Elumelu Reveals 2026 Entrepreneurship Cohort on Birthday Celebration
Billionaire philanthropist Tony Elumelu marked his birthday by unveiling the 12th intake of his entrepreneurship programme. He announced the new 2026 cohort on his X account alongside his wife, Awele Elumelu.
Cohort size and reach
The 2026 intake expands to 3,200 entrepreneurs. They represent all 54 African countries. This growth includes placements from the core programme and strategic partners.
Selection and funding
Applicants numbered more than 265,000. Selected entrepreneurs will receive non-refundable seed grants of $5,000 each. That equals $16 million in direct funding.
Winners also gain business training, mentorship, and access to the foundation’s pan-African network. The support is designed to help early-stage founders scale.
Application timeline
The open call began on January 1. It closed on March 1. Successful candidates were announced during the birthday event.
Elumelu’s remarks
Elumelu reflected on his personal journey and the programme’s purpose. He said luck can be engineered and opportunity broadened.
He praised persistence as the main criterion for selection. He noted that the entrepreneurs were chosen for staying the course when progress was hard.
Leadership and mission
Awele Elumelu co‑founded the foundation and joined the public unveiling. Filmogaz.com reported the couple presented the cohort together.
Elumelu called Africa’s people the continent’s greatest resource. He urged the cohort to work toward systemic transformation.
Program significance
- This is the foundation’s 12th cohort.
- The programme supports thousands of young African founders.
- It pairs capital with training and networks to spur growth.
Elumelu revealed the 2026 entrepreneurship cohort during his birthday celebration as part of a long-term commitment. He described the initiative as planting certainty for young entrepreneurs across Africa.
