writing Africa’s transformation story.
