Dangote, Obasanjo and Prince Andrew Launch an Entrepreneurship Financing Programme for Young African Entrepreneurs

Good news for Africa’s entrepreneurs, as African leaders – political and economic – are stepping up towards seeing the growth of Africa’s entrepreneurship. The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, Africa’s foremost entrepreneur, Aliko Dangote and former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo have decided to drive the empowerment of young African entrepreneurs and their businesses. This will be achieved under the newly launched African Entrepreneurship Programme (AEP), a joint initiative of pitch@palace and The Global African Investment Summit (TGAIS). The AEP with the goal of developing Africa’s private sector through financing and mentoring, will connect young African entrepreneurs and businesses to capital and global investors. Entrepreneurs and startups need to register here for the African Entrepreneurship programme so that they can pitch their ideas to global investors at The Global African Investment Summit taking place later this year. Three entrepreneurs will then be chosen to pitch at the Duke of York’s pitch@palace event in Central Hall, Westminster London on December 1st and 2nd, 2015. Aliko Dangote, one of the sponsors of the AEP said that the programme, “offers a unique platform to support private sector growth with a specific financing lens from outside Africa.” Speaking on the why he decided to be a part of this initiative, he said, “Stimulating entrepreneurship is a key element of achieving Africa’s potential. We need to stop talking of what we need to do to create a stronger private sector and continue with action-oriented steps. I am proud to support the Africa Entrepreneurship Programme.”