The grandfather of Africa’s angel investing and ecosystem builder is asking 71 friends to help unlock digital opportunities for Nigerian students as he marks his 71st birthday.
Instead of birthday gifts, serial entrepreneur and tech ecosystem pioneer Tomi Davies is doubling down on legacy.
As he celebrates his 71st birthday, Davies has launched a campaign called #71ForTheNextGeneration, inviting exactly 71 friends and supporters to invest in the future of public-school children through Laptops4Learning Nigeria (L4L) — a charity he co-founded.
“After all, before we can find future founders, we must first help children imagine a future worth building.”
— Tomi Davies
What the Campaign Entails
Rather than receiving personal gifts, Davies is asking 71 people to help provide:
· Laptops for public-school students
· Digital skills training
· Access to opportunities that prepare them for a tech-driven future
The initiative is anchored by GTBank (Account Name: Laptops4Learning Nigeria, Account Number: 0129893982), with the reference “TD Birthday” for donations.
According to him,
“One man is celebrating a birthday. Hundreds of children are building a future. For my birthday, I’m not asking for gifts. I’m asking for opportunities.”
Why Laptops4Learning Nigeria?
Founded by Davies and other like-minded leaders, L4L focuses on bridging the digital divide in Nigeria’s public schools. Many students have never touched a laptop or received formal digital training — a gap the organisation aims to close, one school at a time.
The charity believes that laptops unlock potential and inspire greatness, giving children the tools to imagine and build a future worth pursuing.
A Legacy Beyond Business
Tomi Davies is no stranger to building for the long term. He is a co-founder of several tech initiatives, including AfriLabs, and has spent decades supporting founders, investors, and innovation communities across Africa.
With #71ForTheNextGeneration, he’s turning a personal milestone into a collective opportunity — one that puts children first.
“This year, instead of birthday gifts, Tomi Davies is inviting 71 friends to help public-school children access laptops, digital skills, and opportunities that prepare them for the future.”
How You Can Support
If you’d like to join the 71 Founding Friends of L4L:
· Bank Transfer: GTBank |
Account Name: Laptops4Learning Nigeria |
Account Number: 0129893982
Reference: TD Birthday
· Learn more: https://l4ln.org/site/
Davies ended his public note with a simple:
“Thank you for helping turn possibilities into reality.”
Happy birthday, Tomi. Here’s to the next generation.
