The Obama Foundation Leaders Africa program seeks to build a growing network of innovative and ethical changemakers who will drive positive change in their communities, the continent, and the world.
ABOUT US
While past Leaders Africa programs have begun with a multi-day convening in the region with 200 Leaders from across the continent and then continued online for one year, this year’s program has been adapted given the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on travel, gathering limits, and more. In light of those constraints and to prioritize the safety of our program participants, supporters, and staff, the 2021 Leaders Africa program will be a six-month, non-residential, virtual program for approximately 35 emerging leaders from across the continent.
This year’s program will focus on honing leadership skills, building deep relationships with fellow leaders, and exploring how to drive, scale, and make sustainable change. Participants will discuss a wide variety of regionally focused and global issues with thought leaders in government, civil society, and the private sector from across Africa and the Obama Foundation’s global network. Upon graduation, this group of Leaders will join a pan-African community of like-minded changemakers and will become part of a lifelong Obama Foundation community with access to a deep network of support.
The virtual Leaders Africa program seeks to identify exceptional leaders in government, civil society, and the private sector who have a clear issue-focus and who can illustrate the impact of their work. Our objective is to build a network of leaders with integrity, who create positive, innovative change in their communities, throughout Africa, and across the globe.
The program will run from January 2022 through June 2022. Leaders will participate in the following core elements of the program:
Twice Monthly Virtual Video Calls
These live virtual sessions will be the primary form of collective engagement. Connections two times monthly will offer a mix of new content (conversations with experts, introductions to leadership frameworks, skill-building, etc.) and interactive, small-group work in breakout rooms.
Monthly Community Groups
Leaders will work in peer learning groups that encourage deeper relationship-building and peer-learning, and offer an opportunity to reflect on or discuss open questions from the group sessions.
Individualized Leadership Coaching
Leaders will be paired with a coach to help them gain self-awareness, clarify goals, brainstorm ideas, achieve their development objectives, and unlock their potential.
In addition to the required elements, Leaders will have the opportunity to participate in a range of supplementary programming, including virtual Obama Foundation events, virtual cultural events, and virtual one-on-one conversations with experienced leaders in the global Obama Foundation network.
WATCH
The 2019 program year concluded with acts of service across the continent
To mark the close of the 2019 program year, Obama Leaders from across the African continent volunteered to design and implement collaborative service projects that positively impacted their local communities. Check out highlights +
Updates

MEET THE LEADERS
Lwazi Wali
South Africa
Salmine Sassi
Tunisia
Xabiso Dubasi
South Africa
Francis Kaifala
Sierra Leone
Samson Wambuzi
Uganda
Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya
Kenya
Frankson Musukwa
Zambia
Koffi Leon Kouame
Cote d'Ivoire
Bukola Bolarinwa
Nigeria
Fola Bamisaye
Nigeria
Pontso Tsoeunyane
Lesotho
King Gyan
Ghana
Sorieba Daffae
Sierra Leone
Jessica Dewhurst
South Africa
Lilian Nakigozi
Uganda
Teresa Mbagaya
Kenya
Paula Morais
Angola
Philippe Houinsou
Benin
Grace Pisirai
Zimbabwe
Omar Ibn Abdillah
Comoros
Chris Kulanga
Malawi
Gatwal Yul
South Sudan
Hossam Tolba
Egypt
Rekgotsofetse Chikane
South Africa
Gamariel Mboya
Tanzania
Albert Uwayo
Rwanda
Goto Cooper
Liberia
Angela Wachuka
Kenya
Javnyuy Joybert
Cameroon
Bongajum Lesley
Cameroon
Daisry Mathias
Namibia
Tina Boules Guirguis
Egypt
Zachuas Ogonji
Kenya
Kitso Phillip Phiri
Botswana
Sithe Ncube
Zambia
Muzalema Mwanza
Zambia
Janvier Manirakiza
Burundi
Etienne Mashuli
Burundi
Innocent Magambi
Burundi
Limbi Blessing
Cameroon
Vyonne Bellys Akoth
Kenya
Pascal Adriyo Anguezi
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kadele Bohouo
Cote d'Ivoire
Ines Atugonza Muganyizi
United Republic of Tanzania
Whitney Achieng Okumu
Uganda
Ako Essan Emile
Cote d'Ivoire
Karen Mukwasi
Zimbabwe
Turki Mohamed
Djibouti
Emilia Miki
Cameroon
Dr. Hassanatu Mansaray
Sierra Leone
Allan Tumbo
South Africa
Titilayo Ogunrinde
Nigeria
Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar
South Africa
Ade Akpona
Benin
Daniela Rakotomamonjy
Madagascar
Samaila Goje
Nigeria
Brenda Mwale
Malawi
Eddy Balina
Uganda
Aïssatou Aïda Dosso
Cote d'Ivoire
Kevin Saffee Baffoe
Ghana
Marvin Tarawally
Liberia
Jeremy Lissouba
Republic of the Congo
Likumbi Kapihya
Zambia
Mmoloki Pitse
Botswana
Cathy Sibanda Thebe
Botswana
Ornella Dushime
Burundi
Refilwe Ledwaba
South Africa
Rachid Ennassiri
Morocco
Rahama Nantoumé
Mali
Moitshepi Matsheng
Botswana
Kémo Touré Jr.
