African investor and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu has challenged the Government of Japan to invest 5 percent of its $50bn commitment to Africa, in empowering African entrepreneurs. Mr Tony Elumelu spoke at the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan, yesterday.

“At TICAD 2016 in Kenya, Japan pledged $30bn for Africa. This year you have generously increased this to $50bn. If we invested just 5% in Africa’s new generation of entrepreneurs, following my Foundation’s robust, proven model of getting capital directly to those best placed to catalyse growth and create real impact, we could touch 500,000 lives, across the 54 African countries, broadening markets, facilitating job creation, improving income per capita, and laying the key foundation for political and economic stability”, Mr Elumelu said.

Mr. Elumelu’s statement captured his vision of a relationship between Japan and Africa, which prioritises economic and shared prosperity. He outlined the three key pillars of a bold and transformative structure: investment in infrastructure, partnership with the African private sector, and investment in youth. He urged Japan to learn from the example of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which champions empowering African entrepreneurs, as the most sustainable means of accelerating the development of Africa.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation, in just five years has assisted over 7,500 African entrepreneurs across every African countries, with seed capital, capacity building, mentorship and networking opportunities through its $100m Entrepreneurship Programme. President of South Africa and Co-Chair, TICAD, Cyril Ramaphosa said: “If you want really good returns, as Mr. Tony Elumelu said, come to Africa. Africa presents risk-adjusted returns and is a market in which investments are flowing at a hundred billion dollars…”

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