Connect with us

Society

Elumelu: “We give to empower and break the cycle of dependency. Entrepreneurship is the only path to independence and sustainability.”

Published

on

President Koroma of Sierra Leone, President Obasanjo of Nigeria, Governor Ikpeazu, Minister Lai Mohammed, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, Join 1,000 African Entrepreneurs At 2016 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Forum.

•         Foundation Announces Partnerships with African Development Bank, ECOWAS, Coca-Cola, Nigerian Ministry of Information.

 

 

At the largest annual gathering of African entrepreneurs, held in Lagos, Nigeria, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) hosted almost 1,000 women and men from 54 African countries, for the 2nd TEF Entrepreneurship Forum.

 

 

 

The Forum celebrates the 2016 cohort of Elumelu Entrepreneurs, selected from over 45,000 applicants. It is the annual highlight of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme and saw the presence of leading policy makers and business leaders from across Africa, giving their support to the Foundation and its promise to identify, train, mentor and seed 1,000 entrepreneurs in a decade-long $100 million commitment. Following the Forum, each entrepreneur is eligible to receive up to $10,000 to implement their business plan.

EEF 2016

(L-R): Former Prime Minister of Benin Republic Lionel Zinsou; President Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria; His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone; Mr. Tony Elumelu CON, Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation; Mrs. Awele Elumelu, CEO Avon Medical; Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Vice Chair of Famfa Oil; and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Honourable Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture.

 

 

Applauding Tony Elumelu’s promise to not only empower entrepreneurs, but also to tackle the fundamental economic challenges confronting the African continent, His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone called on others to emulate Elumelu. “Even when we had Ebola in Sierra Leone, Tony was there. His is an example which other successful Africans must follow.”

 

 

 

Focusing on the uniqueness of TEF’s approach to entrepreneurship development, President Koroma hailed the programme as “a genuinely innovative approach to philanthropy in Africa – an African offering African solutions.”

 

 

 

“What is unique about this programme is that it not only provides a platform for entrepreneurs to build connections, but they are also being taught how to build their businesses in a sustainable way. Other philanthropists will be inspired to support and promote this philosophy” the President concluded.

 

 

 

In his keynote speech, Mr. Elumelu stated “I salute those here, our ambition is that you become ambassadors for entrepreneurship in Africa – you are a generation of wealth creators, who share our commitment to the economic and social transformation of Africa. Let me tell you about Momarr Mass Taal, the CEO of Tropingo Foods, who has turned his first $5,000 seed capital received from the Foundation last year, into a $1.2 million revenue business. We all want many more of these! However, as excited as I am about the 2,000 entrepreneurs that we have selected, this gathering is in some ways bittersweet, as I reflect on the 63,000 ideas received in the Programme’s short two years of existence we were unable to select – our commitment is to all entrepreneurs in Africa.”

 

 

 

Mr Elumelu challenged all stakeholders from the public and private sectors, civil society, multilateral organizations and all individuals invested in Africa’s economic development to join hands with the Foundation to support the wider African entrepreneurial community.  “We need to support our entrepreneurs because extreme poverty and economic opportunity rarely coexist in the same place.”

 

 

 

He also announced partnerships with regional institutions the African Development Bank, ECOWAS, and others including Coca Cola, the International Trade Centre, Nigerian Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and Côte d’Ivoire Ministry of Entrepreneurship.

 

 

 

The two-day forum buzzed with energy as entrepreneurs shared and gained knowledge, built cross-border partnerships, and connected with investors and policymakers, fulfilling the goal of fostering innovation and collaboration between entrepreneurs from across Africa.

 

 

 

On Day One, attendees benefited from masterclasses on traditional and alternative means of financing, sales and marketing, as well as sector specific workshops and an in-depth session on Africapitalism –  Elumelu’s economic philosophy that identifies the leading role of Africa’s private sector, including its entrepreneurs, in Africa’s transformation.

