Tony Elumelu Foundation Joins EU-Uganda Business Forum to Launch WE4A II Programme
Last week, Iruka A. Ndubuizu, LL.M, Director of Partnerships at the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), participated in a significant event—the launch of the Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (WE4A) II programme. This event, held during the EU-Uganda Business Forum, saw Ndubuizu serving as a distinguished panelist, contributing her expertise and insights to the discussion.
The launch of WE4A II marks a significant milestone in the efforts to foster entrepreneurship and economic empowerment in Africa. Building upon the success of its 2021 pilot, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has collaborated with the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to initiate WE4A II. The primary objective of this programme is to foster sustainable and inclusive growth across the continent.
The partnership between TEF, the European Union, and GIZ represents a critical component of the broader Integrated Youth and Women’s Business Accelerator (IYBA-WE4A) initiative. This initiative is dedicated to bolstering entrepreneurship ecosystems, facilitating access to finance, and empowering women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and startups in targeted Sub-Saharan African countries.
By leveraging the expertise, resources, and networks of these esteemed organisations, the WE4A II programme aims to create a conducive environment for women entrepreneurs to thrive. Through tailored support, capacity-building initiatives, and strategic partnerships, the programme seeks to address the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and unlock their full potential as drivers of economic growth and social development.
As Africa continues to navigate the complexities of economic recovery and sustainable development, initiatives like WE4A II underscore the importance of collaborative efforts and innovative approaches. By empowering women entrepreneurs and fostering an enabling ecosystem for their success, we can create lasting impact and advance towards a more prosperous and equitable future for all.
In conclusion, the launch of the WE4A II programme represents a significant step forward in the journey towards empowering women entrepreneurs in Africa. Through strategic partnerships and targeted interventions, this initiative holds the promise of unlocking new opportunities, driving inclusive growth, and fostering sustainable development across the continent.
About The Tony Elumelu Foundation
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries, and ensuring inclusive economic empowerment. Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has trained over 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed nearly USD$100 million in direct funding to 18,000 African women and men, who have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs. The Foundation’s mission is rooted in Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.
