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Blair Elumelu Fellowship Programme: Supporting African Governments to Advance Economic Development

The Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) and The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) are pleased to announce the signing ceremony of the Blair Elumelu Fellowship Programme, supporting transformational governments to advance the sustainable economic development of Africa. The goal of this three-year programme is to strengthen the private sector’s role in the economic transformation of select African countries – starting with Liberia and Sierra Leone -- by developing the capacity of their governments to enhance competitiveness and attract and nurture private investment and move beyond aid. The history making partnership offers a unique new model for economic transformation in Africa, bringing together the best of innovative European government delivery models with the best of African private sector acumen and execution.

Welcoming the partnership, AGI Founder and Patron Tony Blair said:
“Africa’s economic prospects have never been brighter. But realising this potential depends on governments understanding the private sector and how to support it. This is an extremely important part of the work that the Africa Governance Initiative does. I am delighted to be working with Tony Elumelu and his foundation to help develop business acumen at the heart of African governments.”  

Tony Elumelu, MFR,  TEF Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, said:
“While I was the Group CEO of UBA, I saw how important it was for government and business to work together in partnership to drive Africa’s growth. I look forward to working with Tony Blair and his charity to help African governments create the enabling environment required to catalyse private sector commitment to economic transformation in Africa through investments that generate both social and economic wealth”.

Leveraging the experience of AGI Patron Tony Blair and TEF Founder Tony Elumelu, MFR the programme will give participating governments access to world-class advice and capacity development from Fellows drawn from the best of the international private sector.

The Blair Elumelu Fellows will focus on developing private sector expertise and capacity at the centre of government, helping to develop policies aimed at improving the business climate. The programme will put an international spotlight on the ability of African governments to create policies that spur business investment and to dismantle roadblocks that have stymied economic development. The Fellows will serve as private sector advisors to senior government officials, working in presidential offices, key ministries and investment agencies.  

Background

African economies have performed strongly in recent years. Economic growth across the continent averaged 4.9% from 2000-2008, and the rate of return on foreign investment in Africa is higher than in any other developing region. But for some African countries, especially those that have only recently emerged from conflict, one of the biggest barriers to private sector growth is low capacity within government to enable investment and implement pro-business reforms.

Building on AGI’s strong track record of supporting African governments to foster private sector development, and Elumelu’s business experience and expertise, the Blair Elumelu Fellowship Programme will place top performers from the best of the international private sector in the heart of governments of select post-conflict or fragile states. They will work hand in hand with their government counterparts to share their experience and expertise, develop skills and offer advice on how to create a more pro-business environment.

About The Tony Elumelu Foundation

The Tony Elumelu Foundation is an African based and funded not-for-profit institution, dedicated to the promotion and celebration of excellence in business leadership and entrepreneurship across Africa. As a 21st century catalytic philanthropy, the Foundation is committed to driving the continent’s economic growth from within by proving the African private sector can itself be the primary generator of economic development.

Founded in 2010 by Tony O. Elumelu, MFR, the Foundation identifies and grooms business students, young entrepreneurs and CEOs of African corporations at various stages of their development. It seeks to use African capital and leadership to create a pipeline of entrepreneurs, while also supporting imaginative business leaders whose ideas can create sustainable employment and foster regional partnerships.

About the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative

The Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI), founded in 2008, by the former UK prime minister Tony Blair, is pioneering a new way of working with African countries, equipping committed African leaders with the capacity to deliver the public services which their citizens have a right to expect, to tackle deep-rooted poverty, and to attract the sustainable investment to build strong economies for the future. Teams of public and private sector experts work at the heart of African governments, currently Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Liberia, to develop capacity to deliver public services and nurture a thriving private sector.