The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is next week set to convene entrepreneurs in Botswana to discuss among other issues, challenges they face in their line of business, Botswana Guardian has heard.
Established in 2010, TEF is the leading philanthropy in Africa championing entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs across the continent. In a press statement, TEF said, besides meeting the budding businesspeople, its Chief Executive Officer ParminderVir OBE,will also speak at the De Beers Diamond Conference to be held in Gaborone, next week November 7-9.
Joining other business leaders on a panel, VirObe will speak on how entrepreneurship can serve as a catalyst for Africa’s development while also highlighting the role of women as drivers of the economy in Africa.
The conference, themed ‘Building a sustainable business model’, will cover a selection of topics including gender equity and diversity, entrepreneurship and partnership for business success and will have in attendance Government Officials, Diamond Industry leaders, private sector, and media.
In line with the Foundation’s mission to catalyse economic and social development in Africa through advocacy and creation of an integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem that promotes African entrepreneurship, While in Botswana TEF will convene entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the SME ecosystem to discuss bridging the gap between the disparate start-up communities across Africa as well as addressing the challenges of entrepreneurs within Botswana.
The Foundation’s long-term investment in empowering African entrepreneurs is emblematic of Tony Elumelu’s philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions Africa’s private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the continent. The Foundation’s flagship initiative, the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, is a 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train mentor and fund 10,000 entrepreneurs, capable of changing the face of business across Africa.