Tony Elumelu Foundation beneficiaries share experiences

The Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme, TEEP, on August 13, 2015 brought the Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Her Excellency Mustapha Hadiza, her aides and Cameroonians who benefited from the multi-year programme together.

Over 10 out of the 19 Cameroonians from different parts of the country were at the Chancery of the High Commission in Bastos, Yaounde where they shared experiences gathered during a 12-week online and “boot camp” business course in Lagos, Nigeria.

So thrilling were the experiences that Mustapha Hadiza was overwhelmed with the zeal, enthusiasm and commitment of the young entrepreneurs. Out of 51 beneficiary African countries, Cameroon had the highest number of successful candidates (19 out of 1,000) that trained within TEEP. The entrepreneurs represent a wide range of sectors, from fashion and ICT to agriculture and education to energy.

“It is gratifying to see young Africans with such inspiring start-ups,” the Nigerian diplomat sounded off. The young entrepreneurs unveiled their projects and business plans, rejoicing at the opportunity offered them to network with fellow youths around the continent as well as business persons in Lagos. The young business persons tickled guests with their experiences.

The multi-year programme of training, funding, and mentoring designed to empower the next generation of African entrepreneurs, inspired the young leaders whose mindsets have been revolutionalised to embrace change on the continent. For two days, (boot camp that culminated weeks of interaction), the 1,000 entrepreneurs enjoyed sessions with successful entrepreneurs, business and political leaders who gave a series of lectures on business development, financial management, corporate governance and other facets of successful enterprise. The Cameroonian team said the ‘boot camp’ programme ended in an open microphone session with Tony Elumelu, the Nigerian banker and philanthropist, who is funding TEEP.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation is providing each Cameroonian entrepreneur with $10,000 (about FCFA 5, 900, 000) to support their businesses. “You helped us to establish Elumelu’s vision which is to build Africa by Africans through entrepreneurship, thus creating the use and added value for our country and continent,” the Cameroonian Team wrote to the Nigerian High Commissioner.

“This is another level of cooperation and interaction amongst Africans and I am happy that Cameroonians took part and were ready to come back,” Hadiza said. Meanwhile, the High Commission has pledged to offer support in terms of liaising the entrepreneurs with business persons in Nigeria through the country’s Chamber of Commerce.

Doing business in Nigeria entails respecting some regulations in place and the High Commission is ready to get the young entrepreneurs abreast with all what it takes, what to invest in and where. The Joint Commission between Cameroon and Nigeria has provisions to this effect and the Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon says her country is ready to support the growth of the young entrepreneurs in any way possible.