1000 lucky entrepreneurs from all over Africa have just concluded a 2-day intensive boot camp organized by the Tony Elumelu Foundation tagged #TEEP 2015. The boot camp is one of several stages these entrepreneurs are being taken through, following their selection out of about 20,000 applicants from 52 African countries. The laudable Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Program launched in 2014 to empower the next generation of African entrepreneurs through training, funding and mentorship.

The boot camp was well attended by political dignitaries and business leaders in and out of Nigeria and delegates got treated to the wisdom and experience being dished out by a wide array of speakers. Nigerian Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo and foremost inspirational life coach Lanre Olusola notably, spoke at length to stir the entrepreneurial spirits of the delegates. They were also charged to replicate Tony Elumelu’s initiative to grow Africa in their own small capacities.

Dr. Elumelu’s initiative and giant strides in growing Africa’s economy through entrepreneurship was lauded by several speakers and the delegates were urged to emulate him by leveraging on the TEEP platform to succeed and in turn, empower others.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

“This program deserves all the commendation it is getting. Tony Elumelu has courageously put his money where his mouth is. Societies can’t develop without social entrepreneurs. I charge you to be little Elumelus and create opportunities for others.” said VP Yemi Osinbajo.

While giving his speech and fielding questions from the gathering, Dr. Elumelu said, “Entrepreneurship is not a short-term journey and I am pleased that we can help these emerging leaders, as they seek to join me in transforming Africa. My commitment towards creating a thousand new entrepreneurs who can change Africa forever, has now become a reality. This is only the beginning.”

Also present with Mr. Elumelu, were Kaduna State Governor Nasir El Rufai, and Lionel Zinsou, the Prime Minister of Benin Republic. Other speakers at the event included Parminder Vir OBE, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation; David Rice, Director of the Africapitalism Institute; Mo Abudu, Founder/CEO of Ebony Life TV; Nollywood icon Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde; Nimi Akinkugbe, CEO, Bestman Games; Rasheed Olaoluwa, CEO of the Bank of Industry; former SEC DG Arunma Oteh; life coach Lanre Olusola, OLCA Institute; Martin Eigbike, Accenture Development Partnerships; Sam Nwanze, the Heirs Holdings Director of Finance and Investments; governance expert Angela Aneke; and playwright Adewale Ajadi.

After the bootcamp, the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme will focus on providing the seed capital and support for the entrepreneurs to put into practice the knowledge gained from the bootcamp and the 12 weeks of training carried out prior to the event. It will also continue to foster increased collaboration between them and the rest of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Network as it seeks to promote cross-border trade within the continent.

Congrats to the 1000 entrepreneurs in the TEEP class of 2015 as they continue their journey to becoming seasoned Africapitalists supported by the promised $100m funding. The application portal will re-open on January 1, 2016 for emerging entrepreneurs across Africa to compete for places in the TEEP Class of 2016.