The 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.
Program UpdatesMeet the Leaders2018 Program
ABOUT US
Leaders: Africa is a year-long program that provides 200 emerging African leaders with the skills they need to create change. The non-residential program offers leaders with a range of backgrounds, the opportunity to attend in-person and online seminars focused on values-based leadership development, skill-building for social change, hands-on service learning, and technical trainings.
In addition to sharpening these leaders’ collaboration and management skills, it also equips them to be force multipliers in their communities and on the continent long after the program concludes. That’s why several members from the inaugural 2018 program year returned to serve as speakers, facilitators, and mentors for the 2019 cohort. More program offerings include:
An Inspirational Convening
The program begins with an intensive leadership and skill-building convening that brings together the entire cohort for five days of connection and training in their region. The gathering includes inspiring speakers primarily from the region, interactive workshops, service learning, and collaborative work projects.
A Digital Platform for Learning and Connection
Leaders are connected to their cohort online, as well as to sub-cohorts by issue area and region, to
foster peer-to-peer learning and collaborative problem-solving. Obama Foundation staff will regularly convene smaller groups for virtual workshops and seminars, as well as regular check-ins.
Bonds that Last a Lifetime and Support Action
After the program, Leaders join a larger network of Obama Foundation-affiliated changemakers, with ongoing access to thought leaders and opportunities in our growing network.
WATCH
Program year concludes with acts of service across the continent
To mark the close of their program year, Obama Leaders from across the African continent volunteered to design and implement collaborative service projects that positively impacted their local communities. Learn more about the projects +
Updates
See the latest updates from the Leaders: Africa program.
MEET THE LEADERS
Cathy Sibanda Thebe
Botswana
Cathy is the founder of the Financial Literacy Trust (FLT). FLT is an early market mover in financial literacy and financial awareness issues in Botswana.
Elizabeth Kasujja
Uganda
Elizabeth is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Clear Yo Mind, which works to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
Refilwe Ledwaba
South Africa
Refilwe is a social entrepreneur, a qualified pilot, and an academic who is passionate about youth development and the economic empowerment of women in Africa.
Ernest Charles Futta
United Republic of Tanzania
Ernest is a Co-Founder of Tanzania Teens Club, the first organization that focuses on teenagers in Tanzania and provides them with early guidance and opportunities for personal and career development.
Thuba Sibanda
Namibia
Thuba is a passionate changemaker and a Senior Program Manager for Physically Active Youth, an organization that is home to 120 children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Ludwekazi Ndlazi
South Africa
Ludwekazi is a business development consultant, entrepreneur, and television presenter. As Founder of the Fundi'Afrika, she developed a series of fun, integrated ways of promoting African literature and preserving indigenous African languages.
Wangari Muchiri
Kenya
Wangari is a Board Member of the Kenya Green Building society, which has been instrumental in advancing green building movement in Kenya, and Head of the Technical Committee.
Lesley Williams
South Africa
Lesley is the CEO of Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct by Wits University, an international public speaker and dialogue moderator. She is also the founder of Impact Hub Johannesburg. Her focus is on social entrepreneurship and taking African digital innovation to global markets. She breaks barriers by creating common ground between corporates, government, international developments agencies and entrepreneurs to work together.
Souley Harouna
Niger
Souley is a lawyer and Co-Founder of Hope Sahel, a youth-led nonprofit that aims to create transformational change in the Sahel by enabling young people to realize and fully apply their potential.
Nina Forgwe
Cameroon
Nina is the Founder of Teagan Alternatives. She is also the Program Officer at Local Youth Corner, where she provides holistic responses to violent extremism and youth radicalization that underscore the critical importance of human rights, the rule of law, and community engagement. She is passionate about peacebuilding, women, and youth empowerment.
Chris Kulanga
Malawi
Chris is the Country Director for D-tree International, Malawi office. D-tree International is a digital global health organization that works with partners to explore and leverage the power of digital technologies in improving health systems.
Ade Akpona
Benin
Ade is a conservation professional and founder of two associations devoted to nature conservation, poverty alleviation, and food security. Ade believes that nature is the basis of life today and for the future.
Wenceslas Djokpeé
Benin
Wenceslas is the Benin Country Coordinator of the Batonga Foundation. Girls in Benin face particular challenges attending school and completing their education, and Wenceslas is working to empower female girls and reverse that trend.
