Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program hosts 1,000 African entrepreneurs

As part of Tony Elumelu’s US$100 million commitment to empowering African entrepreneurs, 1,000 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs, representing 51 African countries from the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program (TEEP) Class of 2015, converged at Ota, in Ogun State, Nigeria for an intensive two-day boot camp session – an unprecedented gathering of emerging African entrepreneurs.

The entrepreneurs had traveled from across the continent – from as far as Madagascar and Morocco. The entrepreneurship bootcamp included interactive sessions with successful entrepreneurs, political and business leaders, and an open mic session with the initiative’s founder, Tony O. Elumelu.

Gambian Badje Modou Lamin, whose business is in the agricultural sector, said, “the bootcamp has been a great experience. I have been able to exchange ideas with a number of entrepreneurs. This has really changed my perspective on Africa.”

Maalainine Mohamed Bouya, from Morocco, said: “it (the bootcamp), has been a blast! Right from our journey from the airport down to the bootcamp, we have been discussing and sharing ideas among ourselves. Africa has huge potential.”

Nigerian Obinna Chukwu, said: “it has been a wonderful experience – I have met people from all over Africa. It makes me proud of being a Nigerian. I thank Tony Elumelu and the Tony Elumelu Foundation for making this happen.”

Elumelu, the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, spoke on his life experiences and the principles that he learned from mentors, such as Chief Ebitimi Banigo, that he applied towards his own successful entrepreneurship journey.  He answered an array of questions during a two-hour question-and-answer session, offering perspective on innovation, strategy, governance, financial management and decision-making.

He added, “entrepreneurship is not a short-term journey and I am pleased that we can help these emerging leaders, as they seek to join me in transforming Africa. Our commitment towards creating a thousand new entrepreneurs who can change Africa forever, has now become a reality. This is only the beginning.”

Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, welcomed the entrepreneurs from across the continent and called on them to take advantage of the networks built in Ota to develop pan-African investment and trade networks.

According to Osinbajo, “this initiative deserves all the commendation it is getting. Tony Elumelu has courageously put his money where his mouth is. Societies cannot develop without social entrepreneurs. I charge you to be little Elumelus and create opportunities for others.”

Other politicians that contributed to the bootcamp included the Governor of the state of Kaduna, Nasiru El Rufai, and Lionel Zinsou, the Prime Minister of Benin.