By Mary Kabay
On the 22nd January 2021, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the United Bank of Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone convened a Press Conference geared towards sensitizing the youth of the country about the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). The Press Briefing was held at the new Brookfields Hotel on King Harman Road in Freetown.
According to the Managing Director of UBA Sierra Leone, Usman Siaka, the objective of the TEF is to work in the direction of empowering women and men across the continent by catalysing economic growth, drive poverty eradication and ensuring job creation.
He furthered that TEF is of the conviction that the private sector’s role is critical for Africa’s development especially as it creates both social and economic wealth.
He said the Tony Elumelu Foundation 2021 TEF Entrepreneurship Program application for grants for this year commenced on the 1st of January 2021 and will close on the 31st March 20121.
“The Application portal for the submission of business proposals for the grant is available on TEF Connect digital platform (WWW.tefconnect.com),” he revealed.
The Managing Director said this year’s intervention prioritizes the economic recovery of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and young African entrepreneurs, following the COVID-19 disruption to economic activities.
He added that as an integral part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, UBA Sierra Leone remains committed to working with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, TEF Alumni and the media in promoting the call year- on- year, revealing how they have put together an array of activities that will drive public awareness.
Mohamed E. Kamara, one of the successful Alumnus of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the Chief Executive Officer of Light Salone Innovation, made a presentation on his journey through the TEF and how he utilized the $5,000 grant that was given to him.
He disclosed how he has empowered about 100 youth across the country using his innovative skills.
Mohamed also disclosed that he conducted workshops right across the country during which he trained over 300 youth on Rural Electrification further revealing that he invented a local antenna that can give transmission to all TV sets.
The CEO of Light Salone Innovation said he is requesting for more funds to help his vision grow bigger and thanked the TEF for their financial and technical supports to help him actualize his dreams.
Phebean Swill –Randall, another Alumnus of the TEF, shared her experiences so far being part of the Foundation as a Content Producer underscoring that what helped her most was the qualified mentorship training she went through before receiving the grant.
She said her best experience is connecting with different beneficiaries in other parts of Africa with the willingness to help her in time.
Phebean also encouraged young people to be part of the Foundation because it is free and it will help them to be independent rather than falling for the trappings of politicians.
The Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura in his statement said he wants to change the narrative of the youth and help them have better lives. He also encouraged young people to apply for the grants from the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
“This is a huge opportunity for the Sierra Leonean youth though most are shying away from it,” he enjoined highlighting that he wants the youth to compete with youths in other African countries among the 54 countries which include Ghana and Nigeria.
He disclosed that Government has given the National Youth Commission Service (NYSC) 5 billion Leones to engage the youth in eco- tourism, music, photography and many more.
The Youth Minister ended by disclosing that the UBA Bank Sierra Leone has many goodies for the youth in the country in terms of availing them the opportunity to save monies in bank accounts and actualize their benefits as they save their profits.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation was established in 2010 and is the leading champion of entrepreneurship in Africa through its $100m fund for the identification training, maintaining, and provision of $5,000.00 seed capital to 1,000 young African entrepreneurs annually over a 10year period that started from 2015.
