Volunteering in Nigeria
Tony Elumelu Foundation
The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the only one of its kind in the world. Mr Elumelu has pioneered and demonstrated the height of giving back to the society. The foundation has taken upon itself to help and support 10,000 businesses in Africa, to create one million jobs and to generate $10 Billion revenue.
This is the amazing spirit of Mr Elumelu who is also respectfully known as the Lion king.
When we learnt about this great work last year, our director immediately approached the Foundation office to offer our contribution to this great cause.
Siraj took on two entrepreneurs under his care immediately. He committed with full passion to the two startups. They were given weekly regular sessions over the phone. Both the businesses were successful in submitting their completed business plans and were invited to a great graduation forum on 13 and 14 October 2017.
Siraj volunteered to attend the forum in Lagos, Nigeria and to the opportunity to meet, congratulate and support his mentees in person.
He says “The forum was an amazing experience, one of its kind I have ever experienced. I could feel the fire, the passion, the hunger to succeed, the urge to do something, when I met and spoke to countless entrepreneurs. I was impressed by the drive put into them by the TEF.
I gave up my hotel to stay on campus at the Nigerian Law School to be able to be where the action was. I’m so glad I did that. The days started about 7am and I was out with the young people until just before midnight. I was amazed by their questions, their height of motivation, their stories… From chicken farming, E-learning, prosthetic limbs, hair dressers, fashion designers, engineers, solar pv, organic beauty products, a language school, farming equipment, oil and gas. What a variety! I wish them all the success and wait to hear from the dozens who wanted me to follow their progress as it unfolds.”
Tony Elumelu Foundation – www.tonyelumelufoundation.org