Nigerian entrepreneur and leading philanthropist Tony Elumelu says his foundation was started to help create more opportunities and lend “a helping hand” to young African entrepreneurs.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation supports 1,000 promising Nigerians and African business leaders through various mentorship, networking and training programs, as well as a $5,000 grant to fund their business ideas.
“About 10,000 Nigerians and young Africans have benefitted and we’re still counting,” Elumelu told ARISE News.
“We appreciate aid but we know that we want to fend for ourselves, create entrepreneurs that will feed themselves and support our overall economic growth.”
Now in its seventh year, Elumelu says his foundation has been instrumental in giving back to the community and trying to “fix the unemployment problem in the country.” International donors such as the UNDP, EU and Red Cross have all raised millions of dollars to support his vision.
“Our young ones are suffering, there is hopelessness. We want to, through the intervention of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, encourage them and give them hope so that collectively we can fix the unemployment situation in Nigeria.”
Rita Osakwe
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