Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Forum, as part of its investment commitment to the Nigerian economy through entrepreneurship, has achieved more than three-quarter of its decade long plan within five years.
The Foundation has trained more than 7,500 entrepreneurs within the space of five years, making a larger chunk of its original plan to train 10,000 entrepreneurs in ten years.
“We said in 10years, we are targeting 10,000 entrepreneurs and in five years, we have already done more than 7,500 and that excludes the 2,000 and 3,000 mentioned and the 100,000 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partnership,” Tony Elumelu, founder, TEF said.
He also acknowledged the partnerships that have grown the programme from accepting 1,000 entrepreneurs to accepting 3,000 such as the UNDP, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and African Development Bank (AfDB).
The forum in its fifth edition started on July 26, 2019 in Abuja at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria. The forum was a two-day event which was themed ‘Empowering African Entrepreneurs,’ hosted the largest gathering of entrepreneurs, policymakers, and business leaders.
Some of the speakers at the forum were Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s Vice President, Aisha Buhari, Nigeria’s First Lady, Elumelu, Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organisation and Akinwunmi Adesina, president, AfDB.
The forum features a masterclass, a dynamic pitching competition, panel debates, and a presidential debate. It engaged an audience of 5,000, comprising of start-up entrepreneurs, development institutions, and policymakers.
In a CNN documentary that aired over the weekend Elumelu is seen boarding his private jet from Lagos to Abuja to the forum, while his excitement starts to build. “I am very happy today because I will be seeing successes,” he said.
While at the event, he engages and takes pictures with participants. And during the mainstay of the event, he is very busy as he has to play host to many very important guests whether is dinner with Uganda president, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni , guiding a tour for the president of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Félix Tshisekedi , getting on stage with Nigerian music star, Wizkid, and sitting for interview questions with CNN.
Despite all the entertainment and activities happening at the forum, one of the main events is when Elumelu himself get to address the main aspiring entrepreneurs in attendance.
“To me I believe the best legacy is the lives that we touch. As I would often say the success of Nigeria is fairly and indeed in your hands. So you can imagine what is about to happen in Africa,” he expressed.
The questions and answers session is what the participants from all over the world look forward too as it give them the opportunity to pitch their business ideas.
