The Business Management training was conducted exclusively
on TEFConnect, the Foundation's
proprietary digital platform that provides capacity-building support, advisory
and market linkages to over 1 million Africans and counting.
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme Business Management
Training equips entrepreneurs with critical skills required to launch and run
their businesses at the early growth stage. With a unique curriculum that
encompasses topics on Starting Your Business, Business Management & Fundamentals,
Leadership & Business Growth, Selecting and Building a Team, amongst
others, entrepreneurs are effectively armed to achieve business growth,
profitability, and sustained success.
Entrepreneurs were hosted to weekly information sessions, as
part of the training, to address relevant concerns and share vital programme
updates. All entrepreneurs received active support from coaches and mentors who
provided technical guidance, counsel, and one-one interaction throughout the
duration of the training programme.
The training, which is one element of the 7 pillars of the
TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, was carried out in the official African
languages including English, French, Portuguese, and Arabic, and over 40
percent of trained participants were women.
Commenting on this milestone, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, CEO of the
Tony Elumelu Foundation, said "Every year, our commitment to transform
Africa is further strengthened with the passion, resilience and talent of the
high-calibre entrepreneurs who onboard our flagship programme. Our curricular
provides a holistic opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn, grow and contribute
to the development of their communities."
The Chief Executive Officer added: "Furthermore, it is
a testament to the eagerness and readiness of African entrepreneurs across all
of Africa to make themselves available to transform the continent for good. I
would like to commend these entrepreneurs for their discipline, dedication and
hard work throughout the training and look forward to the immense impact of
their businesses across diverse sectors in Africa. We remain committed to
empowering African entrepreneurs with the required resources and support that
will ensure that their businesses can scale and drive sustainable change on the
continent".
The TEF Entrepreneurship Training is immediately followed by
a Business Plan review process for each entrepreneur. The top-performing
entrepreneurs subsequently participate in the Pitching phase of the Programme
after which successful entrepreneurs receive a non-returnable seed capital of
US$5000 each.
The leading African philanthropy also hopes to train and
empower thousands more across the African continent as part of its commitment
to catalyze economic growth, drive poverty eradication and ensure job creation.
In 2020, the Tony Elumelu Foundation marked ten years of
impact, having empowered and funded nearly 10,000 African entrepreneurs from
all 54 African countries as part of its US$100 million TEF Entrepreneurship
Programme. The Tony Elumelu Foundation is inspired by Tony Elumelu's economic
philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most
importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the long-term social and
economic development of the African continent.
To learn more about the Tony Elumelu Foundation, please
visit TonyElumeluFoundation.org; and to receive the Foundation's free business
training, please visit TEFConnect.com.