In an unprecedented demonstration of Africa’s rising economic empowerment, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is set to unveil the 12th cohort of its flagship Entrepreneurship Programme on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

This follows a record-shattering surge of over 265,000 applications from across all 54 African nations. This massive influx of interest underscores a continent-wide hunger for transformation, particularly within high-impact sectors like artificial intelligence, agriculture, and the green economy.

This year, the Foundation’s impact scales to new heights, mobilizing $16 million in seed capital to empower 3,200 visionary entrepreneurs through a formidable coalition of partners, including Heirs Holdings Group, the European Commission, IKEA Foundation, UNICEF, and the UNDP. Each selected innovator will receive $5,000 in non-refundable funding, world-class business training via TEFConnect, and elite mentorship to catalyze their growth.

With a selection process rigorously audited by Ernst & Young, these new beneficiaries join a legendary alumni network of 24,000 entrepreneurs who have already generated $4.2 billion in revenue and created 1.5 million jobs.

As Founder Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, maintains, empowering these local creators is the most sustainable path to Africa’s economic sovereignty.

The world is invited to witness this milestone during the virtual announcement at 2:00 p.m. WAT, as a new generation steps forward to lead Africa’s industrial and social revolution.