A foundation backing students and first-time founders in Nigeria, with mentors attached
The Eli Adewole Foundation pairs education and business grants with mentorship and skills training. Its argument is that money alone rarely gets a young person from potential to progress.
Lagos — Plenty of organisations give young Africans a grant. Fewer stay around afterwards. The Eli Adewole Foundation is built on the idea that the second part is what makes the first one work.
The foundation supports students, young entrepreneurs and emerging leaders with a mix of education funding, business grants, mentorship and practical training. It sums up its purpose in one line: "We help promising people move from potential to progress."
Two grants
It offers two kinds of funding.
- An education grant for students who need financial support to stay in school or complete their studies.
- An entrepreneurship grant for people starting or growing a business.
What comes with the money
Around the grants sit four programmes: entrepreneurship training and business support; a mentorship scheme that matches young people with experienced mentors; education support; and skills acquisition training aimed at making people employable and able to earn.
The foundation says it serves "students who need education support, young entrepreneurs who need structure and resources, emerging leaders who need guidance, and youth who need skills that can help them become employable and income-ready".
Its founder and chairman, Jay Adewole, describes the thinking behind it as a belief that "entrepreneurship can create jobs, strengthen communities, and drive long-term transformation". Day-to-day leadership sits with the executive director, James Adeniyi.
Where it stands
The foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in the United States and a registered non-profit in Nigeria, and says it holds consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It is a partner of the African Coalition for Development.
How to take part
Applications are open on its website for mentees, and for people willing to serve as mentors or volunteers. It also takes donations and partnerships.
More information: eliadewolefoundation.org.
Disclosure: the Eli Adewole Foundation was founded by Jay Adewole, who is Editor-in-Chief of Pan African News Media and president of the African Coalition for Development, which owns this newsroom. This article is based on information the foundation publishes about itself.