Senegal
Breznévia Mascarenhas
Mozambique
Elvis Ossindji Binou
Gabon
Kumbirai Kahiya
Zimbabwe
Koshin Muktar
Somalia
Michael Sunbola
Nigeria
Portia Tshabalala
South Africa
Taryn Lock
South Africa
Gabriel Ally
South Africa
Wilfried Adingra
Cote d'Ivoire
Clara Chassungo Silva
Angola
Ellen Chigwanda
Zimbabwe
Suleiman Kuchengo
United Republic of Tanzania
Adaku Ufere
Nigeria
Anthony Owei
Nigeria
Robert Hakiza
Uganda
O’Brien Makore
Zimbabwe
Ngatia Kirungie
Kenya
Lesley Williams
South Africa
Souley Harouna
Niger
Sonia Orwa
Kenya
Nichole Onome Yembra
Nigeria
Somto Anunobi
Nigeria
Mahamane Fondogoumo Djitteye
Mali
Mohamed Dhaouafi
Tunisia
Nancy Sumari
United Republic of Tanzania
Mpara Faith
Cameroon
Nkemdilim Uwaje
Nigeria
Tanekeu Goula Durance
Cameroon
Nvulane Nhlapo
Lesotho
Ruth Bolline Alouch
Kenya
Hazabintwali Charles
Rwanda
Mohamed Hassan
Kenya
Richard Kachungu
Zambia
Zama Dlamini
Swaziland
Aya Alrabbat
Egypt
Shamiso Ruzvidzo
Zimbabwe
Daylene van Buuren
South Africa
Charles Immanuel Akhimien
Nigeria
Luther Jeke
Liberia
Ada Ezeokoli
Nigeria
Ludwekazi Ndlazi
South Africa
Gaëlle Ramamonjisoa
Madagascar
Caren Wakoli
Kenya
Oyo Effiom
Nigeria
Abdul Samed Zurak
Ghana
Willie Setlhoka
Botswana
Lusungu Kalanga
Malawi
Kingdom U. Nwanyanwu
Nigeria
Abdoul Aziz Traore
Burkina Faso
Essi Geraldo
Togo
Nina Forgwe
Cameroon
Funkola Odeleye
Nigeria
Caleb Ndaka David
Kenya
Harry Mwailengo
Kenya
Lucky Chambers Umezulike
Nigeria
Modjenpa Bibiche
Cameroon
Robert Sourokou
Benin
Nosa Oghafua
Nigeria
Ernest Charles Futta
United Republic of Tanzania
Elizabeth Kasujja
Uganda
E.N. Ejob
Cameroon
Mwayi Kampesi
Malawi
Valerio Thompson Boco
Equatorial Guinea
Hantanirina Volasoa
Madagascar
Katrina Amupolo
Namibia
Donald Tererai
Zimbabwe
Mohammed Elobeid
Sudan
Touria Benlafqih
Morocco
Lalita Purbhoo Junggee
Mauritius
Maryan Hassan
Somalia
Isabella Akinseye
Nigeria
Davidetta Cassell
Liberia
Mostafa Adel
Egypt
Bezawit Zerayacob Bekele
Ethiopia
Brahim Ali Abakar
Chad
Nigel Gambanga
Zimbabwe
Jerry Odili
Nigeria
Sai Govinder
South Africa
Claude Marie Térence Andtoungou
Gabon
Kingsley Ezeani
Nigeria
Lucinda van den Heever
South Africa
Fernanda Matsinhe
Mozambique
Wangari Muchiri
Kenya
Mandipa Machacha
Botswana
Kwadwo Lartey
Ghana
Tsholofelo Mokgoabone
Botswana
Kalkidan Belayneh
Ethiopia
Cammue Mulbah
Liberia
Tumelo Makobye
Botswana
Wandile Mthiyane
South Africa
Lalaina Randriarimanana
Madagascar
Mostafa Amin
Egypt
Stephen Wanyingo
Kenya
Oswald Chishanga
Zimbabwe
Veda Sunassee
Rwanda
Helene Manyi Arrey
Cameroon
Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu
Nigeria
Mpho Tjope
South Africa
Ahmed Elmurtada Abdalla
Sudan
Elyes Guermazi
Tunisia
Thandeka Xaba
South Africa
Wenceslas Djokpeé
Benin
Abel Mekete Dagnew
Ethiopia
Skhulile Ndlovu
South Africa
Blaise Aboh
Nigeria
Fatoumatta Kassama
Gambia
Dirug Samuel
Nigeria
Kwame Andrews Daklo
Ghana
Thuba Sibanda
Namibia
Hauwa Ojeifo
Nigeria
Linda Kamau
Kenya
Sara Alhouni
Libya
Ebtehal Elghamrawy
Egypt
Uadamen Ilevbaoje
Nigeria
Lanre Oniyitan
Nigeria
Nour Brahimi
Algeria
Bvudzai Magadzire
South Africa
Candace Nkoth Bisseck
Cameroon
Hilda Morara
Kenya
Anne Waruguru Kiai
Kenya
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