The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has opened applications for its 2026 Entrepreneurship Programme, offering African entrepreneurs business training, mentorship and US$5,000 in seed funding, the foundation said on Friday.
The annual programme targets early-stage entrepreneurs across Africa and is designed to support the creation and scaling of small and medium-sized businesses. Successful applicants will receive 12 weeks of online business training focused on core areas such as business management, financial planning and market access.
Participants will also be paired with experienced mentors and gain access to the foundation’s pan-African network of entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers. In addition to the initial $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, beneficiaries may qualify for further financing opportunities through TEF’s partners.
Applications for the 2026 cohort are open to entrepreneurs operating across all sectors and will close on March 1, according to the foundation.
Founded by Nigerian businessman and philanthropist Tony Elumelu, the foundation has become one of Africa’s largest entrepreneurship support platforms. Since launching the programme in 2015, TEF says it has funded more than 20,000 entrepreneurs across 54 African countries, disbursing over $100 million in direct funding.
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The foundation’s entrepreneurship initiative is anchored on Elumelu’s philosophy of Africapitalism, which promotes long-term private sector investment as a driver of economic growth and social development on the continent.
African small and medium-sized enterprises play a critical role in job creation but continue to face challenges including limited access to finance, skills gaps and weak infrastructure. Development institutions and private foundations have increasingly turned to entrepreneurship programmes as a tool to address unemployment, particularly among young people.
According to the African Development Bank, Africa will need to create about 25 million jobs annually over the next decade to absorb its growing workforce. Programmes such as TEF’s seek to address this gap by supporting locally driven businesses with growth potential.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation said the 2026 programme would continue to prioritise inclusivity, with applications open to women-led businesses, youth entrepreneurs and founders operating in underserved markets.
Further details on eligibility and the application process are available on the foundation’s official website.
