BUJUMBURA May 7th (ABP) – The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), which this year has mentored, trained and funded more than 3,000 young African entrepreneurs, including 48 Burundians, selected from more than 216,000 applicants, will hold its 5th forum on July 26 and 27, 2019.
This two-day event will be held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria, according to a press release.
The Forum marks the culmination of the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s annual entrepreneurship program, which this year has mentored, trained and funded more than 3,000 young African entrepreneurs, including 48 Burundians, selected from more than 216,000 applicants.
That event provides a unique opportunity for young women and men from 54 African countries to meet, learn and network within the vast African and global business ecosystem.
It is also a crucial opportunity for political leaders and policymakers to meet a new generation of African business leaders who are transforming Africa’s economic trajectory.
According to that press release, Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Senegalese President Macky Sall will be the main speakers of the Forum. They will join Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CON, a Promoter of TEF and Governor of Heirs Holdings and of United Bank for Africa (UBA), in an open and intimate discussion.
The meeting with the two presidents is one of the highlights of the Forum, allowing African entrepreneurs present to communicate closely and directly with political leaders at the highest level of the State to testify to the importance of the role that the governments can and must play to stimulate growth and encourage business ambition.
According to the same press release, the agenda of the forum covers master classes and panels with speakers and industry experts from Africa and around the world who will meet with the participants during the specialized training sessions to share ideas, deepen their knowledge and develop their skills.
The forum will also include an advocacy session, during which selected entrepreneurs will make exciting presentations about their products and services to a distinguished jury.
For the first time, it is said, the forum will be held in Abuja, the federal capital of Nigeria, and will bring together key decision-makers, business leaders, development agencies and the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem, including former beneficiaries of the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Program.
One of the highlights of last year’s edition was the launch of TEFConnect, the digital networking platform for African entrepreneurs, as a single digital hub for African entrepreneurship, facilitating networking, mentoring and, more importantly, cross-border trade.
Past editions of the forum were also honored by the presence of African leaders, including Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo and Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, the former President of Nigeria, Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo, former Prime Minister of Benin and member of the TEF Advisory Board, Mr. Lionel Zinsou, Deputy President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
In 2015, the Foundation dedicated $ 100 million to empower 10,000 entrepreneurs across the continent over 10 years. Five years later, the Foundation has funded, mentored and trained more than 7,500 startups and small businesses in 54 African countries, on business management.
