As the CEO of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, I produced the final instalment of our documentary series, Empowering African Entrepreneurs: A Story of Impact, which was released in December 2018. This 30-minute documentary encapsulates the transformative journey of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme from 2015 to 2017, showcasing the stories of 12 remarkable entrepreneurs out of the 3,000 empowered through training, mentoring, seed capital investment, and a pan-African alum network.
Featured entrepreneurs include:
- Ndubuisi Eze (Ariel Industries)
- Nkem Okocha (Mamamoni)
- Joel Cherop (Ataari River Integrated Irrigation Initiative)
- Rachel Anyanwu (Café Blendia)
- Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti (Parliamo Bambini)
- Edmond Nonie (Track Your Build)
- Maureen Awino Amakabane (Usafi)
- Farida Musa (Farida’s Atelier)
- Lynda Nanu Ng’Eno (Favoloso by Nanu)
- Agboneni Osazoduwa (Nenis Autocare)
- Housseynatou Diallo (Baaxu Maam)
- Jeremie Nze Biang (Okoumea Gabon)
These entrepreneurs’ stories, captured on location, form the heart of the documentary. Their narratives showcase their motivations, challenges, and growth journeys—a testament to the programme’s lasting impact. Many of their businesses continue to thrive, while others have pivoted to new ventures with the skills and insights gained from the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
Supported by findings from the TEF Impact Report 2015–2017 (based on a survey of over 1,500 respondents), the documentary is structured into five parts:
- The motivation behind the businesses created by TEF entrepreneurs.
- The benefits of the 12-week training programme, which provided invaluable business insights, mentorship, and peer support.
- The programme’s impact, including a reported tripling of business revenue and significant job creation during the first three years.
- Recognition achieved by TEF entrepreneurs and their businesses—from hosting country leaders to showcasing on international fashion runways and expanding their businesses globally.
- The role of partnerships in sustaining and expanding the programme, with contributions from organisations such as the ICRC, AFD, and UNDP.
The film was edited by Chudy Wehimi, with cinematography by Obinna Okerekeocha, and supported by Tope Abudi, the Foundation’s Digital Marketing Manager. It is a powerful tribute to entrepreneurship in Africa.
The documentary premiered at the 2018 TEF Entrepreneurship Forum in Lagos, Nigeria, in the presence of esteemed guests, including Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo.
Revisiting this documentary is an opportunity to reflect on the programme’s impact during its first three years and consider its legacy today, a decade later. Have the predictions of Africa as a land of opportunities been realised?
