Tony Elumelu Foundation announces shortlist for their entrepreneurship program

31st March 2015 Some time ago we shared with you a report on the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s call for a thousand African entrepreneurs to be part of their training, with a budget of one hundred million dollars. The foundation has picked an inaugural 1,000 African Entrepreneurs to participate in the initiative which aims to discover and support ten thousand African entrepreneurs over the next decade, with a target of creating one million new jobs and ten billion dollars in additional revenues in the process.

More than twenty thousand African entrepreneurs from about fifty two countries applied to the programme, but this first 1,000 selected for the 2015 class are a special group of entrepreneurs who are evidence of the ability of Africa’s own entrepreneurs to spearhead the growth of this continent.

Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu, is quoted as saying “The selection of these 1000 entrepreneurs brings us closer to our ultimate goal – to drive Africa’s economic and social transformation from within and to radically intensify job creation in Africa. Though I have never met or spoken to any of the winners, I am confident that due to the rigorous criteria and selection process, these entrepreneurs are Africa’s hope for the future. I will continue to invest my experience, time, influence, and resources to see them succeed. I am embarking on this journey with these entrepreneurs hopeful and inspired.”

The winners from different walks of life and backgrounds are expected to impact sectors such as education, fashion, agriculture and information computer technology. Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Ghana had the highest number of entrepreneurs selected, but the selection panel ensured that the continent was properly represented.

Those selected will continue through the programme cycle over the next nine months, enjoying an intensive online training curriculum, mentoring, and participation in a two-day entrepreneurship boot-camp and the Elumelu Entrepreneurship Forum. Those who did not get selected, still have the chance to be invited to join the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Network where they will be able to further hone their entrepreneurial knowledge and skills.