Tony and Awele Vivien Elumelu Recognized in TIME100 Philanthropy for 2026 for Global Giving Impact
Tony O. Elumelu and Awele Vivien Elumelu have been named among the 2026 TIME100 Philanthropy honorees, acknowledging their significant contributions to global philanthropy. The couple co-founded the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) in 2010, which initially pledged $100 million to support 1,000 entrepreneurs annually for a decade. The foundation has since expanded its reach, providing mentorship and $5,000 seed grants to over 27,000 entrepreneurs. More than half of the current beneficiaries are women, a significant increase from the early years. TEF has also made its training materials available online for free, reaching over 2.5 million people. The foundation's efforts have generated $4.2 billion in revenue, created over 1.5 million jobs, and lifted 2.1 million Africans out of poverty. This recognition marks Tony Elumelu's third acknowledgment by TIME, but it is the first to formally recognize both him and Awele Elumelu together. 
