Why 54 Nations are Watching TEFConnect This January

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme, TEF, Tony Elumelu Foundation

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has opened applications for the 2026 edition of its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme, inviting ambitious entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries to apply for funding, training, and mentorship.

Applications for the Tony Elumelu Foundation opened on 1 January 2026, and the deadline is 1st March 2026 via TEFConnect, the Foundation’s digital platform for entrepreneurs across the continent.

Successful applicants will receive US$5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, alongside intensive business training, one-on-one mentorship, and access to Africa’s largest entrepreneurship network. The programme targets early-stage founders with scalable ideas that can create jobs and drive inclusive economic growth.

Since its launch in 2015, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme has supported over 24,000 entrepreneurs and trained more than 2.5 million Africans. According to the Foundation, businesses supported through the programme have collectively created over 1.5 million jobs and generated more than US$4.2 billion in revenue, underscoring the role of entrepreneurship as a driver of Africa’s development.

The programme has also made notable progress on gender inclusion. Women now account for 46 percent of all TEF entrepreneurs, marking the highest level of female participation recorded by a programme of this scale on the continent.

Announcing the 2026 call for applications, TEF Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings Group, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, emphasized the Foundation’s long-standing belief in investment-led development.

“Africa’s greatest asset is our people. Africa does not need aid; Africa needs investment, most critically in our young,” Elumelu said. “When entrepreneurs are empowered, they create jobs, drive growth, and transform communities.”

Beyond direct funding, the Foundation has positioned itself as a key philanthropic actor advancing African-led development through strategic partnerships. Its collaborators include the European Union, United Nations Development Programme, African Development Bank, UNICEF Generation Unlimited, Google, and several bilateral development agencies.

The Foundation’s work is rooted in Africapitalism, a philosophy that promotes long-term private sector investment as a pathway to sustainable development, poverty eradication, and shared prosperity across Africa.

Applications for the 2026 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme are open until March 1, 2026.