The Tony Elumelu (TEF) Entrepreneurship Forum in its fourth edition is set to host about 5,000 entrepreneurs from across Africa in October.
The $100 million TEF entrepreneurship Forum, which is an entrepreneurship support Programme, will take place on October 25, 2018 and it seeks to identify and empower 10,000 African entrepreneurs over a period of 10 years.
Annually, the TEF chooses about 1,000 entrepreneurs from different parts of Africa to under-go a 12-week intensive online training, mentorship and get up to $10,000 seed capital. The forum is a culmination of the annual Programme.
According to Newtimes, this year, TEF partnered with the International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Indorama to select 1,250 entrepreneurs.
A number of Rwandan enterprising businesses and innovators who participated in this year’s TEF entrepreneurship Programme increased to 47 from 22 selected the previous year and 15 selected in 2016.
As part of dividends of attending the forum, participants will be privileged to meet global investors, leaders from the African public and private sectors as well developmental organizations.
It is a platform that many entrepreneurs have previously said help them to generate new ideas and forge networks.
The Foundation, on an annual basis, invites leading faces in the world of business and politics to inspire the young generation of African entrepreneurs.
In keeping with the Foundation’s track record, President Macron of France was recently invited to interact with young business women and men shaping Africa.
According to Organizers, this year’s Forum will include an interactive session with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana.
Also, the Forum will also feature the launch of the TEFConnect, the world’s largest digital platform for African entrepreneurs, dedicated to connecting African entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
According to the Foundation’s founder, Tony Elumelu, in four years, 4,460 entrepreneurs have benefitted from the programme, and most of them have generated jobs in their communities, which he says is key to Africa’s economic well-being.
“Africa’s economic well-being is driven by entrepreneurs; female and male, large and small – they are the engine of our continent’s transformation. We will be championing and celebrating them,” he said in a statement.
