Biography of Desmond Elliot

https://www.instagram.com/desmondelliot

Desmond Elliott

• I Grassroot Politician @doeeffects_
Ex-CEO Denziot Productions
YT Channel - @dement_tv Actor, Producer & Director
www.desmondelliot.tv

Biography of Dr Mrs. Seun Bosede Osamaye

Born on 9th September, Dr. Mrs Seun Abosede Osamaye is the current 

the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ondo S

Tony Elumelu Foundation Opens Applications for the 2026 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) —  an African private-sector-led philanthropy dedicated to empowering African entrepreneurs has opened it's portal (www.tefconnect.com) to accept applications for the 2024 cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme on Saturday, January 1, 2024.

This was made known in a statement via the official website of the foundation.  Applications are to be made through TEFConnect, the digital networking hub for the African entrepreneurship ecosystem, created by the Foundation.

This year’s intervention prioritises the economic recovery of small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and young African entrepreneurs, following the Covid-19 disruption to economic activities.

To address the unique challenges arising from the pandemic, lift millions out of poverty and create sustainable employment across the continent, the foundation’s entrepreneurship programme will empower 1,000 young African entrepreneurs, selected from the 2020 cohort. The foundation will also open applications to an additional 2,400 young entrepreneurs in collaboration with global partners.

Successful TEF applicants receive world-class business training, mentorship, non-refundable seed capital up to $5,000, and global networking opportunities. The programme is open to entrepreneurs across Africa, both new start-ups and existing young businesses, operating in any sector.

CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu stated: “The Tony Elumelu Foundation now more than ever is demonstrating our commitment to unleashing the potential of young African entrepreneurs, the key to Africa’s long-term economic transformation.

“The pandemic has created challenges across the continent, but we know that with the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s tried and tested Programme, we can execute the largest Covid-19 economic recovery plan for African SMEs and break the cycle of poverty in Africa.”

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF)  Entrepreneurship Programme is open to entrepreneurs from across Africa, either with new startup ideas or existing businesses of less than 3 years existence, operating in any sector. 

Read: Numerous NGOs exist due to Government's Laxity- Interview with Bolu Okunlola

According to the release,  successful applicants will join the over 9,000 current beneficiaries, from 54 African countries, and receive business training, mentoring, a non-refundable $5,000 of seed capital and global networking opportunities.

In 2019, the Foundation received about 216,000 applications, with 42% coming from women entrepreneurs, from every country on the continent.

The Programme is a 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 young African entrepreneurs. The goal is to create millions of jobs and the revenue required for the sustainable development of the continent, implementing the philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector as the growth engine for Africa and emphasises the importance of creating social and economic wealth.

According to the Foundation's 2018 Impact Report, 70% of the total number of businesses in its alumni network were still operational two years after benefitting from the Programme. The report also identified an increase of 189% revenue generated and 197% increase in the number of additional jobs created by beneficiaries post-graduation from the Programme, as well as a 100% commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The programme, which launched in 2015 to empower 10,000 entrepreneurs over 10 years, is now entering its seventh year and has empowered to date over 9,000 young African entrepreneurs from 54 African countries.

Source: TEF.

Biography of Nosakhare Tunde-Oni

https://www.instagram.com/nosa.tundeoni o
•Il 3G
Nosakhare Tunde-Oni

Entrepreneur
Pan-African Strategist & Advisor
Helping Africa's builders think smarter & grow wiser.
At work on @ntoadvisory @houseoftalar @mycentreoffice

Biography of Abiri Roland Tobi Festus (Folagade Banks)

Abiri Roland Tobi Folagade Banks who is popularly known as Folagbade Banks, is an award winning content producer, event host, TV Host, actor, brand influencer and skit maker.

Mama Deola is a Persona created by Folagade Banks.

"I wasn't ready to dress the part and give the character a face. I just wanted to do it in the little way I could, and people liked it" says Folagade Banks

Folagade Banks gained widespread recognition when he adopted the character of a self-righteous Yoruba mother, Mama Deola, in his skits.

In Nigeria's competitive field of content creators, Mama Deola stands out with her signature brown rope, head tie, quirky shoes, and unique accent. This comedic character blends humour with cultural insights, making Folagade's storytelling uniquely engaging and relatable.

 

Read: Biography of Mide Funmi Martins

https://www.youtube.com/@MamaDeola

Folagbade Banks is active on social media. You can connect with him via his official handles on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and X. For more collaborations, you can also contact Folagade Banks via mail here.

Biography of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa

Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa was born on 1st December, 1965 to the family of (family name) in (home town), Ondo State Nigeria.

Growing up, Governor Lucky attended 

Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is happily married to his heartthrob, Esther Oluwaseun Anikeade Aiyedatiwa, who was born on July 15th

Lucky Ayedatiwa is active on social media. You can connect with him via his official handles on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Ondo State at 50: Reflections from the Past and What Still Lies Ahead by Nelson Ayomitunde Vincent

As a child, I often heard Ondo State called the Sunshine State. It was more than a slogan; it reflected a belief that this was a place of promise, learning, and quiet excellence.

Fifty years later, that belief deserves reflection.

Ondo was built on strong cultural foundations: a deep respect for education, productive land, and a people known for dignity and discipline. For decades, the state produced teachers, professionals, and public servants who contributed meaningfully across Nigeria and beyond. That legacy remains one of Ondo's greatest assets.

Yet anniversaries require honesty.

For a state so rich in human capital and natural resources, Ondo has not consistently translated potential into broad-based development. Progress has been made, but unevenly. Education, once a defining strength, has struggled to adapt to modern demands. Agriculture remains underutilized as an economic driver. Infrastructure improvements exist, but many communities remain distant from their promise.

These are not indictments; they are realities.

What has sustained Ondo through these years is its people - from the teachers who persevered despite system failures, farmers who worked the land with limited support, health workers serving communities under strain, and young people whose ambitions extend far beyond their immediate environment. In many ways, the resilience of citizens has compensated for institutional weaknesses.

At 50, the question before Ondo State is not whether it has survived, but whether it is ready to align its potential with purpose.

What would it look like if education were reimagined for a digital, global economy? If agriculture moved beyond subsistence to structured value chains? If young people saw opportunity at home, not only elsewhere? If development was measured not merely by projects, but by improved quality of life? These questions matter because fifty years is not an ending, but an inflection point.

The future of Ondo State will depend on deliberate planning, continuity of vision, and leadership that connects policy with lived experience. Progress does not demand perfection, but it does require discipline, sincerity, and courage.

The Sunshine State still has light to offer. Whether it shines brighter in the next fifty years will depend on the choices we make today, and our collective willingness to build a state that reflects the best of its people.

Nelson Ayomitunde Vincent is a Nigerian Lawyer, writer, and development-focused communicator with a keen interest in Media, Law, Education and Public Policy.