Tony Elumelu Foundation Opens Applications for 2025 Entrepreneurship Programmes
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), a trailblazer in empowering African entrepreneurs, has officially announced the commencement of applications for its highly anticipated 2025 Entrepreneurship Programmes.
In a statement released on Monday, the foundation reaffirmed its commitment to fostering innovation, eradicating poverty, and catalysing job creation across all 54 African nations, with a special focus on increasing women’s economic empowerment.
Applications are open from 1 January 2025 to 1 March 2025 and must be submitted through TEF’s dedicated digital hub, TEFConnect.
The programmes are designed for African entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas or existing businesses that are no more than five years old. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to qualify.
Successful candidates will benefit from world-class training, expert mentoring, and non-refundable seed capital funding, enabling them to scale their businesses and drive economic development in their communities.
This year, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programmes include:
Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme:
This flagship initiative will prioritise businesses leveraging artificial intelligence and green initiatives, reflecting global trends in innovation and sustainability.
IYBA-WE4A Entrepreneurship Programme:
Known as “Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa,” this programme is specifically tailored for women entrepreneurs with green business ideas or existing green businesses in Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Togo.
A collaboration with the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), it aims to promote environmentally sustainable businesses led by women.
Aguka Ideation Programme:
This partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Rwanda and the Rwandan Ministry of Youths and Arts targets young Rwandan entrepreneurs aged 18-30.
Participants with innovative business ideas will receive seed capital of $3,000, along with mentorship and guidance to transform their concepts into viable enterprises.
Since its inception in 2010, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has remained a beacon of hope for African entrepreneurs.
Through its TEFConnect platform, it has provided training to over 2.5 million young Africans and disbursed more than $100 million in direct funding to over 21,000 entrepreneurs.
These beneficiaries have collectively generated over $4.2 billion in revenue, created over 800,000 jobs, and contributed significantly to Africa’s socio-economic development.
Highlighting the impact of the foundation, the statement noted its role in nurturing a new generation of African entrepreneurs poised to address the continent’s pressing challenges through innovation and sustainability.
Interested applicants are encouraged to visit TEFConnect to apply and join a network of transformative leaders shaping Africa’s economic future.
