The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has officially opened applications for its 2025 Entrepreneurship Programmes, the Foundation announced in a statement issued on Monday.
Applications will be received via the EF digital platform, TEFConnect, from January 1 to March 1, 2025.
The programmes are open to African entrepreneurs with innovative ideas or existing businesses that are no more than five years old. Applicants must also meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation, established in 2010, has gained global recognition for its efforts to drive poverty eradication, catalyze job creation, and increase economic opportunities for women across Africa.
Its flagship TEF Entrepreneurship Programme has served as a critical platform for fostering business growth and innovation across the continent.
According to the statement, successful applicants will gain access to world-class business training, expert mentoring, and non-refundable seed capital to scale their businesses.
This year’s programmes will focus on businesses leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and green initiatives.
Among the initiatives available for 2025 are the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, the IYBA-WE4A Entrepreneurship Programme, and the Aguka Ideation Programme.
The IYBA-WE4A Entrepreneurship Programme, a collaboration with the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, targets women entrepreneurs in Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, and Togo. Participants must present green business ideas or existing businesses within the green sector.
Also, the Aguka Ideation Programme, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Rwanda and the Rwandan Ministry of Youths and Arts, offers support to young Rwandan entrepreneurs aged 18–30. Participants will receive $3,000 in seed capital to nurture innovative business concepts.
Since its inception, the TEF has trained over 2.5 million young Africans through TEFConnect and disbursed more than $100 million in direct funding to over 21,000 entrepreneurs.
Collectively, these beneficiaries have created over 800,000 jobs and generated more than $4.2 billion in revenue.
The TEF stated, “The strong emphasis on innovation, green business, and women’s economic empowerment underscores the foundation’s unwavering commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth across Africa.”
Entrepreneurs interested in participating in the 2025 programmes are encouraged to submit their applications before the March 1 deadline to seize this transformative opportunity.
