By joshua Mintage Africa Unveiled in Abuja to Drive Wealth Creation, Entrepreneurship for African Youth
A new continental platform focused on wealth creation rather than aid, Mintage Africa, was officially launched on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at Ventures Park, Maitama, Abuja.
The launch drew young entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, and ecosystem stakeholders for conversations centred on repositioning Africa for sustainable economic growth through entrepreneurship, innovation, and mentorship.
‘Africa Must Shift From Aid to Wealth’
Delivering the keynote, Dipo Fisho, serial entrepreneur, business mogul, author, pastor and Co-Founder of Mintage Africa, said the continent must urgently move away from dependency on poverty alleviation programs.
“What placed in my mind at this time, in this dispensation, is that Africa must move away from the consistent poverty alleviation programs that do not change anything in Africa to wealth creation initiatives,” Fisho said.
He added that “There has to be a mind shift, a mentality shift, there has to be a system shift that tells an African that there is wealth, there are opportunities in Africa.”
According to him, Mintage Africa is building an integrated ecosystem that connects entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, investors, and the knowledge required for business success.
“What Mintage Africa is doing is building an ecosystem where the opportunities, the entrepreneurs, the venture capitalists, the investors, and the knowledge required for business innovations and ideas all come together, for everyone to succeed and create wealth and not be waiting for handouts. That’s what Mintage Africa is all about. And that’s why it’s now,” he further stated.
Closing The Gap
Fisho noted that a core mandate of the platform is to close the gap between experienced African business leaders and young founders seeking guidance.
“There are many Africans that really have a wealth of experience, they have the network, they have the resources and they really want to mentor genuine people that want to be successful. So, we are closing the gap between mentors and the mentees,” Fisho said.
He added that Mintage Africa has already identified startups led by disciplined young people and will provide them with access to mentorship, funding networks, and knowledge resources to scale.
Fisho urged young people to take ownership of opportunities within the continent and build ventures that create jobs, solve problems, and contribute to long-term prosperity.
‘Building Pathways for Young Founders’
Also speaking, Co-Founder Mimshak Obioha said the platform was designed specifically to create structured pathways for the younger generation to access capital, markets, and mentorship.
“Young people in Africa don’t lack ideas or energy. What they lack is access and structure. Mintage Africa is here to provide that bridge so that youth-led businesses can move from ideas to scalable enterprises,” Obioha said.
‘Mentorship and Mindset Are Key’
Co-Founder Anna Odukoya emphasized the role of mindset and mentorship in driving wealth creation for youth.
“Wealth creation starts in the mind before it reflects in the bank. At Mintage Africa, we are committed to pairing young founders with experienced mentors who have walked the path and can guide them to avoid costly mistakes,” Odukoya stated.
She added that the platform will leverage Africans in the diaspora and on the continent who have the experience, networks, and resources to support the next generation.
‘This Is What We Have Been Waiting For’
Participant Seun Ogunlana, a young entrepreneur, described the launch as timely.
Ogunlana said: “As a young person trying to build a business in Nigeria, the biggest challenge is not the idea, it’s access to guidance and funding. Hearing that Mintage Africa wants to close that gap gives me hope that we can actually build something sustainable here.”
The launch, which comes amid renewed advocacy for youth-focused economic solutions to tackle unemployment and drive national development in Nigeria and across Africa, took place at Venture Park, Maitama, a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in the Federal Capital Territory.