FOUNDATION OFFERS ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING
Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has opened for applications for their 4th cycle of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
Speaking at a press briefing on February 1, one of the beneficiaries of the programme, Mr Shima Keakopa encouraged Batswana entrepreneurs of age 18 and above who have start-ups or business ideas to apply.
Mr Keakopa said since its inception TEF has selected 11 entrepreneurs from Botswana from ICT, agriculture, education, manufacturing and transport disciplines. He said the programme provided training, mentoring, funding and network access to catalyse growth in Africa’s most undervalued resource, its entrepreneurs.
He further said entrepreneurs who passed through the programme became part of a growing network of business leaders across Africa.
Mr Keakopa said he got funded in 2017 to the tune of about P55 000 and had since employed four people. He further said one needed not to have a registered business to be considered, and thus encouraged Batswana to use the opportunity to put their ideas into practice.
For his part, TEF representative in Botswana and H&G Advertiser managing director, Mr Knight Ganje said what the foundation was doing was to create opportunities for entrepreneurs that need seed capital and the organisational structure needed to start a business.
“You also get free mentorship and an opportunity to go to Nigeria to meet other selected individuals who are soon to be alumni of the programme,” he said, adding “this programme will provide what the entrepreneurs need which is mentorship, guidance and an open door.”
Mr Ganje said one of the beneficiaries doing well in the market was Ludo Healthy Hair Solutuions which was into hair manufacturing and has contracts with over 10 Choppies stores country wide.
Botswana has set a target of about 5 000 applications this year to try to improve the quality of the applications as well as getting the message to people who are true entrepreneurs.
Applications can be done through the Tony Elumelu Foundation website. (BOPA)
