Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has announced a $15 million grant to support 3,000 budding entrepreneurs from 52 African countries.

Tony Elumelu, founder, TEF, made this known on Sunday in Abuja during the unveiling of the 2025 cohort of the foundation’s Entrepreneurship Programme.

He stated that each beneficiary would receive a $5,000 seed grant to kick-start their businesses.

Elumelu, who is also chairman of Heirs Holdings, Transcorp, and United Bank for Africa (UBA), reaffirmed his commitment to empowering African entrepreneurs and transforming the continent’s economic landscape.

According to Elumelu, the foundation aims to democratise opportunity across the continent, fostering economic growth and providing young Africans with access to funding and mentorship.

“We had a vision that started in 2010; one that envisions a self-sustaining Africa, driven by the energy, vision, and resilience of young entrepreneurs.

“We understand the challenges they face in contributing to Africa’s economic transformation.

“If empowered and encouraged, these young Africans can drive meaningful change,” he said.

He noted that capital alone was not enough, highlighting the importance of business education, mentorship, and training in building successful entrepreneurs.

The entrepreneurship programme, which began in 2015, originally set out to economically empower 10,000 young Africans over 10 years, each receiving $5,000 in seed capital.

“This year marks the 15th anniversary of the foundation, and we have made a considerable impact across all 54 African countries.

“In the 21st century, Africa does not need aid; what it needs is investment in its youth,” Elumelu said.

Somachi Chris-Asoluka, chief executive officer (CEO), TEF, noted that since the programme’s launch in 2015, the foundation had.disbursed over $100 million to more than 21,000 young entrepreneurs across Africa.

According to Chris-Asoluka, these businesses have collectively created 1.5 million enterprises, and generated $4.5 billion in revenue.

“Our entrepreneurs have demonstrated that ideas are the lifeblood of the African continent.

“For the 2025 cohort, we received over 200,000 applications, and from this pool, 3,000 entrepreneurs from 52 African countries will receive $15 million in funding.

“Each entrepreneur will receive a $5,000 non-refundable seed grant; this is neither a loan nor equity,” she stated.

She further assured that the foundation had a monitoring and evaluation platform in place to track progress after disbursement, ensuring that beneficiaries adhered to their approved business plans.

National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has urged Nigerians to dispose of used batteries responsibly to prevent environmental and health hazards.

Innocent Barikor, director-general of NESREA, stressed the need to upgrade the lead-acid battery recycling sector in Nigeria and Africa.

He told Vanguard Newspaper recently that improper disposal of batteries poses severe risks to public health and called for strict adherence to environmental regulations.

He noted that Nigeria had already introduced regulations for the battery sector and emphasized the need for enforcement.

Barikor also highlighted the importance of standardizing battery recycling regulations across Africa, stressing that non-uniform policies hinder progress.

He further noted that the recent international conference was organized to bring together stakeholders and experts from other countries to discuss solutions and best practices for improving lead-acid battery recycling in Africa.

He said, “Nigerians should simply avoid breaking batteries. There are registered collectors trained to handle used batteries. If you’re through with your battery, send it to the people who know how to collect and dispose of it properly.

“The regulation is not meant to shut down businesses but to ensure batteries are handled responsibly. More batteries will be needed due to the transition to green energy, but we must prevent lead contamination.

“Part of the challenge we have today is the lack of standardization among African countries. If regulations are uniform, companies will have no choice but to comply,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr. Leslie Adogame, executive director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV), called for cleaner recycling technologies in the lead-acid battery sector.

According to Adogame, a policy framework was developed following global concerns over Nigeria’s lead recycling practices, which led to increased scrutiny from international investors.

He explained that European investors buying lead from Nigeria had cut ties with some facilities due to pollution concerns, which prompted regulatory changes.

He said, “When we examined the industry, we found many sharp practices under the guise of recycling. While recycling is good, brown recycling—where pollution is not controlled—is harmful.

“You cannot put the economy above people’s health. If facilities must be shut down to protect lives, then that’s what should be done,” he stated.

On the adoption of cleaner technologies, Adogame added, “We are not promoting a particular technology, but industries must embrace best practices. If you must recycle, use equipment that does not pollute the environment.”

Meanwhile, Andreas Manhart, coordinator of the Partnership for Responsible Battery and Metal Recycling (ProBaMet),  highlighted efforts to improve lead-acid battery recycling in Nigeria.

He noted that informal recycling practices contribute to severe pollution and called for sustained efforts to protect public health.

“The project has introduced improved recycling technologies, trained recyclers, and worked with government agencies to enforce stricter regulations.

“Continuous enforcement of environmental laws, investment in modern recycling facilities, and stronger collaboration between stakeholders are necessary to minimize lead contamination,” he added.

Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has explained the reasons why it is clamping down on illegal and unlicensed courier and logistics operators in Enugu State.

The Courier and Logistics Regulatory Department (CLRD) team of NIPOST, began the enforcement operations by sealing offices of unlicensed operators and confiscating some motorbikes belonging to illegal and unlicensed operators.

It was gathered that some of the affected operators had been issued with demand notices since 2023, with them not showing any interest in complying with the provisions of the law.

Gideon Shonde, general manager, CLRD, who spoke to newsmen during the exercise in Enugu, said NIPOST was enforcing its regulatory mandates with the exercise, which he said was necessary to sanitize the sector especially as the Postal, Express, Courier and Logistics industry in Nigeria had been proliferated and infiltrated with so many unlicensed and illegal courier and logistics operators, posing serious threats to Nigerians.

While disclosing that he and his team had visited Enugu before now with compliance level still very low, he lamented that there had been unethical practices, such as price undercutting, pilfering, broaching, damages, loss and dumping of customers items, poaching and subletting of operating licenses with a mountain of public complaints about customers being duped or obtaining money from them under pretences, no traceable office address nor registered brand name.

Shonde pointed out the issue of public safety and security threats, due to carriage of illicit drugs and prohibited items like small arms and ammunition, guns, gold, monies, and obscene items, among other illicit items.

He, however, said any interested private investors into the Postal, Express, Courier and Logistics business should follow due process and obtain a grant of operating Licenses from the Federal Government.

He advised that they should obtain a grant of Operating License from the NIPOST postmaster general as stipulated by the extant laws or risk facing the full wrath of the law, and prosecution.