The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy empowering entrepreneurs is set to announce the 11th cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

The 2025 announcement comes at a critical time, as Africa’s entrepreneurship ecosystem faces funding constraints and global economic headwinds. TEF continues to provide much-needed support, empowering African entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into sustainable businesses and engines of economic growth.

Each selected Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur will receive $5,000 non-refundable seed capital, a world-class business training on TEFConnect, one-on-one mentorship, and access to global networks and investment opportunities. The selection process is being conducted by Ernst & Young, to ensure independent assessment.

The impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation extends beyond funding. It is changing lives and shaping Africa’s future, as witnessed by beneficiaries of the catalytic TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

Ahead of the upcoming announcement, Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., Founder of TEF and Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, reiterates his unwavering belief in the potential of Africa’s entrepreneurs:

“I believe that Africa’s transformation will not be led by aid, but by empowering the next generation of African entrepreneurs—giving them the tools, the funding, the training, and the networks to build sustainable businesses that create jobs and drive economic growth.

Over the past decade, we have nurtured entrepreneurs from inception to success, scaling our impact across all 54 African countries. We have provided capital and also developed a robust monitoring and evaluation framework that allows us to track the progress of our entrepreneurs and measure their contributions to their communities and economies.

No other organisation is implementing entrepreneurship development at this scale across Africa. We have learned, we have refined, and we continue to improve, ensuring that African entrepreneurs—women and men—are at the forefront of solving our continent’s challenges and creating wealth for themselves and their communities. Entrepreneurship is the key to Africa’s prosperity. I wish the 2025 cohort of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs success, as they chase their ambitions, and play their part in Africa’s transformation.”

The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment.

Since the launch of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, TEF has lifted over 2 million Africans out of poverty, provided 2.5 million young Africans with access to training on TEFConnect, and disbursed more than $100millon in direct funding to thousands of African entrepreneurs who have gone on to create over 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs and generate over $4.2 billion in revenue.

Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur Testimonials from Previous Years:

“I started my agribusiness with nothing but an idea. TEF changed everything. With the funding, training, and mentorship, I have now expanded across three countries and employ 25 people.”

– Fatima Diallo, Senegal, Agritech Entrepreneur

“As a woman in the fintech industry, it was difficult to secure funding. TEF not only provided me with capital but also the confidence and skills to build a business that is now attracting international investors.”

– Mary Okeke, Nigeria, Fintech Founder

“The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme helped me commercialise my clean energy innovation. Today, we provide solar solutions to over 50,000 homes in rural Tanzania.”

– Juma Nyerere, Tanzania, Renewable Energy Entrepreneur

For more details on the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s impact visit our Impact Page, African Success Stories Page, and Annual Report Page.

For Media Inquiries: media@tonyelumelufoundation.or

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, is set to host its inaugural Business Series for the year to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2025.



With the theme, “Against All Odds: The Impact of Women,” this edition of the UBA business series will highlight the remarkable journeys of women who have broken barriers, redefined success, and driven progress in their respective fields, aligning with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #AccelerateAction, and will aired on ARISE News, TVC, likewise on the Bank’s social media handles.



The enlightening session will feature an esteemed panel of accomplished women, including Board Chairman, Africa Prudential Plc, Chief (Mrs.) Eniola Fadayomi; Founder & CEO, Shule Direct of Tanzania, Faraja Kotta Nyalandu; Managing Director, BOI Investment and Trust Company Limited, Flora Fabyan, Nollywood Actress, Nancy Isime, and will be taking place at the Tony Elumelu Amphitheatre in UBA House, Marina, Lagos on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 12:00 PM (WAT)



These inspiring female leaders will share their personal stories of resilience, innovation, and success, offering valuable insights into how women can overcome challenges and make a lasting impact in their respective industries and spheres of operations.



Speaking ahead of the event, UBA Group’s Head, Retail and Digital Banking, Shamsideen Fashola, emphasised the importance of this event, stating that the information that will be shared by the panellists will serve as a catalyst to inspire other women



“This edition of the UBA Business Series is a celebration of the incredible contributions women have made to society and the economy. We cannot overlook the impact and dedications these make to nation building and the economy; that is why we intend to inspire more,” Fashola said



“By sharing their experiences, our panellists will inspire and empower others to rise above challenges and drive meaningful progress.”



UBA’s Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, highlighted the bank’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, noting that the composition of the bank’s board reflects this dedication.



“At UBA, we believe in the power of women to transform societies, and this is shown in our corporate governance and workforce recruitment. We are honoured to host these remarkable women who have defied the odds and achieved extraordinary success in their respective fields.”



The UBA Business Series continues to serve as a vital platform for knowledge sharing, equipping individuals and businesses with the tools and strategies to achieve long-term success.



United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.

Some of the most influential voices in global trade and finance will take centre stage at the inaugural Africa Trade Conference 2025 (ATC 2025).

The ATC 2025 has lined up notable speakers including H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank); Dr.Marc Auboin, Counsellor at the World Trade Organisation (WTO); and Solomon Quaynor, Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Hosted by Access Bank PLC, the conference is held today at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), South Africa.

Under the theme “Empowering Africa: Driving Trade, Innovation, and Sustainable Prosperity”, the event will bring together global leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to shape the future of trade and economic transformation across the continent.

Mene will deliver the keynote address, focusing on how the AfCFTA can drive economic growth and industrialisation across Africa.

Awani will examine the opportunities and challenges shaping Africa’s trade landscape, while Dr Auboin will explore the impact of digitisation and innovation on the continent’s global trade potential.

The conference will also feature insights from Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank Plc, along with executives from Access Bank’s subsidiaries in Angola, South Africa, and the UK.

Panel discussions and expert sessions will explore key themes, including trade facilitation, the role of finance in industrial growth, and the intersection of trade and environmental sustainability.

Solomon Quaynorwill offers a forward-looking perspective on trade facilitation and its impact on economic growth.

Meanwhile, Tanya Dos Santos-Ford, Faculty Lead on Climate Leadership and Sustainability at GIBS Business School, will underscore the growing importance of sustainability in Africa’s evolving trade ecosystem.

The conference will also feature an impressive line-up of industry leaders, comprising, Eduardo Barbosa, Chief Financial Officer, Grupo Naval; Olumide Olatunji, Managing Director, Access Bank Ghana; Florian Wicht, Regional Lead Africa, Trade & Supply Chain Finance, IFC; Ricardo Ferreira, Managing Director, Access Bank Angola; Johnson Ememandu, Head of Commercial Bank, Access Bank UK; Marcelo Mendes, Head of Commercial, Tennant Metals South Africa (Pty) Ltd; and Kristina Holzhauser, Managing Director, Regional FI Africa & Middle East, Commerzbank AG;

Others include: Ferdinand Zaumu, Managing Director, Head of Trade & Working Capital Solutions, Middle East and Africa, Citibank; Shyamasish Acharya, Resident Representative, India EXIM Bank; Lodewyk Meyer, Director, Banking and Finance, OWP Partners; Srividya Subramanian, Global Head Sales and Origination, Traydstream; Alfred Idialu, Managing Director, Head of International Banking Sales Africa, Oddo-BHF Bank; Andreas Voss, Chief Representative Officer, Deutsche Bank AG; and Imohimi Aig-Imoukhuede, Chief Executive Officer, Fiducia Data Services.