Tony Elumelu Foundation opens entrepreneurship programme applications

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has opened applications for its 2025 entrepreneurship programmes for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs across Africa.

Small business owners across the African continent are invited to apply for a chance to receive world-class training, expert mentoring, and non-refundable seed capital funding to scale their businesses, the foundation said in a statement.

The flagship TEF entrepreneurship programme, according to the foundation is open to all entrepreneurs across Africa with innovative business ideas or existing businesses not older than five years.

“This year, there is a special emphasis on businesses leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and green initiatives. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.”

However, the IYBA-WE4A entrepreneurship programme which is launched by the TEF in partnership with the European Union (EU) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is exclusively for women entrepreneurs.

Read also: How Elumelu Foundation redistributes wealth, spreads opportunities across Africa

“Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA-WE4A) is exclusively for women entrepreneurs with green business ideas or existing green businesses in Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Togo. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, with businesses not exceeding five years in operation,” the information stated.

Also, the Aguka Ideation Programme, which is an entrepreneurship programme partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, UNDP Rwanda and the Rwandan Ministry of Youths and Arts to support young Rwandan entrepreneurs between 18 -30 with business ideas with a seed capital of $3000, with the aim of nurturing and developing innovative concepts into viable enterprises application was opened.

Applications are expected to be submitted through TEF’s proprietary digital hub, TEFConnect, and the application period is from January 1, 2025, to March 1, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to complete and submit their applications well ahead of the deadline.

The eligibility criteria are that applicants must be African entrepreneurs with scalable business ideas or existing businesses not older than five years. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.