Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu is CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Africa’s leading philanthropy empowering young African entrepreneurs from the continent.

One of the biggest concerns about entrepreneurs – especially in Africa – is the probability of their business survival through time. In Africa, women make up 58% of the continent’s self-employed population. Yet they seldom get the recognition they deserve for their role in sustaining local economies/informal industries. They also do not receive the appropriate support they need to take their businesses to the next level. Some of the challenges faced by women in Africa and youth come from lack of access to networks, funding, and market linkages. Through TEFConnect, we are contributing to digital upskilling and capacity building around digital entrepreneurship. It is the largest online network of African entrepreneurs who are interested in connecting with investors and business leaders. The platform empowers young entrepreneurs to build investible businesses by training and mentoring, provides them with easy access to market, and connects them with other African Entrepreneurs.

More information: https://www.ugent.be/en/research/devcooperation/sdgsessions