The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has opened applications for the 2026 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, calling ambitious young founders from all 54 African countries to apply now on TEFConnect.
Successful applicants receive US$5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, intensive business training, mentorship, and direct access to Africa’s largest entrepreneurship network.
Since 2015, the Programme has funded over 24,000 entrepreneurs, trained 2.5 million Africans, created more than 1.5 million jobs, and generated over US$4.2 billion in revenue, proving that African entrepreneurs can transform the continent.
The Programme is also driving inclusive growth, with women now making up 46% of TEF entrepreneurs – the highest female participation rate recorded by a programme of this scale.
Speaking on the 2026 launch, TEF Founder and Heirs Holdings Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, said: “Africa’s greatest asset is our people… Africa does not need aid; Africa needs investment, in infrastructure, in institutions, but most critically in our young.”
Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we show that when entrepreneurs are empowered, they create jobs, drive growth, and transform communities.
Applications for the 2026 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme are open from 1 January to 1 March 2026 on www.TEFConnect.com.
TEF Impact
Click here for country-level data on young entrepreneurs supported through TEF’s funding, training, and mentorship in each African country. To explore TEF’s transformative impact across the continent, visit the Foundation’s Impact Page and Annual Reports. To hear directly from the entrepreneurs themselves, visit the TEF Success Stories page.
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