Applications open for Tony Elumelu Foundation’s 2025 entrepreneurship programmes

The Tony Elumelu Foundation invites African entrepreneurs to apply for its 2025 Entrepreneurship Programmes, offering training, mentoring, and seed funding.

 

 

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), a leading advocate for entrepreneurship across Africa, has announced the opening of applications for its 2025 Entrepreneurship Programmes.

 

Also read: Tony Elumelu advocates for Africa’s growth at UN General Assembly

 

Aspiring and existing entrepreneurs across the continent are encouraged to apply for a chance to benefit from world-class training, expert mentoring, and non-refundable seed capital funding to scale their businesses.

 

Programmes Available for Application

The Foundation offers three distinct programmes tailored to support different segments of African entrepreneurs:

1. TEF Entrepreneurship Programme: This flagship programme is open to all entrepreneurs across Africa with innovative business ideas or existing businesses under five years of operation.
2. This year’s programme places a special focus on businesses leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and green initiatives. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
3. IYBA-WE4A Entrepreneurship Programme: A collaboration with the European Union (EU) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the IYBA-WE4A programme focuses on supporting women entrepreneurs in green business sectors.
4. This programme is open to women in Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Togo, with businesses not older than five years. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
5. Aguka Ideation Programme: This programme is a partnership between the Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNDP Rwanda, and the Rwandan Ministry of Youths and Arts.
6. It targets young Rwandan entrepreneurs between the ages of 18-30 with promising business ideas, providing seed capital of $3000 to nurture innovative concepts into viable enterprises.

 

Application Details

Applications for all three programmes are to be submitted through TEFConnect, the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s proprietary digital platform.

The application period runs from January 1, 2025, to March 1, 2025, and applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid last-minute submissions.

Eligibility Criteria: The programmes are open to African entrepreneurs with scalable business ideas or existing businesses that are not older than five years. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

 

Why Apply to the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s Programmes?

By participating in the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programmes, applicants gain access to unparalleled resources, including:

 

• World-Class Training: Equip yourself with essential business skills to scale your enterprise.
• Expert Mentoring: Receive guidance from experienced professionals in your field.
• Seed Capital Funding: Access non-refundable funding to help your business grow.

 

To learn more about the Foundation’s transformative impact, explore the Impact Report, African Entrepreneurs’ Success Stories, and Annual Reports, which highlight TEF’s achievements in empowering African entrepreneurs and driving the continent’s economic growth.

 

About the Tony Elumelu Foundation

Founded in 2010, the Tony Elumelu Foundation is Africa’s leading philanthropy dedicated to empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs.

Through its programmes, the Foundation has provided access to training for over 2.5 million young Africans and disbursed more than USD$100 million in direct funding to over 21,000 entrepreneurs, who have collectively generated over USD$4.2 billion in revenue and created more than 800,000 jobs.

The Foundation’s mission aligns with Africapitalism, which champions the private sector and entrepreneurs as drivers of social and economic development across Africa.

For further details and to apply, visit TEFConnect today.