“We hope The Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme can catalyse and encourage other African business leaders to empower emerging entrepreneurs. If we all come together with requisite resources we can make a significant difference.” That was Mr. Tony O. Elumelu speaking Wednesday at a press conference in Lagos to announce the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) boot camp taking place from July 10 to 12 in Ota in neighbouring Ogun State.

A thousand entrepreneurs selected from over 20,000 applicants from all over Africa are expected to converge in Nigeria for the two-day boot camp session. This will be the maiden boot camp of TEEP, a $100 million Pan-African entrepreneurship initiative.

In what is billed to be the largest ever gathering of emerging entrepreneurs on the continent, the boot camp – which is a major milestone of the flagship programme of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) – will see an interaction between established entrepreneurs from different sectors of industry, and the 1,000 selectees of TEEP.

Mr. Elumelu, who has been vocal about entrepreneurship-led development and the push for a private sector-driven turnaround of Africa, says: “In empowering these emerging entrepreneurs, we are providing the capital, the networks, the training and support for them to drive economic and social transformation throughout Africa, providing solutions to its problems as well as securing their future and that of generations to come.”

In the build-up to the boot camp, the TEF has engaged the emerging entrepreneurs in a 12-week online training programme that would culminate in the Ota session. The boot camp format will be predominately plenary style sessions from speakers with proven track record in business and leadership. The entrepreneurs will participate in sessions including an open mic with Founder Tony O. Elumelu, CON, and other captains of industry.

Speaking on the ideals of the programme and the need for the training, Parminder Vir, CEO of the Foundation, said: “We are excited to be pushing the envelope and providing a springboard for this set of emerging African entrepreneurs to take over the world with their innovative ideas, beginning from their local communities. At the end of this boot camp, we want them to have come, seen and be transformed into full-fledged entrepreneurs and ambassadors for Africapitalism.”

The winners represent 51 African countries and territories, as well as a multitude of value-adding sectors ranging from agriculture to education to fashion and ICT. All five African regions – North, East, Southern, Central and West Africa are represented, as well as every state in Nigeria. Additionally, all major language blocs, namely, Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone and Arabic Africa are represented.

•Photo shows TEF Founder and Chairman, Heirs Holdings Limited, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CON, speaking during the press conference held in Lagos on Wednesday, announcing the entrepreneurship boot camp for the 1,000 selected Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs representing all 36 Nigerian states and 51 African countries scheduled for July 10-12 in Ota, Ogun State. With him is TEF CEO, Parminder Vir.

Update news