Tony Elumelu Foundation, Google introduces fellowship programme to support African business owners
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and Google have announced a new Google.org Fellowship to provide one million more Africans with access to the TEFConnect platform, which connects entrepreneurs with tailored tools, market partnerships, coaches, and investors.
The announcement was made at a TEF headquarters event in Lagos, Nigeria, attended by several African political and business leaders. This is the first Google.org Fellowship in Africa, and nine full-time Google employees will collaborate with the foundation to design and build an upgraded version of the TEFConnect platform, including software engineers, UI/UX researchers, and policy experts.
TEFConnect is already home to over one million African entrepreneurs and provides small businesses with tailored tools, market partnerships, and access to coaches and investors.
“We are delighted to continue to share our unique ability and platform for identifying, training, mentoring, and funding young entrepreneurs across Africa with like-minded institutions such as Google.org, who share our commitment to empowering young African entrepreneurs.” “It will be exciting to see how the refreshed TEFConnect platform will continue to provide a space for growth, personal development, and meaningful exchange for African entrepreneurs,” said Dr Awele V Elumelu, co-founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
Jen Carter, Google.org’s global head of technology, expressed her excitement at the launch of the organization’s first Google.org Fellowship in Africa.
“The Tony Elumelu Foundation does so much to empower African entrepreneurs, and we are delighted to be able to lend the expertise of Googlers to expand the reach of the TEFConnect platform,” she said.
