Business
Foundation To Fund 1,000 Entrepreneurs In 2015
The founder of the Tony
Elumelu Foundation, Mr Tony Elumelu, has said the organisation has set up $100 million fund to help develop 1,000 entrepreneurs in Africa in 2015.
Elumelu, who disclosed this during the foundation’s Africapitalism Institute Annual Advisory Board Meeting in Abuja said the institute was formed in 2014 to research, analyse and advocate public policies and business practices that would unlock opportunities for Africans.
According to him, the organisation will give out $10,000 each to 1,000 entrepreneurs in Africa in 2015, adding that it had already received over 3,000 applications to that effect.
Elumelu said that it would be difficult for Africa to move forward while leaving behind over 50 per cent of its population in penury.
He said Africans, especially women, should be sensitised on how to access the fund, adding that it would bolster inclusiveness in the continent’s economic growth and development.
He debunked insinuation that the African resources had not been adequately mobilised, adding that there had been cases of effective intra and inter-African resources mobilisation.
According to him, unlike in the past when people saved their money outside the continent nowadays, more Africans save and invest on the continent.
“We have seen a couple of such examples. Dangote is one; UBA is another and many others are investing massively in the continent creating the much needed value path and to sustain our economy.
“There is the realisation that the private sector is the key for the development of the continent.
“In furtherance of that, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has put in place 100 million dollars fund to help catalyse the crop of entrepreneurs who will fire up the private sector in Africa,” he said.
During a panel discussion, the Chairman, Cities Growth Commission in the UK, Dr Jim O’Neill, said there was the need for African countries to focus on policies that would ensure sustainable growth.
O’Neill said the continent could help its people by creating more African entrepreneurs, developing more ideas and innovation and creating access to finances.
The Managing Drector, Groupe Jeune Afrique and President, Africa CEO Forum, Mr Amir Yahmed, said that many big companies had emerged from Africa in the last five years.
Yahmed said that a lot needed to be done to encourage the private sector to drive the continent’s economy.
The Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, said there was need for consistency in policy formulation and implementation to encourage investors to invest and operate in the continent.
Olaoluwa said the Federal Government was engaging key players in the manufacturing sector to drive its industrial revolution plan by creating the enabling environment for them to thrive.
He said Nigeria was a net importer of cement about five years ago but had become a major exporter of cement to other African countries.
Olaoluwa said the bank was working with research centres to develop some of the technological research outcomes that could help the country process its agro products into raw materials.
From Left: President, Strategy for Mentoring Indicative and Leadership Empowerment, Mrs Bimpe Martins, Senior Information Officer, Unic, Ms Envera Selimovic, representative of Governor of Lagos State, Mr Seun Akinsaya and representative of unresident coordinator in Nigeria, Ms Colleen Zamba, at the regional launch of the Millennium Development Goals report 2014 in Lagos recently
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said 33 banks have met new minimum capital requirements under its recapitalisation programme, raising a combined N4.65 trillion to strengthen the financial system.
The apex bank disclosed this in a statement marking the end of the exercise, which commenced in March 2024 and drew participation from domestic and foreign investors.
The statement was jointly signed by the Director of Banking Supervision, Olubukola Akinwunmi, and the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi-Ali.
The statement said “Over the 24-month period, Nigerian banks raised a total of N4.65tn in new capital, strengthening the resilience of the financial system and enhancing its capacity to support the economy.”
The regulator said local investors accounted for 72.55 per cent of the funds, while international investors contributed 27.45 per cent, reflecting continued confidence in the sector.
Commenting on the outcome, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said in the statement, “The recapitalisation programme has strengthened the capital base of Nigerian banks, reinforcing the resilience of the financial system and ensuring it is well-positioned to support economic growth and withstand domestic and external shocks.”
It added that while 33 banks have complied with the new thresholds, a few others are still undergoing regulatory and legal processes.
The statement noted, “The CBN confirms that 33 banks have met the revised minimum capital requirements established under the programme.
“A limited number of institutions remain subject to ongoing regulatory and judicial processes, which are being addressed through established supervisory and legal frameworks.
“All banks remain fully operational, ensuring continued access to banking services for customers.”
The apex bank stressed that the exercise was executed without disrupting banking operations, ensuring uninterrupted access to services nationwide.
It further stated that key prudential indicators have improved, particularly capital adequacy ratios, which remain above global Basel benchmarks.
The minimum ratios were set at 10 per cent for regional and national banks and 15 per cent for banks with international licences.
The bank also said the recapitalisation coincided with a gradual exit from regulatory forbearance, a move it said improved asset quality, strengthened balance sheet transparency, and enhanced overall stability.
To preserve these gains, the CBN said it has reinforced its risk-based supervision framework, mandating periodic stress tests and adequate capital buffers for banks.
It added that supervisory and prudential guidelines would be reviewed regularly to strengthen governance, risk management, and resilience across the sector.
“The successful completion of the programme establishes a stronger and more resilient banking system, better positioned to support lending, mobilise savings, and withstand domestic and global shocks,” the statement said.
The Tide learnt that foreign capital inflows into Nigeria’s banking sector rose by 93.25 per cent year-on-year to $13.53bn in 2025, up from $7.00bn recorded in 2024, amid the ongoing recapitalisation drive by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics capital importation report showed that the banking sector remained the dominant destination for foreign capital, accounting for $13.53bn of the total $23.22bn recorded in 2025, representing 58.26 per cent of total inflows, up from 56.81 per cent in 2024.
The surge reflects heightened investor interest in Nigerian banks as they raised fresh capital to meet new regulatory thresholds introduced by the apex bank, with industry-wide recapitalisation activities driving large-scale inflows across all quarters of the year.
However, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) recently raised concerns over weak credit flows to small businesses despite recent banking sector reforms.
The CPPE, led by a renowned economist, Dr Muda Yusuf, acknowledged that the ongoing bank recapitalisation exercise by the CBN has strengthened the financial system, but warned that the benefits have yet to translate into meaningful support for the real economy.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