Wilfried Adingra
Cote d'Ivoire
Wilfried is the Manager of Lumen Corporation, a company specializing in structural and financial support for local businesses, and is committed to empowering young people through entrepreneurship. In 2016, his company launched Diaspo4Africa, the first African web platform for seed investments to local entrepreneurs.
Robert Hakiza
Uganda
Robert is a Congolese refugee who has lived in Uganda since 2008, and is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Young African Refugees for Integral Development.
Lusungu Kalanga
Malawi
Lusungu is a Malawian feminist passionate about the advancement of girls and women's rights. She is the Co-Founder of Growing Ambitions, an organization focused on creating safe spaces for girls and young women to thrive through mentorship and peer learning.
Ahmed Elmurtada Abdalla
Sudan
Ahmed is Managing Partner of 249Startups, a startup hub working to provide mentorship, training, access to markets, and investment for young entrepreneurs.
Claude Marie Térence Andtoungou
Gabon
Claude Marie Térence Andtoungou is the General Manager of Idyanja, a youth-driven nonprofit micro-credit program that is an example of how giving back to the community is a solution for poverty in Africa. Claude is passionate about conceptualizing ideas and creating platforms for youth to realize their potential in the economic area.
Sorieba Daffae
Sierra Leone
Sorieba is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CrimeSync, and he is passionate about access to justice and the use of technology to improve the speed of justice delivery.
Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu
Nigeria
Uchenna is the founder of Edufun Tehnik STEM Foundation Nigeria, she is an educationist, and STEM Advocate who is passionate about bringing STEMeducation to the classroom and rural communities focusing on CODING, ROBOTICS and Digital Literacy for Girls and Youth. Her STEM program is to help the African child make Informed Career Decision for tomorrow’s workforce and develop Solution to solve our own African Problems.
Fola Bamisaye
Nigeria
Fola is a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist with the Prime Health Response Initiative. She is also the Founder of My Period Kit.
Bukola Bolarinwa
Nigeria
Bukola is the Founder of Haima Health Initiative, a social enterprise that seeks to plug the blood supply gap in Nigeria. She is passionate about quality health care systems with a focus on improving supply chains.
Nvulane Nhlapo
Lesotho
Nvulane is the Co-Founder of Selibeng, a career portal that offers resources for job seekers, students, and professionals to manage their careers.
Frankson Musukwa
Zambia
Frankson is passionate about defending disability rights and is the Founder of Zambia Deaf Youth and the Women and Jennifer Memorial Special Community School.
Mostafa Adel
Egypt
Mostafa is the Founder of The Alumni initiative, a youth-driven team devoted to building the capacities of professionals aspiring to pursue their postgraduate studies. He believes that education is the key to change the face of society.
Gatwal Yul
South Sudan
Gatwal is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Young-Adult Empowerment Initiative, a youth-led nonprofit working in Uganda with refugees and South Sudan with the grassroots communities.
Anthony Owei
Nigeria
Anthony is the Founder of Tonyve Farms, an agricultural company inspired by the severe 2011 East African drought, and ePoultry.ng, Africa's first digital poultry investment platform.
Angela Wachuka
Kenya
Angela is the Co-Founder of Book Bunk, an organization that focuses on restoration projects and programming for Nairobi's iconic public libraries. She believes in the continent's creative industries and their potential to drive inclusion and socio-economic growth.
Fatoumatta Kassama
Gambia
Fatoumatta is a Registered Nurse and the Co-Founder of Prospect For Girls, a community organization that empowers women and girls through vocational skills training and health education. She is passionate about women’s reproductive health rights, and she empowers women and girls through reproductive health education.
Valerio Thompson Boco
Equatorial Guinea
Valerio is the Founder of the nonprofit Girl Child Empowerment Initiative, focused on empowering the girl child through education, skill acquisition, entrepreneurship, talent discovery, art, film, and culture, so they can create a future for themselves.
Ngatia Kirungie
Kenya
Patrick is a property finance professional and the founder of Spearhead Africa, a full-service property finance and advisory business delivering property portfolio and transaction advisory services, innovative financing solutions and alternative sources of capital to institutional developers and investors.
