The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) continues to play a crucial role in supporting entrepreneurship in Africa, with Cameroon being a significant beneficiary. For the year 2026, 30 young Cameroonian entrepreneurs have been selected to join the foundation's entrepreneurship program cohort. This initiative provides entrepreneurs with access to funding, training and mentoring essential to grow their businesses.
Cameroon is one of the main impact markets for TEF in Central Africa. To date, Cameroonian businesses supported by the foundation have generated over $20 million in revenue and created over 58,000 jobs. More than 800 Cameroonian entrepreneurs have benefited from TEF support in various sectors, including agriculture, retail, technology, waste management, energy, clean technology, fintech, education and training.
Tony Elumelu, the Nigerian philanthropist behind this initiative, stressed the importance of perseverance for African entrepreneurs. Announcing the 2026 cohort, he said, "We didn't choose you because your path was easy. We chose you because you kept going when it wasn't". Each selected entrepreneur will receive $5,000 in seed funding as well as access to training, mentoring and a continental network.
Beyond Cameroon, the TEF programme continues to expand in the CEMAC region, supporting entrepreneurs who drive business growth, job creation and economic resilience. The foundation has enabled thousands of African entrepreneurs to build businesses and support their communities, in line with its belief that opportunity should be accessible to all. At a time when youth unemployment and economic uncertainty remain major concerns, the TEF entrepreneurship program plays a vital role in stimulating self-employment and local business growth.
