The Tony Elumelu Foundation Opens 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme: A Renewed Commitment to Africa’s Future Builders
Africa stands at a critical crossroads. With the world’s youngest population, immense natural resources, and a rapidly growing digital economy, the continent holds extraordinary promise. Yet, challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and limited access to capital continue to restrict the potential of millions of young people. For over a decade, one institution has consistently positioned itself at the heart of the solution: The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF).
On January 1, 2026, the Tony Elumelu Foundation officially opened applications for its 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme in Lagos, Nigeria, once again extending an invitation to ambitious young African founders to step forward, build sustainable businesses, and shape the continent’s economic future. More than just another funding opportunity, the programme reaffirms TEF’s long-term commitment to empowering Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs through investment, training, mentorship, and access to a powerful pan-African network.
As applications open until March 1, 2026, the announcement marks another milestone in a journey that has already transformed thousands of lives and communities across Africa.
Empowering African Entrepreneurs Beyond Capital
At the core of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is a simple but powerful idea: when African entrepreneurs are empowered, Africa prospers.
Successful applicants to the 2026 programme will receive $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, world-class business training, one-on-one mentorship, and access to Africa’s largest entrepreneurship network via TEFConnect.
While funding is often the headline attraction, the programme’s real strength lies in its holistic approach. Many startups fail not because of lack of ideas, but because founders lack the skills, guidance, and networks needed to scale. TEF addresses these gaps directly, ensuring entrepreneurs are equipped not only to launch businesses but to sustain and grow them.
The seed capital is non-refundable, meaning entrepreneurs can focus on building rather than worrying about repayment pressures. Combined with structured training and mentorship, this capital becomes a catalyst rather than a burden.
A Decade of Measurable Impact
Since its launch in 2015, the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme has grown into Africa’s most impactful entrepreneurship initiative, backed by measurable results that speak for themselves.
Over the years, the programme has funded more than 24,000 entrepreneurs, trained 2.5 million Africans, created over 1.5 million jobs, and generated more than $4.2 billion in revenue.
These numbers represent more than statistics. They represent small businesses turned into employers, local ideas scaled into regional solutions, and communities uplifted through sustainable enterprise.
From agribusinesses improving food security to tech startups driving digital inclusion, TEF-supported entrepreneurs operate across sectors and across all 54 African countries, reinforcing the Foundation’s truly pan-African vision.
Driving Inclusive Growth Across the Continent
One of the most remarkable achievements of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is its commitment to inclusive growth.
Women account for 46% of funded entrepreneurs, making it the highest female participation rate recorded by a programme of this scale on the African continent. In regions where women often face structural barriers to financing and business education, this statistic represents a quiet but powerful revolution.
By deliberately supporting women-led enterprises, TEF contributes to greater household income stability, improved education and healthcare outcomes, and stronger community development.
Inclusive entrepreneurship is not charity. It is smart economics. When women succeed in business, entire communities benefit.
Tony Elumelu’s Vision: Investing in Africa’s People
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 programme, Tony Elumelu, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, reinforced a message he has championed for years: Africa’s development depends on strategic investment in its people.
“Africa’s greatest asset is its people,” Elumelu said. “Africa does not need aid; Africa needs investment in infrastructure, in institutions, but most critically in our young people.”
This philosophy challenges traditional development models that rely heavily on aid. Instead, it positions entrepreneurship as the engine of sustainable development, one that creates dignity, independence, and long-term economic resilience.
Elumelu further emphasized the ripple effect of entrepreneurship, noting that when entrepreneurs are empowered, they create jobs, drive growth, and transform communities. According to him, entrepreneurs are the future of Africa.
These words capture the essence of the Foundation’s mission: empowerment, not dependency.
Africapitalism in Action
The work of the Tony Elumelu Foundation is anchored in Africapitalism, a term coined by Tony Elumelu himself. Africapitalism is the belief that Africa’s private sector is the most effective driver of sustainable economic development.
Under this philosophy, businesses are seen as tools for social impact, profit and purpose coexist, and long-term investment replaces short-term extraction.
The TEF Entrepreneurship Programme is Africapitalism in action, supporting businesses that solve real African problems while creating wealth and jobs.
Why the 2026 Programme Matters More Than Ever
The timing of the 2026 entrepreneurship programme is especially significant. Across Africa, youth unemployment remains a pressing issue, while global economic uncertainty continues to affect developing markets.
By opening applications early in the year, TEF sends a strong signal of confidence in Africa’s entrepreneurial potential. It also provides young founders with a clear pathway to start or scale their ventures within a supportive ecosystem.
For many applicants, the programme is not just an opportunity. It is a turning point.
Who Should Apply?
The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is open to young African entrepreneurs, startup founders and early-stage business owners, innovators across all sectors, and entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries.
Whether your business is in agriculture, technology, fashion, healthcare, manufacturing, or creative industries, the programme is designed to meet you where you are and help you grow.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2026 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme are open until March 1, 2026.
Interested entrepreneurs can submit their applications online via www.TEFConnect.com.
TEFConnect serves as the digital backbone of the programme, offering training modules, mentorship access, networking opportunities, and resources long after the initial funding phase.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation: Building Africa’s Economic Future
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is widely recognized as Africa’s leading entrepreneurship philanthropy. Its mission is clear: to eradicate poverty, create jobs, and advance inclusive economic growth across the continent.
By focusing on long-term investment rather than short-term relief, the Foundation has reshaped the narrative around African development. Entrepreneurs are no longer seen as beneficiaries, but as partners in progress.
Conclusion: A Call to Africa’s Dreamers and Doers
The opening of applications for the 2026 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is more than an announcement. It is a call to action.
It is a call to Africa’s dreamers who have ideas waiting to be built. It is a call to doers who are ready to turn vision into value. It is a call to a generation that refuses to be defined by limitations.
As the Foundation continues to invest in Africa’s people, one entrepreneur at a time, the message is clear: Africa’s future will be built by Africans.
For those ready to take the leap, the opportunity is here, and the journey begins now.
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