Nour Brahimi
Algeria
Nour Brahimi is the first Algerian female travel blogger and an online gift shop owner. Nour tells stories through her online presence to support local tourism and to inspire youth and women to believe in their dreams.
Linda Kamau
Kenya
Linda wants to live in a world where women are the drivers, creators, consumers, decision- makers, and leaders in the field of ICT (Information and Communications Technology). She is a software engineer and the founder and Managing Director of AkiraChix based in Kenya.
Ada Ezeokoli
Nigeria
Ada is the Editor-In-Chief of Nigeria Health Watch, and she believes in the importance of empowering Nigerians with accurate, reliable, and relevant health information to drive accountability, transparency, and good governance.
Samaila Goje
Nigeria
Samaila is the Local Program Coordinator of Click-On Kaduna Digital Entrepreneurship Incubation Program, created by the Kaduna State government.
Ines Atugonza Muganyizi
United Republic of Tanzania
Ines is a Project Officer at Dalberg Global Advisors. Her role involves working with local governments to improve efficiency in service delivery to farmers.
E.N. Ejob
Cameroon
E. N. Ejob is the Founder of Zebra Comics Inc., a publishing house. He is also the author of two African fantasy novels: The Dead Daughters and Queen Of A Lie, and a memoir titled: I’m Augustinian. E.N. is a philosopher and comic book artist at heart and an avid lover of storytelling in all its genres.
Helene Manyi Arrey
Cameroon
Helene Manyi Arrey is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Change Engine, a Tech nonprofit harnessing data and tech to improve the quality of life in Africa. She is committed to creating awareness and building digital capacity so Africans can work together to find solutions to the continent's complex problems.
Lalaina Randriarimanana
Madagascar
Lalaina is an educator and the Co-Founder and General Coordinator of Liberty 32, a volunteer-based organization that works towards citizen empowerment.
Mwayi Kampesi
Malawi
Mwayi is the Founder of In-House Interiors and Planet green Africa in Malawi, social enterprises focused on her passion for the environment and youth development.
Donald Tererai
Zimbabwe
As a program officer, Donald has contributed to the implementation of interventions that seek to transform education in Zimbabwe through the use of information and communications technology. Donald is passionate about the ways technology can be harnessed to enhance teaching, learning, and research.
Salmine Sassi
Tunisia
Salmine is the Founder and President of She Starts Africa, a hub that works to advance women through entrepreneurship.
Somto Anunobi
Nigeria
Somto is the Founder of Geek Code Planet, an organization equipping kids and young adults in Nigeria with information and communications technology skills to help improve their creative, cognitive, and collaboration skills.
Gabriel Ally
South Africa
Gabriel is an entrepreneur, business development specialist, and hobbyist musician. He is the Founder of award winning GezaJozi, a social enterprise that manufactures electric tricycles for recycling collection.
Kwadwo Lartey
Ghana
Kwadwo is the Chief Executive Officer of Kay-Adae Farms, a community based mechanized farming and agribusiness enterprise. Kwadwo is focused on making communities self-sufficient in providing food to its people by producing fruits and vegetables.
Zachuas Ogonji
Kenya
Zachuas is the Founder of Village to Global Foundation, an organization championing access to quality education for children living in rural areas.
Gamariel Mboya
Tanzania
Gamariel is an entrepreneur and advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. He is a person with albinism with a strong commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of people with albinism, and disabilities more broadly, he is a professional fellow in Inclusive Disability Employment and appointed to the advisory panel of the UK Big Lottery’s East Africa Disability Fund.
Ornella Dushime
Burundi
Ornella is the President of an association working in the field of social inclusion and community development. She is also very active in the world of media, primarily in radio, where she is a journalist specializing in the promotion of health and good nutrition for Destiny FM.
Sithe Ncube
Zambia
Sithe is Co-Founder and Director of Ubongo Game Lab, an organization that seeks to encourage the growth of the game development community within Zambia.
Kémo Touré Jr.
Senegal
Kémo leads Wutiko, a professional social network that connects people to opportunities in Africa.
Ellen Chigwanda
Zimbabwe
Ellen is a growing social entrepreneur with a strong passion and interest in innovations linked to addressing barriers to girls' education and adolescent empowerment.
Mohamed Dhaouafi
Tunisia
Mohamed believes that people living with limb differences are a source of inspiration and that their differences can be a superpower. That's why he founded CURE, a bionic startup developing 3D printed, affordable, and assistive prosthetics that enhance the human body.
