Elumelu: "Entrepreneurship is the Only Path to African Independence & Sustainability"

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October 28-29, The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) convened nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs from 54 African countries during the 2nd TEF Entrepreneurship Forum - the largest gathering of African entrepreneurs in the world.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161103/436023 )

The Forum celebrated the 2016 cohort of entrepreneurs, selected from over 45,000 applicants and was the highlight of the 2016 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. It allowed African policymakers and business leaders to support the Foundation's $100 million commitment to empower 10,000 African entrepreneurs in 10 years. 

His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone said, "it's a genuinely innovative approach to African philanthropy - an African offering African solutions. Other philanthropists will be inspired to support and promote this philosophy. Even when we had Ebola in Sierra Leone, Tony was there. His is an example which other successful Africans must follow," he said.

TEF Founder Tony O. Elumelu said, "I salute those here - our ambition is that you become ambassadors for entrepreneurship in Africa. You are a generation of wealth creators who share our commitment to the transformation of Africa. Momar Mass-Taal turned his first $5,000 seed capital from the Foundation into a $1.2 million revenue business. We will have many more of these."

The two-day forum buzzed with energy as entrepreneurs shared and gained knowledge, built cross-border partnerships, and connected with policymakers, fostering intra-African innovation and collaboration. 

The first day featured masterclasses, sector specific workshops and a session on Africapitalism; the second day featured policy panels seeking solutions to strengthen the enabling environment for business. Moderated by BBC News correspondent Lerato Mbele, the panel featured:

His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone  

President Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria 

Former Prime Minister of Benin Republic Lionel Zinsou 

Honourable Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed 

Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Vice Chair of Famfa Oil 

President Obasanjo said: "By every means, God has made His face shine upon you. You are not the only one, but unlike you, others don't have the idea of empowering the next generation of Africans in the manner and scale that you are doing."

Former Prime Minister of Benin, Lionel Zinsou, said, "What Tony Elumelu is doing is the exception, not the norm."

Information: http://www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/teep/tef-forum2016

Contact: [email protected], +234-814-590-0809

SOURCE The Tony Elumelu Foundation