Tony O. Elumelu, Founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, has announced the launch of The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund.

The Fund was launched yesterday in Abuja by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, with the purpose of revitalising the economies of post conflict and disaster communities across Nigeria.

The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund was created out of the N2.5 billion donated by The Tony Elumelu Foundation and Heirs Holdings companies. The donation was announced at the Presidential Fundraising Dinner for the Victims Support Fund in July 2014. Given to support distressed communities across Nigeria, N1 billion was immediately disbursed to the Victims Support Fund, while the remaining N1.5 billion now serves as the initial seeding for The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund.

The Fund will focus on communities like those in the Niger Delta and Jos, Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria.

“Rehabilitating distressed communities will require interventions not just from the government, but also from the private sector. Therefore, I am pleased to see that Tony Elumelu, one of our private sector leaders, stepped up in a big way – by making a major contribution to the Victim Support Fund and that his effort did not end there as he has now created The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund,” President Jonathan during the launch.

Seeded and managed by The Tony Elumelu Foundation, The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund, a non-profit organisation, will transform communities that have been ravaged by natural disasters, hazards and conflicts, into thriving and economically sustainable communities. The Fund will create opportunities and empower people in affected communities across Nigeria enabling them to rebuild their lives and businesses whilst instilling a sense of economic empowerment for the long-term.

In furtherance of Mr. Elumelu’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs across Africa, The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund will focus on encouraging the development of entrepreneurship in these affected regions through access to start-up funding, capacity building and mentorship. The Fund will also support a range of initiatives in these communities, including projects that will tackle environmental issues, restore damaged infrastructure as well associal welfare projects. By helping to restore these communities the Fund will create the platform for a thriving entrepreneurial environment.

“By making social investments and grants available in select distressed communities across Nigeria, the Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund will economically empower individuals and communities by creating and fostering an enabling environment that will support a new generation of entrepreneurs,” said Mr. Tony Elumelu, Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman, Heirs Holding. “Entrepreneurs create jobs, opportunity, and wealth at the local level and in doing so, they play a vital role in reducing poverty and addressing a range of social issues that cause conflict and instability,” he added.

As the Fund works to economically empower communities, so will it work to sustain itself. The Fund is managed by Katja Nwator, a staff of the Tony Elumelu Foundation with considerable community development experience and Niger Delta roots. With the support of a distinguished board and other donors, both domestic and international, the Fund will be impactful and sustainable. This will occur within a framework of accountability and best practice, to serve as a model for delivering development programmes to the communities that have been devastated by conflict or disaster.

The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund’s distinguished board members include:

- Professor Charles Soludo, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria

- Hajiya (Dr) Mairo Mandara, Nigeria Country Director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

- Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto

- Onari Duke, the MD of the Empretec Foundation

- Rasheed Olaoluwa, the CEO of the Bank of Industry

- Dr. Stanley Lawson, Director, Central Bank of Nigeria and Director, Transcorp Plc

- Dr. Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of Oxfam International

Speaking at the launch of the Fund, Board member Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah stated: “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. The Tony Elumelu Foundation has ignited what will definitely be a massive flame of hope to dispel the darkness that hovers around us. I am honoured to stand beside men and women with passion for our common humanity.”

•Photo shows Tony O. ELumelu. To find out more information and to keep up to date with The Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund visit www.tonyelumelufoundation.organd follow the foundation on twitter @TonyElumeluFDN.

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