Harvard Business School to Feature Tony Elumelu Foundation as Case Study in Curriculum

In a landmark development, the Harvard Business School, renowned for its prestigious graduate business education, is poised to shine a spotlight on the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) by featuring it in a groundbreaking case study. This unprecedented move marks the first instance of a philanthropic organization in Africa being the subject of such academic scrutiny, highlighting the Foundation’s remarkable philanthropic achievements.

Scheduled for launch on Thursday, February 29, 2024, before a class of graduate students in Boston, Massachusetts, the case study will delve into the TEF’s innovative approaches and transformative initiatives. It aims to showcase how strategic philanthropy provided by TEF is driving positive change and uplifting countries and communities across Africa.

Harvard’s decision to spotlight the Tony Elumelu Foundation underscores its pivotal role in empowering young African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries. It also positions the Foundation at the forefront of global discussions on transformative and catalytic philanthropy, recognizing its significant contributions to fostering entrepreneurship in Africa.

In addition to exploring the Foundation’s innovative strategies and the resulting impact, the event will feature an exclusive acknowledgment of TEF’s Founder, Tony Elumelu, and his economic philosophy of Africapitalism. Africapitalism emphasizes the role of the private sector and entrepreneurs as catalysts for the social and economic development of the African continent.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation stands as a leading philanthropic organization, dedicated to empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalyzing job creation, and promoting inclusive economic empowerment across the continent.

Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has made significant strides, training over 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursing over USD$100 million in direct funding to 20,000 young African women and men. These entrepreneurs have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs, contributing to economic growth and prosperity on the continent.

Tony Elumelu, reflecting on the impact of TEF on African youth, emphasized the Foundation’s role in creating economic hope and opportunity. He highlighted entrepreneurship as the antidote to poverty, youth unemployment, and insecurity, emphasizing TEF’s efforts to provide seed capital, training, and mentoring to empower young entrepreneurs and address societal challenges.

Elumelu reiterated the Foundation’s mission to create successful African business leaders and foster prosperity on the continent. He emphasized the importance of leaving a legacy of impact and transformation, underscoring the role of prosperity in ensuring security, harmony, and peace across Africa.

February 29, 2024