I experienced the rare privilege to speak at the prelaunch of the “Coalition for African Entrepreneurs” in Lagos @whitehouse as a @tonyelumelufoundation Entrepreneur. This initiative was initiated by the inspiring US VP, @kamalaharris and is to be implemented by
@mastercardafrica and #TEF
I told them my story, about how I took action with my business idea on the need to add value to African foods. I attended the Processing and Packaging expo @PACKEXPO in Chicago in 2016 and returned to Lagos with a food dehydrator and a food processor in 2017.
I spoke about the importance of the foundation in empowering entrepreneurs like myself. The foundation gave me excellent trainings and credibility as an entrepreneur.
Now, is the time to share this.
Last year, we concluded the pilot supply of all the processing and packaging machines for the Lagos State Appeals Project which is a World Bank assisted project. The beneficiaries were a cluster of fish farmers who needed to add value to their catfish and produce global standard processed fish.
We locally fabricated the smoking kilns and the coldroom, then supplied imported food dehydrator, worktables, and commercial vaccum sealers.
A man I had never met before, had reached out via Instagram to ask for machines on his list and I later discovered he was from the Ministry of Agriculture. Engr A (as I would term him) later told me that it was the people from World Bank who asked him to reach out to me to procure the machines. This fact blows my mind EVERY single time I think about it. I believe being an alumna played a big part. To my friends at WB, a big God bless you!
I told the officials from various Embassies and Development Institutions that we, African entrepreneurs, need a more enabling environment, we need Incubation Centres, (the wait list at our government Incubation centres are more than they can handle for now); and we need Energy!
What else would you say are the challenges we face as entrepreneurs?
May our businesses thrive on.
I am included and will #InspireInclusion
Happy International Women’s Day to every woman; I celebrate you! #IWD#IWD2024#AfricanEntrepreneur