Mandipa Machacha
Botswana
Mandipa is a human rights advocate working on refugee issues. She is an international development practitioner with a comprehensive range of skills acquired from human rights advocacy, humanitarian assistance, transitional and restorative justice, as well as sustainable development.
Elyes Guermazi
Tunisia
Elyes is Founder and Executive Director at the International Institute of Debate, a regional nonprofit that aims to empower young people through education and address key challenges that limit youth’s right to education.
Teresa Mbagaya
Kenya
Teresa is a Principal at Omidyar Network. She is committed to catalyzing mission-aligned capital to accelerate impact in education.
Tumelo Makobye
Botswana
Tumi is the Founder of the Botswana Organization for Sisters Empowering Junior Associates (BOSEJA). BOSEJA is dedicated to keeping teenage girls in school through a school club in a local secondary school that is run twice a week.
Aya Alrabbat
Egypt
Aya is the Regional Fellowship Program Officer at Ashoka Arab World. Her work involves helping Ashoka Fellows expand their work and scale their impact. Her main expertise includes strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, dialogue facilitation, and graphic design.
Dirug Samuel
Nigeria
Dirug is passionate about creating platforms for women to have a voice in their communities. That's why he founded the Big Family 360 Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides education, livelihood, and protection services to women, orphans, and vulnerable children.
Eddy Balina
Uganda
Eddy Balina is passionate about mentoring young people to become agents of change. That's why he's the Team Leader at the youth empowerment and violence prevention organization, the Non-Violence Project Uganda.
Harry Mwailengo
Kenya
Harry is the Schools and Incubation Director at Sote Hub, an innovation hub for young innovators in Kenya. He pioneered the establishment of several projects and educational, religious, and civil organizations, and is enthusiastic about the general good and well-being of society.
Koffi Leon Kouame
Cote d'Ivoire
Koffi is the Co-Founder of Ivorian Observatory for Human Rights, a youth-driven nonprofit promoting and defending human rights in Côte d’Ivoire. Koffi believes that promoting and respecting human rights is necessary to building a peaceful world where all people live in harmony.
Mostafa Amin
Egypt
Mostafa is an Egyptian serial entrepreneur and who has built different startups in media, machine learning, and food e-commerce. His venture is called Breadfast.com and they deliver fresh baked products and breakfast to customers' doorsteps every morning.
Taryn Lock
South Africa
Taryn is the co-founder and executive director of literacy non-profit organization READ to RISE, which promotes youth literacy in under-resourced communities in South Africa. Through her class programs, she motivates children to read and inspires them to lead great lives. Through her class programs, she motivates children to read and inspires them to lead great lives. To date, her organization has conducted over 3,100 class programs to over 76,000 children at 95 primary schools in Gauteng, Western Cape, and Limpopo and given out over 160,000 new story books.
Fernanda Matsinhe
Mozambique
Fernanda is a lifelong learner and a Co-Founder of the Graça Machel Alumni Network in Mozambique, a network of educated women who are helping other women become highly skilled African leaders.
Marvin Tarawally
Liberia
Marvin is Co-Founder and Executive Director at Smart Liberia, a social venture that equips Liberia’s brightest young people to lead social change.
Aïssatou Aïda Dosso
Cote d'Ivoire
Aïssatou is a Gender and Fragility Consultant at the African Development Bank, where she conducts in-depth studies on the impact of forced migration on women in Africa. Through her work, Aïssatou strives to enhance opportunities for women and unleash youth potential.
Abdul Samed Zurak
Ghana
Abdul is the Chief Executive Officer of Zurak Cancer Foundation, a policy-oriented, youth-run nonprofit that provides an innovative solution to cancer prevalence through education, skill-building for medical professionals, and screening programs in underserved communities. He is passionate about primary oncology healthcare.
Ako Essan Emile
Cote d'Ivoire
Ako is the West Africa Specialist at the Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index. He studies young professionals in the fields of peacebuilding, conflict management, and research. He is committed to a peaceful, stable, and resilient West Africa where youth have the opportunity to use their full potential.
