74 Kenyan entrepreneurs picked for Elumelu training in Lagos

david nganga

August 21, 2018 12:51 AM

The initiative seeks to identify and empower 10,000 African entrepreneurs by 2024.

Seventy-four Kenyan entrepreneurs are among 1,000 individuals set to attend the fourth edition of the annual Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Forum in Nigeria in October.

The entrepreneurs, who were picked on the basis of having the most innovative and high-potential business ideas, will gather in Lagos on October 25.

“In just four years, we have directly impacted 4,460 entrepreneurs, and we are beginning to see the results – job creation, ripple effects, but most importantly a recognition that Africa’s economic well-being is driven by entrepreneurs: female and male, large and small – they are the engine of our continent’s transformation,” said Elumelu.

The event will help attendees generate ideas and forge networks, as well as bring policymakers and the private sector together.

The programme, funded Mr Elemelu, was launched in 2015 and seeks to identify and empower 10,000 African entrepreneurs by 2024.

Its goal is to create a million jobs and contribute US $10 billion in revenues to Africa’s economy in the next 10 years.

Heads of state

President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Ghanian counterpart Nana Akufo-Addo are set to take part in an interactive session at the gathering.

Having the two heads of state at the event is in line with the Foundation’s track record of bringing politicians face to face with the new generation of young business women and men shaping Africa.

This year’s enterpreneurs were shortlisted from 151,000 applications received from 114 countries worldwide.

david nganga