The Tony
Elumelu Foundation makes first grant of $150,000 toward landmark pan-African
venture
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| Tony Elumelu |
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,
Chairperson of the African Union Commission presented, the objectives of the
Foundation for voluntary contributions towards financing African priorities at
the Headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In attendance
were the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Mr. Erastus Mwencha, the AU
Commissioners, the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Mr. P.J. Patterson, and
first members of the inaugural council and guests.
Established by the AU
Assembly in May 2013, the African Union Foundation aims to finance African
priorities through voluntary contributions. The mission of the Foundation is to
“mobilize resources in support of the African Union’s vision of an integrated, people-centred
and prosperous Africa, at peace with itself and taking its rightful place in
the world.” To accomplish this mission, the Foundation will focus
on five key programme areas in its first five years: 1) skills and human
resource development, 2) women’s empowerment and gender equality, 3) regional
integration, 4) youth development and entrepreneurship, and 5) advocacy and
support for the African Union.
“It is time for Africa to
mobilize our own resources in support of our development and take charge of our
own destiny,” said Chairperson Zuma. The Foundation will strive to more deeply
engage Africa’s private sector, African individuals and communities, and
leading African philanthropists to generate resources and provide valuable
insight on ways in which their success can accelerate Africa’s development. The
issue of domestic and alternative sources of funding has been an intrinsic
element of the continent’s commitments of the Pan African values of
self-determination, solidarity and self-reliance. The AUC Chairperson called on
the participants to act as good will ambassadors to the foundation.
Selection for membership of
the Foundation’s Governing Council was based on clear commitment to African
development and philanthropy, the highest caliber of integrity, and prominence
in the sectors and geographies they represent. The Foundation’s governing
Council is still formalizing its membership, but those selected who have been
confirmed include Dr. Dlamini Zuma, Founder on behalf of the AU Commission; Ms.
Luisa Diogo, former Prime Minister of Mozambique; President Alpha Konare,
former President of Mali and former African Union Commission Chairperson; Ms.
Zeinab Badawi, Journalist, BBC; Dr. Eleni Gabre-Madhin, former CEO of the
Ethiopian Commodities Exchange; Ms. Cheryl Carolus, CEO of Peotonia Holdings;
Dr. AsmanyAsfour, President of Egypt Business Women’s Association; Mr. James
Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica; Ms. Ntombifuthi Mtoba, Chairperson
of Deloitte Southern Africa; Dr. Charles Okeahalam, CEO of AGH Capital
Group; and Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings.
Others who attended the
inaugural meeting included Mrs. Wendy Ackerman from Pick and Pay Holdings; Dr.
Bheki Moyo from the Southern African Trust and Mr. Enoch Iluenzy, representative
of Mr. James Gatera, MD of the Bank of Kigali.
In response to his
invitation to the Council, Mr. Elumelu said, “I am honoured to be a part of the
Chairperson’s vision for an emergent Africa developed by Africans, and look
forward to participating in this effort to change the paradigm of African
development.” As a clear indication of that support, the Tony Elumelu
Foundation made a $150,000 donation to the start up costs of the African Union
Foundation, the first contribution made to the ambitious initiative.
At the same meeting, a
pledge of $100,000 was made by the Government of Jamaica, represented by
Ambassador Carlton Masters, who indicated, “This underscores the commitment of
the Diaspora towards African development.”
A formal launch of the
African Union Foundation and comprehensive awareness and fundraising campaign
is planned for later this year.
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