Blog about Art, Poetry and Prose

Blog about Art, Poetry and Prose

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Applications For Elumelu Foundation Cohort Rises By 650%, Forum Holds Oct. 25



Africapitalism promoter and chairman, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), on Tuesday urged more of the continent’s successful entrepreneurs to partner in the task of mentoring and raising the next generation of African success stories.

A statement by the leading entrepreneurship-focused philanthropic organisation, announcing the foundation’s 4th Annual Entrepreneurship Forum scheduled for October 25, 2018, in Lagos, noted that this has become expedient against the backdrop of the number of interests expressed in its yearly cohort.
According to Elumelu, who is also chairman of the United Bank for Africa Plc and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), “we will be championing and celebrating them. This year, we are truly achieving scale and impact; we received over 150,000 applications in 2017 alone, up from 20,000 applications in 2015 (650%).

“We are now calling on the current generation of African success stories and others to partner with us to see how we can all further create impact, genuinely transform millions of lives and increase the number of inspiring stories we will be hearing in Lagos”.
Elumelu also expressed satisfaction that in just four year, TEF has “directly impacted 4,460 entrepreneurs, and we are beginning to see the results – job creation, ripple effects, but most importantly a recognition that Africa’s economic well-being is driven by entrepreneurs: female and male, large and small – they are the engine of our continent’s transformation.
The event, the statement continued, will unite over 5,000 entrepreneurs, global investors, leaders from the African public and private sectors and developmental organisations.

The 2018 cohort, a unique opportunity to generate ideas, forge networks and bring policymakers and the private sector together, in a spirit of robust debate and interaction, the statement added, will bring mentors face-to-face with partners, culminating intensive 12-week induction programme.
In line with the Foundation’s tradition, the Forum will include an interactive session with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, moderated by the TEF Founder.

The Forum will also feature the launch of the TEFConnect, the world’s largest digital platform for African entrepreneurs, dedicated to connecting African entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Also, Chief Executive of TEF, Parminder Vir assured that “the TEF Entrepreneurship Forum is the only event across the continent that brings together the complete African entrepreneurship ecosystem, demonstrating our commitment to capturing the whole continuum – from the entrepreneurs themselves, governments who must provide enabling environments, to capital, advice and perhaps most importantly access and network”.
Inspired by Tony Elumelu’s economic philosophy of Africapitalism and his vision to institutionalise luck and democratise opportunity for a new generation of African entrepreneurs, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has implemented one of the most ambitious entrepreneurship programmes globally.

The Programme is a 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor, and fund 10,000 entrepreneurs. Its goal is to invest in businesses that will generate at least 1,000,000 new jobs and contribute at least $10 billion in new annual revenues across Africa. In its 4th year, TEF Entrepreneurship Programme has empowered 4,460 entrepreneurs with a total investment of USD20m; 4,000 funded directly by the Foundation and 460 have been funded by partners.

https://investdata.com.ng/2018/08/applications-for-elumelu-foundation-cohort-rises-by-650-forum-holds-oct-25/

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

TRUST IN GOD



If you are tired of being broke
Tired of been wrong
If you are tired of giving up hope
Look up to the sky and beyond

From heaven comes the rain
By night and doing the day
Our needs, God can sustain
Each and every day

He made the sea
And planted the trees
He gave man eyes
Beauty of the world to see

When God gives a man riches
He does not add sorrow to it
He seek man because He loves us
There is better life than the bread we eat

God never made man to suffer
But sin is pulling God hands back
His promises still is on offer
If only you can give Him back your heart

Don't let the world fool you
Life can only give you temporary gain
God has deposited greatness in you
Acknowledge it and life will never be the same

This is not a story you read in children's book
There is abundant of things you can have
Righteousness, you should first seek
The life we once despise will thrive

All Rights Reserved © Akan Udofia 2018

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

I AM LEAVING


I am leaving
Don't know when I will be back again
I tried to put up with the world 
But every day is just the same

No one to come to my aid
When the sun was down
I cried but no one saw my pain
Yet haters would not let me be

I thread very hard without pleasure
Yet success could not be measure
Clinged to every step I climb
Patiently waiting for the right time

But every second on my neck is a snare
Truly I never wanted to walk away
Truly, neither do l want to walk away
Nor did love, care, comfort ever came to stay.

All Rights Reserved © Akan Udofia 2018