Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropic organization empowering African entrepreneurs has partnered with Sèmè City to train and empower additional 50 Beninese entrepreneurs.

It is noteworthy that the Sèmè City will now be among the growing list of governments, development agencies and private sector organisations partnering with the Tony Elumelu Foundation to explore its’ sustainable model of philanthropy geared at addressing the root cause of poverty in Africa while creating jobs and economic wealth for all.

As part of the partnership with the Foundation, Sèmè City will invest $250,000 for the sponsorship of 50 additional Beninese entrepreneurs with innovative projects across various sectors ranging from tourism to health, energy, ICT, environment, fashion, media, entertainment and agriculture. This partnership aims to provide beneficiaries with the necessary skills to develop high-impact ventures as well as encourage female entrepreneurship.

The 50 beneficiaries will be selected in addition to the 1,000 African entrepreneurs selected during the 5th edition of the Foundation’s flagship Entrepreneurship Program. The beneficiaries will benefit from the training and mentorship programme offered by the Foundation, at the end of which they will receive $ 5,000 each to develop their businesses which will, in turn, contribute to the creation of jobs and wealth in Africa.

Speaking on the partnership, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, the incoming Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, said;

“We have always advocated for a collaboration between the public and private sector and this partnership exemplifies our conviction that working together to empower African entrepreneurs is the only way to create sustainable economic development on the continent”.

Speaking also, the Managing Director of Sèmè City Development Agency, Claude Borna, said;

“Sèmè City supports innovative entrepreneurship so that it becomes a key growth factor to boost productivity, create jobs and help improve the quality of life in Benin. With its unique large-scale programme that promotes “Africapitalism”, the Tony Elumelu Foundation is a partner of choice to accomplish our mission of developing a vibrant knowledge-based economy in Benin.”