SFAN (Stars From All Nations), an educational company that unlocks the potential of young people,  has announced the launch of the inaugural Student Entrepreneurship Week Pan-African edition for budding entrepreneurs on the continent.

The Student Entrepreneurship week is a Pan-African initiative of SFAN whose role would be to help budding entrepreneurs access actionable, experiential knowledge and tools needed for them to build sustainable businesses. The event is a platform for the entrepreneurs to showcase their talents to investors, network with other entrepreneurs from around the continent, and for them to secure startup funding. SFAN

Creating opportunities for young Africans is important; almost 50 percent of all college and university graduates on the continent are unemployed despite the fact that more than 60 percent of Africa’s population is under the age of 35. Entrepreneurship has often been touted as a solution to unemployment on the continent. However, despite the fact that SMEs account for more than 90 percent of businesses in sub-Saharan Africa, 90 percent of them fail within their first 3 years of existence.

The maiden global edition was held at British Council Accra, Ghana with over 400 participants, with speakers coming from Silicon Valley, the U.K, Nigeria, and Ghana. This Pan-African edition is organized on the theme “unlocking entrepreneurial potentials of young Africans for job creation,” and is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 4 and 8.

Tom-Chris Emewulu, the founder and President of SFAN, an organization that has already impacted more than 20 million young people in 20 countries, believes the Pan-African edition of the Student Entrepreneurship Week will be good for young innovators on the continent.

“We are excited to create an experiential learning event that will help high potential creators and innovators on the continent launch their businesses and raise startup funding. We are also thrilled to be launching the Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award which will recognize the work of select young innovators on the continent. This is the first Student Entrepreneurship Week Pan-Africa and as per usual with SFAN events we have a remarkable lineup of speakers, and participants will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses to investors for funding.” he said.

Applications for the event are open until June 30, 2019. To apply, visit studententrepreneurshipweek.comAs young African entrepreneurs learn how to create a real company and build a career, they will also meet the very best mentors, investors, startup entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, diplomats, and community leaders who are ready to help them get started at the event. 

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