 

In her opening remarks, Mrs. Awele Elumelu, CEO Avon Medical, Trustee of the Foundation and wife of Founder, Mr. Elumelu, welcomed the entrepreneurs to Lagos and commended their drive and effort in finding solutions to some of the continent’s most pervasive challenges. The CEO of the Foundation, Ms. Parminder Vir, invited entrepreneurs in the audience to continue to build the future and to challenge the flawed perceptions of Africa.

 

 

 

Day Two featured a high-level panel dedicated to identifying policies to strengthen the enabling environment for entrepreneurs, moderated by BBC anchor, Lerato Mbele, with panellists including His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone, President Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria, Former Prime Minister of Benin RepublicLionel Zinsou, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Honourable Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture and Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Vice Chair of Famfa Oil.

 

 

 

Opening the High-Level Panel, Mrs. Alakija congratulated the entrepreneurs, praised TEF’s focus on entrepreneurship and shared her own personal story of perseverance to demonstrate the entrepreneurs need for resilience and doggedness. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo hailed Elumelu’s perseverance and focus on giving back. “By every means, God has made His face shine upon you. You are not the only one, but unlike you, some others do not have the idea of empowering the next generation of Africans in the manner and scale that you are doing.” He further emphasized patience to the young entrepreneurs. In his words, “For strength in life you need a bit of adversity.” He also called on the Nigerian government to implement policies that encourage investors and entrepreneurs to do business in Nigeria. Former Prime Minister of Benin, Lionel Zinsou, commended the Tony Elumelu Foundation, stating “What Tony Elumelu is doing is the exception, not the norm.”

 

 

Other speakers at the event included Clare Akamanzi, Representative of President Kagame of Rwanda,  Kennedy Uzoka, Group CEO of the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Minster of Solid Minerals, Hon. Kayode Fayemi, Segun Awolowo, CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Clem Ugorji, Public Affairs & Communications Director, Coca-Cola West Africa, Emeke Iweriebor, Regional CEO of UBA Africa (Francophone), Matthew Pearson, Head of Africa Equity Sales at ICBC Standard Bank, Sam Nwanze, Chief Investment Officer at Heirs Holdings.

Details of the 2016 Elumelu Entrepreneurs can be found at http://tonyelumelufoundation.org/teep/ and TEF’s documentary “Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs: Transforming Africa” at http://bit.ly/TEEPdocumentary.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Society

Boosting Health Access: Lasaco Assurance Supports NYSC Corps Members’ Health Mission”

Published

on

By

 

Insurance underwriter, Lasaco Assurance Plc, has donated health recovery items to support the Health Initiative Programme of the National Youth Service Corps members serving in the Ifako Ijaiye Local Government area of Lagos State.

A statement from the firm said that the donation was to boost health development in the country.

 

Some Corps members, under the aegis of Local Government Initiative, for their first quarter Health Initiative, embarked on a project to provide health services to rural dwellers, whose access to quality health services was limited due to poverty, ignorance and superstition.

 

Lasaco Assurance supported the corps members to reach the target audience and help them overcome their difficulties in accessing quality health.

10 corps members head to India for youth exchange programme

Group trains youths to solve environmental challenges

NYSC confirms release of abducted corpers

The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Seye Smart, who represented the Head of Strategy, Research and Communications, Dayo Adetokun, at the presentation of the gift items to the corps members, emphasised the importance of exposing the citizens to quality health and safety as that would improve their capacity, make them function well and prolong their life expectancy.

 

A healthy citizen, she explained, would contribute meaningfully to the growth of society and be useful for the development of humanity.

Leader of the LGI team, Bose Ojimi, said the programme was the group’s modest contribution to the country’s quest for improved health and safety for Nigerians and hoped that other corporate organisations would follow in the footsteps of Lasaco Assurance to offer necessary assistance to the people.

Continue Reading

Society

Yahaya Bello absent as court adjourns, EFCC mulls military’s help to fish him out 

Published

on

By

 

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has adjourned the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to April 23rd.

 

The adjournment is for substituted service and possible arraignment of Bello for alleged N84bn money laundering. At the resumed sitting, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Phinro, told the court that the immediate past governor of Kogi State was absent from court for his arraignment because he was being protected by someone with immunity.

