ENTERPRISE54 – Four foundations of prominent African leaders have been awarded grants by the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to support their work in identifying and developing the next generation of African leaders. The recipient foundations are the Kofi Annan Foundation, the John A. Kufuor Foundation, the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation and the Thabo Mbeki Foundation. They
ENTERPRISE54 – Four foundations of prominent African leaders have been awarded grants by the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to support their work in identifying and developing the next generation of African leaders.
The recipient foundations are the Kofi Annan Foundation, the John A. Kufuor Foundation, the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation and the Thabo Mbeki Foundation. They all share a dedication to the development of Africa through a focus on the continent’s young people, an approach that resonates with the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s own emphasis on entrepreneurship as the key catalyst for Africa’s economic transformation.
According to Dr. Wiebe Boer, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation: “There is a critical need in Africa for leadership development and this is a great opportunity for us to support the work of exemplary African political leaders to equip the next generation, so their experience becomes a benefit to us all.” Through the African Leaders Grant, each organisation will utilise the funds to support initiatives associated with the entrepreneurship and leadership development pillar of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
“The Tony Elumelu Foundation has previously partnered with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation to support our work in youth employment in Africa. It is a personal passion Tony and I share and something that this grant will allow us to continue doing. This collaboration to equip the next generation is an example that I hope others will follow. Africa will be better off for it,” commented President Obasanjo on the grant.
Former UN Secretary General and Founder of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Kofi Annan, speaking on how the grant will be used by his foundation commented: “We very much appreciate this grant from the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which will allow a promising young African graduate to work and gain experience at the Kofi Annan Foundation, on issues of direct relevance to African governance, peace and security”.
The African Leaders Grant aims to support efforts across the continent through the work of the grantee foundations and the Tony Elumelu Foundation that will influence policy reform, promote effective leadership, training, and mentorship of emerging leaders across Africa. According to President Kufuor: “This grant promises a real opportunity for building longstanding partnerships with similar foundations in Africa striving to empower our youth.”
Speaking on the legacy of the African leaders involved, TEF Founder Tony O. Elumelu remarked: “Each of these leaders has taken great pride in fostering the next generation of African business and political leaders, who will be the drivers of Africa’s future growth and prosperity. Africa’s development relies on our ability to nurture a new generation of young leaders, as these African icons are already doing.”
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is an African-based, African-funded philanthropic organisation. Founded in 2010, our mission is to support entrepreneurship in Africa by enhancing the competitiveness of the African private sector.
2 Comments
Anote Ajeluorou
August 29, 2014, 1:58 pmHi Adegoke, thanks for this information, but you failed to say how much the grant is worth or is it another voodoo thing as leadership has become synonymous with in Africa? Also, I very much doubt the kind of leadership a foundation like Obasanjo’s would impact on anyone. Is it the do-or-die politics or election kind? I think Mr. Elumelu should reconsider the direction of his grants, and reach young Africans directly rather than go through these channels that may just be vainglorious. There are better foundations/NGOs working directly with young Africans who will do a better job of utilising the grants than these so-called high-sounding names. Mbeki wasn’t so sterling afterall, if we recall correctly; he was ousted before his tenure expired, wasn’t it? Elumelu Foundation should go to the universities where applicable scientific innovation is taking place, or better still, organise a scientific fair and see how these innovations can be turned into real businesses that can provide jobs…
REPLYAdegoke Oyeniyi
August 29, 2014, 2:44 pmHi Anote, thanks for your contribution. This I do know, TEF also gives grants to young Africans directly via support systems built by young African social entrepreneurs. Bosun Tijani’s CcHub is a beneficiary of Tony Elumelu’s enterprise grant which gives $5000 to several young entrepreneurs. TEF also supports Chude Jideonwo’s The Future Awards and rewards winners in the enterprise categories.
REPLYLogically, Mr Elumelu’s attention to well established foundations as the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation is to impact a higher number of grass root entrepreneurs via platforms with larger scale and resources.