Following the retirement of the incumbent CEO, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, the Board of Trustees of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), one of the top philanthropies promoting young African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, has announced the nomination of Somachi Chris-Asoluka as CEO.
The appointment will be in place starting on March 1, 2023. Since the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme was introduced in 2015, the Foundation has trained more than 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and given out nearly $100 million in direct funding to 18,000 African women and men, who have collectively produced over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The Foundation’s goals are based on Africapitalism, which sees the private sector and entrepreneurs as a key driver of the continent’s social and economic advancement.
The Foundation has developed a distinctive platform for igniting growth throughout the African continent thanks to its capacity to finance, advise, train, and connect young African entrepreneurs.
The robust ability of the Foundation to reach entrepreneurs across geographies and sectors, has enabled it to conduct innovative partnerships with the European Union, United Nations Development Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross, United States Government via the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), The French Development Agency (AFD), The German Development Finance Institution (DEG), German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), African Development Bank (AfDB), and Google, with bespoke programmes including targeting female empowerment and growth in fragile states.
Somachi joined the Foundation in 2014 and was its Head of Research, Head of Policy and External Relations, and most recently its Director of Partnerships and Communications, according to a release.
By utilising her knowledge, experience, and network in her new position as CEO, Somachi would consolidate and strengthen the Foundation’s work of improving Africa via entrepreneurship.
Speaking on the appointment, the Founder, TEF, Tony Elumelu stated: “This is an important time for the Foundation and Africa. Our work is ever more important, and our platform is demonstrating our ability to truly catalyse change. We are increasingly working with partners, to magnify our impact.
“Somachi’s experience in partnership development will be particularly relevant. Somachi, as Director of Partnerships & Communications, has demonstrated strong leadership, commitment, and strategic thinking, in delivering the Foundation’s mission to transform Africa. She is the perfect candidate to build on Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu’s impactful contribution.
“On behalf of the Board, I also thank Ifeyinwa, for her considerable achievements, significant sacrifice and commitment to building and empowering the next generation of African business leaders.
“The Foundation, since inception, has been led by a succession of dynamic and diverse CEOs, who have each brought passion, commitment, and innovation. As the tenure of Ifeyinwa draws to a close, I look back on the last five years and pay tribute to the impact she has made, first as Director of Partnerships, and later as the Chief Executive Officer.”
In response, Ifeyinwa said: “Over the last five years, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has significantly expanded its mission to empower African Entrepreneurs across all 54 African Countries. In particular, the Foundation has grown its partnership capability, opening its platform and process to third parties, who share in our commitment to growing the African entrepreneurial ecosystem, and transforming Africa by empowering entrepreneurs.
“As CEO, it has been my profound joy to lead the dynamic team to empower the next generation of young people whose ideas are transforming Africa.”
Accepting her appointment, Somachi said: “I am honoured to be appointed to lead the Foundation, particularly at a time when we will be launching a new Coalition for African Entrepreneurship.
“This Coalition will bring together global and African partners to significantly increase the impact created by TEF’s unique platform for identifying, mentoring, training and funding young African entrepreneurs.
“I look forward to working with the team, our partners, and all stakeholders to achieve our common goal of a strong, confident, self-reliant Africa. I am honoured to build on Ifeyinwa’s legacy and launch the Tony Elumelu Foundation into its next phase of impact.”
She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Saint Mary’s College of California with a BSc. in Economics and minor in Mathematics, and received the “Adam Smith” award given to the highest performing graduating student in Economics.
She also has a master’s degree in International and Development Economics from Yale University. She is a Deputy Champion of the World Economic Forum (WEF) EDISON Alliance.
