Tony Elumelu Foundation Launches Applications for 2025 Entrepreneurship Programs

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), a leading force in African entrepreneurship, has officially opened applications for its 2025 Entrepreneurship Programs. Entrepreneurs across the continent now have the opportunity to gain access to world-class training, expert mentorship, and non-refundable seed funding to transform their ideas into thriving businesses.

Programs Tailored to Diverse Needs

This year’s offerings include three distinct programs designed to empower entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey:

TEF Entrepreneurship Programme

Open to all African entrepreneurs, this flagship program supports innovative ideas and businesses less than five years old. A particular focus for 2025 is on ventures incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and green initiatives. Eligible applicants must be 18 or older.

IYBA-WE4A Entrepreneurship Programme

Dedicated exclusively to women entrepreneurs, this program encourages green business ideas or operations in Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Togo. Created in partnership with the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), it emphasizes sustainable development and is open to women aged 18 and above with businesses not exceeding five years in operation.

Aguka Ideation Programme

In collaboration with UNDP Rwanda and Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth and Arts, this initiative aims to support Rwandan entrepreneurs aged 18–30 with $3,000 in seed capital. The program is designed to nurture innovative ideas and transform them into viable enterprises.

Application Process and Deadline

Applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s digital hub, TEFConnect, between January 1 and March 1, 2025. Early submissions are encouraged to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Eligibility criteria include:

• Entrepreneurs from Africa with scalable business ideas or ventures less than five years old
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old

Driving Africa’s Economic Growth

The Tony Elumelu Foundation, established in 2010, is at the forefront of empowering African entrepreneurs to drive job creation and economic growth across the continent’s 54 nations. Rooted in the philosophy of Africapitalism, the Foundation emphasizes the role of the private sector as a catalyst for social and economic development.

Since launching the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has:

• Trained over 2.5 million African entrepreneurs on TEFConnect
• Disbursed more than $100 million in direct funding to over 21,000 entrepreneurs
• Supported ventures that have created over 800,000 jobs and generated $4.2 billion in revenue.

Inspiration and Insight

Entrepreneurs and stakeholders are encouraged to explore the Foundation’s Impact Report, Annual Reports, and African Entrepreneurs’ Success Stories, which highlight TEF’s remarkable contributions to economic empowerment and transformative growth in Africa.

With its commitment to fostering innovation, inclusion, and sustainability, the Tony Elumelu Foundation continues to pave the way for a brighter economic future for the continent.