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Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Wraps Up 2017 TEF Entrepreneurship Forum – Largest Gathering Of African Entrepreneurs

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  • 3rd Annual Tef Entrepreneurship Forum Was Held On October 13-14 In Lagos

 

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  • 1,300 African Smes, Policymakers, Incubators From 54 Countries In Attendance

 

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship, concluded its 3rd annual TEF Entrepreneurship Forum on 14th of October 2017 in Lagos.

 

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The Forum hosted more than 1,300 participants from 54 African countries. The most diverse and inclusive gathering of African entrepreneurs on the continent, the Forum continued its strong tradition of showcasing innovation across sectors, including Agriculture, Technology, Healthcare, Fashion and Energy/Power Generation.

 

Launched in 2015, the Forum was born out of the Foundation’s $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs, over a decade, through the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

 

During a powerful keynote address, Tony O. Elumelu, CON, the philanthropist and Founder who is also the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa, spoke of his belief, that a vibrant African-led private sector is the key to unlocking Africa’s economic and social potential.

 

“Africa’s development, which must be private-sector led and entrepreneurially driven, will have at its heart, young African innovators and their transformative ideas.  Only they will create the millions of jobs Africa needs. The Forum has brought together Africa’s most important developmental force, her young entrepreneurs who will become catalysts for Africa’s economic liberation.

 

We have united the African entrepreneurship ecosystem, putting the entrepreneurs at centre stage. I want to thank those heads of government and other key policymakers, who have supported our firm belief that the private sector is the engine for growth and the private sector players, who are models of our philosophy of Africapitalism – the idea that business will drive change and that change must deliver economic and social wealth” he explained.

 

The two-day event, which involved plenary panels and masterclasses, provided the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs with a platform to network and connect with business leaders, policymakers and investors.

 

Focusing on the Forum’s theme of training and mentoring, speakers discussed topics that educated, empowered and inspired the entrepreneurs, addressing the key stages needed to successfully launch a business.

 

The speaking programme emphasised the Foundation’s role of uniting entrepreneurs and policymakers, as a means of ensuring that private and public sectors work together to create the best possible operating environment for entrepreneurship to thrive. Political and private sector leaders from across Africa, including HE Aminu Bello Masari, Governor, Katsina state; HE Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, Governor, Zamfara state; Mr. Lionel Zinsou, Former Prime Minister, Republic of Benin; Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Honeywell Group; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote group, directly addressed the conditions needed for stimulating entrepreneurial growth, whilst senior members of global development institutions, including Wale Ayeni, Senior Investment Office, International Finance Corporation; Stephen Tio Kauma, Director Human Resources, Afrexim Bank and Andre Hue, Deputy Country Director, Agence Française de Développement, spoke of a new paradigm, driven by the need for a private sector-led change.

 

“The private sector working with the public sector can achieve so much by way of development. African governments should move beyond rhetorics and implement their ideas,” Oba Otudeko enthused.

 

Addressing the 3rd cohort of TEF entrepreneurs the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said: “This generation of young people will do the exceptional. You are the reason Africa will work. The length and breadth of display of talent have shown that there is indeed hope”.

 

The Forum also witnessed multiple partnerships between United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Foundation, and between French bilateral development bank, Agence Française De Développement (AFD) and TEF. Commending both agencies for their commitment to promoting youth entrepreneurship in Africa, Elumelu called on other individuals and developmental institutions to partner with the Foundation and expand the scale of its impact. “We call on friends of Africa to partner with the Foundation, to scale our impact beyond the 1,000 entrepreneurs a year. Real opportunity exists to tap into Africa’s potential and our entrepreneurs offer a gateway to participating in both economic success and creating social wealth”.

 

TEF partners including Microsoft, Sage One and Greentec also held training workshops and side events aimed at approaches to strategically scale up business. The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has proudly supported the forum.

 

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The Arena: Adron Homes To Host Business Warfare Challenge

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ADRON HOMES TACKLING NIGERIA'S LEADING CHALLENGE OF HOUSING DEFICIENCY, GIVES SUCCOUR TO TINUBU INITIATIVE

*The Arena: Adron Homes To Host Business Warfare Challenge*

 

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Adron Homes’ renowned Business Warfare Challenge, THE ARENA, is set to commence once again, heralding an exciting period of strategic competition and professional growth within the company.

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Designed as an innovative Business Series, THE ARENA serves as a platform to cultivate and enhance the business acumen of Adron Homes’ esteemed staff, ultimately driving improved performance across the organization. This prestigious event brings together top managers from Adron Homes’ nationwide offices, creating a dynamic battleground where strategic minds collide in pursuit of golden prizes and lifetime rewards.

At the heart of THE ARENA are the Lions and the Lord Lion, distinguished judges tasked with evaluating the business strategies presented by competing teams. These strategies, if deemed viable, stand to be fully funded, amplifying the stakes and motivating participants to unleash their creativity and ingenuity.

