Tony Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings, has launched a $100million pan-African entrepreneurship initiative to help grow startup endeavors across the continent.
Ramin Talaie/Getty Images (file)
Key element —
"Entrepreneurship is the cornerstone to African development and the key to local value creation in Africa," explains Elumelu. "I am determined to ensure that Africa's next generation of entrepreneurs have the platform they need to turn their entrepreneurial aspirations into sustainable businesses."
Courtesy Tony Elumelu
World leaders —
Research conducted by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor shows multiple African nations are among the top 10 countries with the highest percentage of adults engaged in entrepreneurship.
Inez Torre/CNN
It's a woman's world —
Globally, Africa has a much higher proportion of female entrepreneurs compared to other regions, with Nigeria and Zambia (both 40.7%) leading the table.
Inez Torre/CNN
Top young changemakers —
The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Program is not the only initiative aimed at helping the continent's entrepreneurs. The Anzisha Prize, set up by the African Leadership Academy and others in 2011, awards businesses that help solve social challenges. Pictured here are the fellows of the 2014 Anzisha Prize at the gala awards ceremony in Johannesburg on September 23.
www.anzishaprize.org
Fueling growth —
Heirs Holdings has backed U.S. President Barack Obama's "Power Africa" plan -- an initiative aiming to double access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa.
