The Tonyelumelufoundation.org (TEF), the leading philanthropy empowering young African entrepreneurs across African countries, has unveiled 4,949 entrepreneurs for the 2021 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.The beneficiaries were selected from about 400,000 applications using criteria such as innovation, performance, and growth potential to create jobs and eradicate poverty on the continent.

“The future of our continent is in your hands. What you do as entrepreneurs will go a long way in lifting Africa out of poverty. I am happy that our female entrepreneurs are doing very well, with 68% representation this year.
“To our African leaders – these young, intelligent, energetic hardworking, resilient Africans are ready to go. We need to keep creating the right enabling environment to enable our young ones to succeed.
” It is such a great feeling to see 5000 young Africans also commence their own entrepreneurial journeys today.”
” Both of us were struck by how there was such a clear match between his vision on how he could support African entrepreneurship and the European Union’s own vision on how we wanted to support African entrepreneurship.
“Ever since, our partnership has embodied this same spirit that ultimately African growth cannot neglect the huge potential, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that harbours so many Africans, especially young people and women.
“I am extremely happy that at the European Union, we are able to be part of this great endeavour and to support it.”
Also the Assistant Administrator, UNDP/Director, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa said partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation on youth entrepreneurship was informed by the belief that Africa will only succeed when young Africans are given the opportunity to excel.
“Our joint ambition is to empower 100,000 young African entrepreneurs over the next ten years across Africa, recognizing that entrepreneurship is the only way dreams can be realized,” she remarked.