Tony Elumelu Foundation

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is a Nigerian-based philanthropic organization dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs through its entrepreneurship program. Founded in 2010 by Tony O. Elumelu, the Foundation aims to drive economic growth, eradicate poverty, and create jobs across the continent. Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has trained over 2.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed nearly US$100 million in direct funding to over 21,000 African women and men, who have collectively created over 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs and generated over $4.2 billion in revenue. The Foundation's mission is rooted in Africapitalism, which positions the private sector and, most importantly, entrepreneurs as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.

The Foundation's flagship program, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, is a ten-year, US$100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor, and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries. The program provides seed capital, business management training, and mentorship to selected entrepreneurs, enabling them to scale their businesses and contribute to job creation and economic development in their communities. In addition to the Entrepreneurship Programme, the Foundation hosts the annual TEF Forum, the largest gathering of African entrepreneurs, and operates TEFConnect, Africa's digital hub for entrepreneurs, fostering a vibrant community of over one million Africans.

Through its various initiatives, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has become a leading champion of entrepreneurship in Africa, empowering a new generation of entrepreneurs and driving sustainable economic development across the continent. By leveraging its extensive network and resources, the Foundation continues to support and nurture African entrepreneurs, contributing to the realization of the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.