Tony Elumelu Foundation Announces Three Senior Executive Appointments

Monday, February 01, 2021 /04:50PM / TEF /Header Image Credit: TEF

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy empoweringAfrican entrepreneurs, has announced three senior executive appointments, effective February 1, 2021. Thisfollows the launch of the 2021 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, on www.TEFConnect.com, which this year prioritises the economic recoveryof small and medium scale enterprises and young African entrepreneurs,following the disruptive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Tony ElumeluFoundation, which marked ten years of impact in 2020, has trained, has mentored and funded over 9,000 young Africanentrepreneurs from 54 African countries,through the US$100m TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, and providescapacity-building support, advisory and market linkages to over 1 millionAfricans through its digital networking platform, TEFConnect.

Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, CEO of the TonyElumelu Foundation, stated "We are extremely pleased with theseappointments. Somachi Chris-Asoluka becomes Director, Partnerships andCommunications, from her prior role as Head of Policy and Partnerships. Titilope Akinola, who is now Director of Operations, served as head of ourplatform, TEFConnect, Africa's leading digital hub for entrepreneurs; and NkemOnwudiwe, who newly joins our Marketing and Corporate Communications team,brings formidable corporate experience, across digital marketing, contentcreation, PR and strategy."

"It is particularly encouraging to seewomen at the forefront, demonstrating expertise in their fields andhighlighting impeccable drive to succeed not just for their benefit but forours, collectively, as Africans. With their proven track record, andenormous passion, I have no doubt that they will greatly impact the work thatwe do towards the development of Africa".

Since 2010, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has addressed key challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Africa, including lack of access to funding,mentoring, training and creating valuablenetworking opportunities on a global scale. The Foundation is increasingly sharing its unique ability toidentify, train, mentor and fund young entrepreneurs across Africa, throughpartnerships with institutions such as the European Union, the United NationsDevelopment Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and otherglobal development agencies. Beneficiaries receive $5,000non-refundable seed capital and skilled support as they grow, expand theirbusinesses, and contribute to the creation of more jobs in Africa.

TEF'swork is inspired by our founder's economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and mostimportantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economicdevelopment of the African continent. To address the unique challenges arising fromthe Covid-19 pandemic, lift people out of poverty and createsustainable employment across the continent, the Foundation will empower over3,000 young African entrepreneurs in 2021. Prospective applicants shouldapply on the digital networking hub for African entrepreneurs, www.tefconnect.com.