Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — Heirs Energies is supporting the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s, TEF, 2026 cohort of 3,200 African entrepreneurs, helping to drive enterprise growth and job creation across the continent.
The entrepreneurs, drawn from all 54 African countries, were selected from more than 265,000 applicants and unveiled in Abuja on Sunday by TEF Founder and Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu. The scale of applications highlights both the depth of entrepreneurial activity across Africa and the growing demand for early-stage capital and business support.
“The future of Africa will be built by Africans who create businesses, generate jobs and solve the challenges of our continent. Empowering entrepreneurs remains the most sustainable path to economic transformation,” Elumelu said.
Heirs Energies said its support forms part of a broader strategy to link energy development with economic expansion, particularly in regions where access to capital, infrastructure and opportunity remains uneven.
Speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer Osayande Igiehon said the company is positioning its operations to deliver both energy supply and long-term economic value.
“Sustainable energy development must be matched by sustained investment in people and enterprise. Our partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation reflects a deliberate effort to expand opportunity while strengthening the communities in which we operate,” Igiehon said.
Operating in OML 17 in the Niger Delta, Heirs Energies continues to deliver targeted interventions across enterprise development, education, healthcare and infrastructure.
To date, the company has empowered over 500 youths through skills acquisition and enterprise development programmes, supported over 1,621 students through educational grants, reached more than 18,000 people through medical outreach programmes and has delivered over 135 community infrastructure projects, with additional projects at advanced stages of completion.
Beyond its host communities, Heirs Energies supplies gas into Nigeria’s domestic network, enabling over 350MW of electricity generation, powering homes, schools and industries, and supporting broader economic activity.
Through its partnership with TEF, Heirs Energies has committed over $10 million to support 2,000 African entrepreneurs across two programme cycles.
In 2025, the company supported 1,000 entrepreneurs, with 40% from the Niger Delta, including over 150 from Rivers State. In 2026, Heirs Energies is supporting another 1,000 entrepreneurs, with 50% from the Niger Delta, deepening its focus on its host region.
Women account for 48% of beneficiaries, reflecting a strong commitment to inclusive growth.
Within Nigeria, impact is concentrated in the Niger Delta, particularly in Rivers State and surrounding communities, alongside broader participation across the country and other African markets.
Across Africa, youth unemployment and limited access to financing continue to constrain business growth, despite rising entrepreneurial activity. Programmes such as TEF play a critical role in bridging this gap, combining capital with mentorship and training.
Heirs Energies said its continued collaboration with TEF reflects a shared focus on enterprise development, job creation and broader economic participation across the continent.
