Leading insurance companies, Heirs Insurance Limited (HIL) and Heirs Life Assurance (HLA) in partnership with Africa No Filter (ANF), have announced seventeen (17) young creatives across Africa as the recipients of the USD30,000 Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund, a CSR initiative of both insurance companies. 

The 17 finalists, selected from 3,600 entries, will receive $30,000 in grants (between $500 to 2,000 each) to develop projects that shine a light on entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in Africa and challenge the negative stereotype of Africa. 

The finalists represent 12 African countries, with 60% female and 40% male representation. Working with ANF, they will begin work on their submitted projects ranging from film to visual arts, journalism, and digital content creation. Named after African business leader and philanthropist, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, and sponsored by Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life, the $30,000 creative fund is an extension of Elumelu’s commitment to redefining an African success story that is powered by Africa’s youth and their creative ideas. The Fund is a standalone initiative, not affiliated with the Tony Elumelu Foundation.

Speaking on behalf of both companies, Chief Marketing Officer, Ifesinachi Okpagu, congratulated the finalists, reiterating the confidence in the project’s mission to place Africa firmly on the map. 

She said, “We commend the finalists of the Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund on their ideas and commitment to this joint mission. We are confident that this CSR initiative will progressively change the often-negative stereotype about Africa. 

Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life have been at the forefront of democratising access to insurance, and this starts with empowering people, especially our youths. 

This is the reason why we are proud to sponsor this project and create a platform for our youths to change the future for the better. We will support all finalists to make their project a reality”.

Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life are the insurance subsidiaries of Heirs Holdings, a pan-African investment group with a portfolio spread across 24 countries and four continents. Both companies are leading the digital insurance play in Nigeria and are on a mission to democratise access to insurance. Heirs Insurance and Heirs Life are committed to providing simple, quick, reliable, and accessible service while offering life and general insurance plans that address the needs of individuals and organisations.