TAMFUND to disburse N2.5 million to entrepreneurs

Over five entrepreneurs are expected to get N500,000 each through the Entreprise Development Center (EDC) from Tosin Anibaba memorial fund (TAMFUND).

Tosin Anibaba who was a victim of the Dana airline crash in 2012 before her death, was working at FATE Foundation, an NGO dedicated to the reduction of unemployment and poverty.

Speaking at the launch of the foundation, the parent of the deceased, Senator and Dr. Oladipo Odujinrin disclosed that Anibaba during her lifetime was a believer in giving hope to others in despondent circumstances.

Specifically, the father stated that the deceased grew professionally and was able to translate the purpose to helping entrepreneurs build their dreams into successful businesses.

He said: “Her zest for supporting young businesses has inspired her family to establish a memorial fund in honor for the purpose of encouraging and supporting small and medium scale entrepreneurs in achieving their potential.

“TAM Fund is designed for start-ups and early stage entrepreneurs with the right attitude and vision but no means of achieving it. The fund is positioned as a “lifeline” to five Micro entrepreneurs annually with a seed capital of 500,000 in equipment, machineries etc. after a competitive selection process.”

He mentioned that TAM Fund beneficiaries would undergo a 6-month immersion program, during which they will attend a structured capacity building program, broadening of their network, be mentored and attend advisory sessions at the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan-Atlantic University.

“On completion, they will become TAM Fund ambassadors, giving other less privileged micro-entrepreneurs a helping hand and being a role model. The TAM Fund disbursement to beneficiaries will be an annual event, aimed at inspiring and bringing hope to those micro-entrepreneurs whose dreams would have been dashed without it.” He said.

On his own part, Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Peter Bamkole said: “We have been colleagues and we know each other in the entrepreneurial development space and this for me is major statement to be able to give hope to those who do not have hope, those that we need to make things happen for them and to bring alive their dreams”.

He noted that the fund is targeted at young people especially those that the money would make a difference in their entrepreneurial venture.

“Entrepreneurship is one of the things that Tosin stood for and more importantly, it helps to create more jobs for people, so we want to put resources behind those that can help to create more jobs.

“Beyond money we are also going to provide support to them, we are going to train them, the money is just one aspect of the whole deal, and they will have access to our networks and mentors who are going to be helping them. There’s a whole lots of support structure that comes even with the money”, he added.