TEF: Empowering African Entrepreneurs
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A Transformative Initiative
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is leading a transformative 10-year, US$100 million initiative to identify, train, mentor, and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs by 2025. This flagship programme aims to create at least 1 million jobs and inject over US$10 billion into Africa’s economy.
Programme Benefits
Participants receive:
- Comprehensive Training: A 12-week online curriculum tailored to equip entrepreneurs with practical skills to start or scale their businesses.
- Mentorship: Guidance from world-class mentors.
- Seed Capital: US$5,000 in initial funding, with opportunities for additional support.
- Networking: Access to TEF’s extensive entrepreneurial network.
Eligibility Criteria
- Citizenship: Open to all citizens and legal residents of Africa, with businesses registered and operational within the continent.
- Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years old, with no upper age limit.
- Business Stage: Eligible businesses include new ideas or early-stage ventures (0-5 years old).
- Focus: Applications must center on a single, innovative, and feasible business idea.
Exclusions
Ineligible applicants include:
- Employees and relatives of TEF, Heirs Holdings, UBA Group, and affiliated companies.
- TEF Audit Partners and their families.
- Past TEF participants and their business partners.
- Government agencies, research institutions, and faith-based organizations.
- Businesses involved in unethical or illegal activities.
Application Process
Applications are submitted exclusively online via tefconnect.net. The form is available in multiple languages, including Arabic, French, and Portuguese. After submission, applicants receive a confirmation email. Offline applications are not accepted, and there are no fees associated with the process.
In the case of partnerships, only one partner can apply, provided they hold an equal or majority stake and have consent from other partners.
A Decade of Impact
The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme stands as a testament to the Elumelu family’s commitment to empowering African entrepreneurs, fostering economic growth, and transforming the entrepreneurial landscape across all 54 African countries.