 

Phinro said the former governor was whisked out of his Abuja residence by the same person with immunity. Phinro said the anti-graft agency might seek the help of the military to fish him out to come face his arraignment. Responding to this submission, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad, told the court that there is an order of the court restraining the EFCC from arresting or arraigning him.

 

Muhammad said a Kogi State High Court had on February 9, 2024 restrained the EFCC from arresting or arraigning the former governor. He added that the EFCC has appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal was yet to decide on the matter. He pointed out that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain any charge from

the EFCC.

Continue Reading

Society

Billionaire Businessman, Tunde Ayeni’s Talk of the town Daughters Wedding

Published

on

By

Barr. John Olatunde Ayeni C.O.N is indeed a man of high repute with a highly cerebral nature blessed with suave, elegance and finesse. As a young man, he has carved a niche for himself as a seasoned investor and a finance person with a background in the legal profession after bagging a law degree at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria before he was called to bar. Everything he touches turns into gold. He is a man who knows the true spirit of friendship and brotherhood which has elevated him to the position he holds today. The erstwhile Chairman of Skye Bank has created his name in gold as one of the best brains to have come out of Nigeria as he sits atop several high business conglomerates.

 

One thing has remained constant for him he is a man who loves his family and will never trade anything for his family. More reason he spared no cost to ensure his daughter Abolaji Ayeni gets one of the biggest wedding Soiree with her hubby Oluwatobiloba Adeoye that will never be forgotten in a hurry. It was a rollercoaster of events that remained colourful and also further cents Ayeni’s position as a crowd puller as all his friends turned up for him to celebrate him and his family in one of their proud moments as a father.

 

Last year 2nd of December, the Groom’s family was hosted by Ayeni at an introduction ceremony at his Lagos residence and from that moment he has told his friends that; the wedding shindig would be one to remember as he is putting lots of resources into making the day a memorable one and also appreciate his daughter for making him and his wife proud parents.

 

On Thursday the 11th of April, Ayeni and his family hosted a traditional engagement wedding in Lagos Ikoyi where it was a parade of cultural aesthetics from the best Aso-Ebi to the best of Agbada and music as Yinka Aiyefele serenade the audience with his musical rendition there was an array of cuisines that guests savoured their taste buds with and lots of high-cost drinks.

On Saturday the 13th of April, Ayeni also pulled his heavyweight as the Church wedding where the couples were tied together by Pastopr Tunde Bakare’s Latter Rain Church in Oregun before the train moved to the reception at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island where guests were treated like a king, the whole V.I corridor was locked down as automobiles of different kinds took over the roads.

 

It was an absolute display of wealth, opulence and splendour as the who is who in Nigeria’s business, political and socialite space were in attendance. The roll call was quite an elitist one as it was like a gathering of stars with deep pockets. The father of the bride adorned in his full Agbada was seen smiling cheerfully welcoming his guests and also making sure those who attended were given the best of treats. The food was local and continental and the wines served were vintage wines. It was like a carnival as Evangelist Dunni Olarewaju (Opelope Annionting)coroner was on the bandstand while King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall the Fuji maestro also serenaded the audience.

 

Those who attended confessed that Ayeni is not only a master planer in the boardroom he is also a master planner of soirees and a good host with a high sense of hospitality. Those spotted were; the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Kogi State Secretary to the State Government; Mrs Ayoade Folashade, Former Governor of Ogun State Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service; Dr Zacch Adedeji Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Niyi Adebayo, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Olugbon of Ilegbon Oba Francis Alao, Olofin of Isheri Oba Sulayman Bamgbade, Elegushi of Ikate Land Oba Saheed Elegushi, Akinshiku Dosumu Oba Otudeko, Iyaloja of Lagos Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Mogaji Wole Arisekola, Former Fidelity Bank MD Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, Daily Times Publisher Mr Fidelis Anosike and wife Rita Dominic-Anosike, Nkiru Anumudu, Segun Awolowo, Terry Waya, Comfort Obamuyiwa, Aisha Achimogu, Abu Abel, Abisagboola ‘Bankuli’ Oluseun and a host of others.

By: Oladapo Shofowora.

Continue Reading

Trending