Reflecting on past editions, where monthly winners emerged from various branches nationwide, it’s evident that THE ARENA is not merely a competition but a celebration of excellence and innovation. The allure of bumper gifts, including all-expense-paid trips to exotic destinations like Singapore, serves as a testament to Adron Homes’ commitment to rewarding outstanding performance and fostering a culture of achievement.

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As anticipation mounts for this year’s series of THE ARENA, excitement reverberates among Adron Homes’ dedicated staff, eager to showcase their talents and compete on a national stage. With the competition now set to unfold quarterly, the stakes are higher than ever, promising a heightened level of engagement and enthusiasm among participants.

Moreover, the rewards for success in THE ARENA are nothing short of extraordinary. From luxurious weekend getaways at five-star resorts within Nigeria to coveted all-expense-paid trips to the iconic city of Paris, accompanied by generous shopping allowances, Adron Homes spares no expense in recognizing and rewarding the achievements of its top performers.

Initiatives like THE ARENA underscore Adron Homes’ commitment to nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and creating a workplace culture

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Scarcity: Normalcy returns as fuel stations get supply of petroleum products

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*Scarcity: Normalcy returns as fuel stations get supply of petroleum products*

Queues have begun to vanish from filling stations across Nigeria’s major cities after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd intervened in the logistic issues that had breached the supply of premium motor spirit (PMS).

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Findings by this newspaper across filling stations in Abuja showed that queues are disappearing and normalcy has returned.

Queues have disappeared from most filling stations across major locations like Kubwa, Central Area, Wuse, Maitama, and Gwarimpa.

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Speaking on the development, a top official said, “The fuel stations round shows that the situation is calm. All stations have products and are selling.”

Recall that this newspaper had reported that the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Tuesday warned against panic buying, adding that normalcy would return.

The National Secretary of IPMAN, James Tor, said, “If there is no product, then we can not give out anything. But happily, now, there are products, and the federal government is doing much. yesterday, our national president was explaining to us that the NNPCL has opened up some of their depots so that we can have products supplied and distributed to the public.

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“The president (IPMAN) even called me this morning (April 30, 2024) about the increase in the supply. So, what we are witnessing is just a bridge of what is going on and what is going on.

“But happily enough, I want to announce to the public that there shouldn’t be any panic buying, because when this thing happens, and people start rushing here and there and trying to accumulate the products, that effect will go a long way to affect everybody.

He explained that Nigeria exists in a global system that is influenced by the crisis in the Middle East between the Israelis and Iran.

“All these things if we put them together (impacts the Nigerian market),” Tor said, adding “any slightest thing that happens in the world, will affect the supply and distribution of petroleum products”

However, he expressed confidence in the role of the NNPCL in playing in ensuring energy security for Nigerians.

Tor said, “Good enough, an NNPC is ready and has opened up some of the depots so that they will start bringing in our product for distribution. I want to assure you that in any moment from now, you will see that the queues will be going down because they have intensified the supply.

“With what the NNPC is doing, very in a little, few days, you will start seeing the impact of what they are doing because IPMAN is involved.”

Scarcity: Normalcy returns as fuel stations get supply of petroleum products*

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Aviation Minister, Keyamo Join Other World Leaders For Dominican Republic Conference

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Aviation Minister, Keyamo Join Other World Leaders For Dominican Republic Conference

 

 

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The Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN CON FCIarb (UK) has joined his counterparts across the globe for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conference holding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

 

 

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The world aviation forum, titled Global Implementation Support Symposium 2024 kicked off today with other distinguished Ministers and Secretaries of Aviation from across the globe in attendance. With over 600 delegates in attendance, this symposium marks a pivotal moment for the aviation industry.

 

 

 

Themed “Optimizing Aviation Capacity: Strategies for Safe Skies, Sustainable Future,” this year’s symposium promises captivating discussions and enlightening sessions aimed at shaping the trajectory of global aviation. Attendees can expect to delve into pressing topics including “Building Capacity for an Effective and Sustainable Air Transportation System,” “Safeguarding the Skies: A Deep Dive into Aviation Cybersecurity,” “Scaling Up Global Collaboration for LTAG Implementation,” and “Future-Ready Aviation Workforce: Embracing Mobility and Agility.”

As the aviation community convenes in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, stakeholders are poised to explore innovative strategies and collaborative efforts to ensure the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of aviation operations worldwide. The symposium serves as a platform for experts to exchange ideas, share best practices, and forge partnerships that will shape the future of the industry.

Stay tuned for updates as the ICAO Global Implementation Support Symposium 2024 unfolds, charting a course towards safer skies and a more resilient aviation ecosystem.

 

Aviation Minister, Keyamo Join Other World Leaders For Dominican Republic Conference

Tunde Moshood
SA Media and Communications to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development

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