The Harvard Business School is turning its focus to the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), recognizing its exceptional philanthropic achievements through a groundbreaking case study.
Launching today before graduate students in Boston, Massachusetts, the case study marks the first of its kind on any philanthropic organization in Africa. It will delve into TEF’s unique approaches and transformative initiatives, showcasing how strategic philanthropy is driving positive change and uplifting countries and communities.
Harvard’s move underscores TEF’s pivotal role in empowering young African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries and positions the Foundation at the forefront of global discussions on transformative philanthropy.
The event will also highlight TEF Founder Tony Elumelu’s economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which prioritizes the private sector and entrepreneurs as catalysts for Africa’s social and economic development.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation stands as a leading philanthropy, empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalyzing job creation, and promoting inclusive economic empowerment.
Since the launch of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, over 1.5 million young Africans have been trained on TEFConnect, the Foundation’s digital hub. Additionally, over USD$100 million has been disbursed in direct funding to 20,000 young African women and men, resulting in the creation of over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Tony Elumelu emphasized the impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation on African youth, stating, “TEF is creating economic hope and opportunity for African Entrepreneurs. We know that entrepreneurship is the antidote to poverty, youth unemployment, and insecurity.” He highlighted the Foundation’s role in encouraging and supporting young people, providing seed capital, training, mentoring, and setting them up to create successful businesses that generate more jobs and address challenges on the continent.
