I wrote this guide with 2 categories of people in mind

1. Folks who applied last year (and qualified for the next phase) and are still wondering whether they should reapply

2. Folks who are applying for the very first time

Category 1: If you applied successfully in 2020, you need to reconfirm

I know this is not the answer you were looking for but you are not automatically guaranteed of your place yet. Earlier in 2020, The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) announced the postponement of the 6th edition of its Entrepreneurship Programme and the TEF Forum as a result of the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

To this end the 6th and 7th edition of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme will hold jointly in 2021. As such entrepreneurs who applied for the 2020 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme and have been advised to proceed to the next stage, are kindly requested to review and reconfirm their current submissions via www.tefconnect.net

The portal will open for access and review of previous submissions on February 1st 2021 and reconfirmation must occur by March 31st 2021. It is mandatory for all 2020 applicants to review and reconfirm their submissions.
Once again, if you applied in 2020, do not submit a fresh application. Reconfirm first. And then, you can reapply if TEF says you need to.

If you already have a tefconnect account, follow the instructions below:

Enter your registered email and click on “Forgot Password” to reset your password.
• Once you have reset your password, sign in to access the Home Page.
• Click on “PROGRAMMES” at the top of the page. You can also change your language here.
• Click APPLY on the TEF 2021 Programme.
• Go ahead and fill in your Application form for the programme.
• Click SUBMIT.
• Your eligibility status TO CONTINUE OR NOT will be displayed on the screen and sent to your email.

Category 2: you are applying for the first time

• REGISTER HERE and fill in your First Name, Last Name, email address and select a password. Tick the box to Accept our Data Collection Clause & Privacy Policy and Click on “Join TEFConnect Now” button
  • You will receive an email verification link (sent to your provided email address). Click on the CONFIRM EMAIL button.
  • It will lead you back to a landing page to SIGN IN with your selected email and password details.
  • Select the profile you would like to be registered as i.e., Entrepreneur, Mentor, or Investor/Partner…… (note to be eligible to apply, you need to be registered as an Entrepreneur)
  • Set up your profile on the platform and click on “SAVE & CONTINUE”.
  • This action will lead you to the home page. Click on “PROGRAMMES” at the top of the page. You can also change your language here.
  • Click APPLY on the TEF 2021 Programme.

Glossary of Key terms In The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme

It’s a really long list but I have done the heavy lifting for you. Here’s what you need to know:

“Buffer List”

means the list of Programme Participants who have been scored/ranked closest to the Selected Entrepreneurs;

.

“Business”

means an ongoing endeavour for profit carried on for no more than five (5) years as at the time of Application, whether registered as a company, sole proprietorship, partnership or other legal entity incorporated or registered in Africa and carrying on business and operating in Africa, with an African (or Africans together) owning directly/indirectly more than 50% of the voting or ownership rights in the same;

.

“Seed Capital”

means the funding made available to only Selected Entrepreneurs. The first stage is a non-returnable investment of the local currency equivalent of $5,000 (based on the Central Bank of Nigeria exchange rate as at the date of selection), which is paid into the Business Bank Account of Selected Entrepreneurs; the second stage is a returnable investment, which entrepreneurs will apply for and be considered for based on the viability of their business;

.

“Selected Entrepreneurs”

means Programme Participants who are selected from the Pitching Competition to receive the Seed Capital;

.

“Unsuccessful Applicants”

means Applicants who are not accepted to participate in any stage of the Programme.

Application Process

When you take the online assessment, you will either be successful or unsuccessful.

Successful applicants will be categorised into one of the following categories:

a. Start-Up,

b. Innovator,

c. Disruptor

Unsuccessful Applicants will be categorised as Preparatory and will be directed to take the Free Startup Enterprise Toolkit on TEFConnect and will be eligible to reapply for other TEF Programmes.

The entire program looks like this: