Mother of African Entrepreneurs (2019)
In 2019, as I stepped down from my role as CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, my team created Mother of African Entrepreneurs, a heartwarming video celebrating my journey and leadership. Working alongside such a dedicated and committed group of individuals was an incredible honour, and I remain grateful to have been part of their professional growth.
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of TEF (2020): A Message from Parminder Vir OBE
The year 2020 marked the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s 10th anniversary, a significant milestone overshadowed by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic’s impact on Africa and its SMEs was profound and deeply felt across the continent.
Unable to gather in Lagos, Nigeria, to celebrate this milestone in person, I created the short film Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of TEF (2020): A Message from Parminder Vir OBE in collaboration with David Monfort. This film captures the spirit of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme—harnessing the ingenuity and creativity of African entrepreneurs and equipping young people with the tools to dream, hope, and imagine a brighter future.
As I reflected on what TEF represents to me, three words resonated deeply: imagination, hope, and change. These ideals encapsulate TEF’s mission and the transformative impact it has had on the lives of entrepreneurs across the continent.
This final set of films is not just a reflection on my five-year tenure at TEF but also a celebration of the programme’s enduring legacy. It underscores the remarkable strides made in championing African entrepreneurs and continues to inspire my work in advancing entrepreneurship across Africa.
About the Production Team
As I conclude this series, I’d like to spotlight the incredible team that brought these stories to life.
David Monfort directed and edited many of the films produced during my tenure at TEF. David is a talented videographer, photographer, and director who founded DAGENCY in 2014. DAGENCY, based in Paris, is a production company specialising in reports, documentaries, and social media content, focusing on entrepreneurship and equal opportunities.
David and I crossed paths in 2015, just a few months before the inaugural TEF Entrepreneurship Forum held in July 2015. For the next four years, David travelled to Lagos annually, expertly capturing the energy and spirit of the thousands of entrepreneurs who attended the forum. His iconic images continue to resonate today. Beyond photography, David produced many brilliant television commercials for TEF that aired globally on CNN and played a pivotal role in creating our documentaries.
Obinna Okerekeocha is a professional artist who began working at TEF as a brand programme manager in August 2014. A natural storyteller, gifted filmmaker, painter, digital designer, video artist, sound designer, composer and musician, he went on to work as a Creative Director at REDTV, UBA’s video-on-demand platform, and served as cinematographer on the 2018 TEF documentary.
Chudy Wehimi is an artist, photographer, entrepreneur, and branding expert based in Lagos, Nigeria, and he worked as a film editor on the final TEF documentary.
