Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme TEF2021 Mentorship Programme

Yesterday, I was opportune to attend the 2022 TEF Mentors’ Onboarding Session, and it was really insightful and refreshing.

This session was an opportunity for me to learn more about what will be expected of me as a TEF mentor, what I should expect, and how to navigate the mentoring platform.

It was also an opportunity for every mentor to ask questions and get answers. We did ask, and key information was shared as regards the TEF 2022 and the changes that would be made.

You will recall that in 2021, I informed my esteemed subscribers that I was selected as one of the TEF 2021 mentors. During the final stage of the programme, I was assigned the task of reviewing video pitches of applications that had gotten to the final stage.

We were prepped and guidelines were given to us to follow. I was assigned 16 video pitches that I thoroughly reviewed and scored accordingly.

As a TEF judge, the interesting thing about it is that I didn’t know anyone. I was assigned pitches mainly from international and local applicants, and I was professional about it. Yes, what is worth doing is worth doing well.

TEF mentors are volunteers who meet set criteria and are willing to commit to mentoring assigned entrepreneurs for 2 hours monthly, over a 12-month period. TEF Mentors are assigned to no more than 3 mentees in a task-based learning forum and are rewarded with certificates of achievements and value-add opportunities.

I love what the Tony Elumelu Foundation is doing. It’s not enough to give out free grants to entrepreneurs. Connecting every entrepreneur to a mentor is of the utmost importance.

The guidance provided by a mentor, especially an experienced person in the ecosystem, will go a long way towards shaping entrepreneurs and putting them on the right track because it’s a well-functioning mentoring program that requires strategic planning and organization that will not just connect TEF awardees to mentors but also help them to increase knowledge, skills, build capacity and also help them to achieve their business goals and milestones.

For me, it’s an opportunity to share my wealth of experience as a business developer, helping my mentees to plan, start, and grow, and also connect them to opportunities and resources for them to scale.

It is going to be a wonderful experience, and I love it.

If you are applying for the 2022 edition of the Tony Elumelu entrepreneurship programme, the link to submit your application is www.tefconnect.net. Benefits include a $5000 free business grant, free online business training, networking opportunities, and capacity-building opportunities, just to mention but a few.

From the information gathered during the session, after the initial application stage, there would probably be a 6-week online training programme. After the training programme, those that are selected would have to submit their business plan or business plan summary, and if you are successful at this stage, you would move on to the final stage (pitching).

The selection would be handled by a renowned consulting firm. Unlike the last edition, the pitches were reviewed by judges from the mentor’s network.

For more opportunities, visit www.UtibeEtim.com.

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