Anne Waruguru Kiai
Kenya
Anne is the Founder of Africa Rising Solutions, a social justice advocacy initiative in central Kenya. She engages the community at the ward-level in capacity building programs on leadership and good governance, advocacy against gender-based violence, and practical approaches to youth and women empowerment.
Moitshepi Matsheng
Botswana
Moitshepi Matsheng is the Co-Founder and Country Coordinator of Young 1ove, a youth-led movement that identifies, adapts, and scales health and education programs proven to work, by young people and for young people. Moitshepi leads talent and strategic initiatives, stakeholder relations, and the organization’s partnership with government.
Francis Kaifala
Sierra Leone
Francis is a lawyer and the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone, where he is robustly leading the fight against corruption.
Gaëlle Ramamonjisoa
Madagascar
Gaëlle is the Founder of One Way for Change in Madagascar, a youth-led nonprofit leveraging volunteerism as a tool for youth to be changed and become changemakers.
Xabiso Dubasi
South Africa
Xabiso is the Founder and Chairperson of Nakhane Despatch Society Club, an organization that focuses on empowering young people through education, sport, business, and skills empowerment.
Jessica Dewhurst
South Africa
Jess is the Founder and Executive Director of the award winning human rights organization The Justice Desk, which focuses on educating, advocating, and equipping youth, government, civil society, and vulnerable groups across South Central Africa in human rights.
Javnyuy Joybert
Cameroon
Javnyuy is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Community Skills Development Centres Group, a social innovation enterprise committed to designing social solutions to solve social problems. The group is devoted to resolving poverty in rural areas and limited access to skills for young people.
Lanre Oniyitan
Nigeria
Lanre is the Founder of Sustainable Education & Enterprise Development, a social impact project that supports and advocates for schools serving children from low-income families.
Nichole Onome Yembra
Nigeria
Nichole is the Founder and Managing Director of The Chrysalis Co which houses The Chrysalis Capital, a $15M Pan African and diaspora early stage tech fund and Chrysalis Advisors which helps early stage companies scale. This has allowed her to match her passion for innovation and service-centric personality with her career.
Candace Nkoth Bisseck
Cameroon
Candace is passionate about women’s empowerment, innovation and digital technology. She works with the United Nations, developing a program enabling women to leverage the digital economy to become a force for development and wealth creation.
Kingsley Ezeani
Nigeria
Kingsley is the Founder of Information Nigeria, a leading Nigerian news website that provides young Nigerians with information relevant to them.
Kevin Saffee Baffoe
Ghana
Kevin Saffee Baffoe is the Chief Commercial Officer of Hands-on Technology Investors (OTM) Network limited and the Founder of Rapid Ghana Limited. He believes that businesses must exist to serve social needs and impact society.
Clara Chassungo Silva
Angola
Clara Silva founded Ujima, a creative agency that organizes events that lift up and promote brands developed by women while incorporating sustainability to build positive social impact.
Rachid Ennassiri
Morocco
Rachid is the Founder of Tamount Green School in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco with a background in climate change and project management.
Daisry Mathias
Namibia
Daisry is an Advisor to President Geingob of the Republic of Namibia on youth matters and enterprise development.
Lilian Nakigozi
Uganda
Lilian is the Founder of Women Smiles in Uganda, a social enterprise that advocates for a hunger-free world.
Blaise Aboh
Nigeria
Blaise believes journalism is key to citizen inclusion and good governance. That's why he founded Orodata Science, a citizen-focused civic tech organization that works to increase public access to data through visualization and democratization.
Tsholofelo Mokgoabone
Botswana
Tsholo is the Founder of Finance First Botswana, an organization that exists to promote financial literacy in Botswana. She is a champion of financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Through Finance First Botswana, Tsholo aims to use her financial and economic expertise to empower the people of Botswana.
Albert Uwayo
Rwanda
Albert is Program Director at Spark Microgrants, a nonprofit that enables communities to design and launch their own social impact projects.
Likumbi Kapihya
Zambia
Likumbi is Social Enterprise Lead at BongoHive, Zambia’s first innovation and technology hub, which supports a wide range of entrepreneurs creating solutions to some of the most pressing problems on the continent.
Bezawit Zerayacob Bekele
Ethiopia
Beza is the Co-Founder of Build-Eng Africa, a startup initiative with the aim of building sustainable cities in Africa. She is also an Architect at the Extudio 35 Architectural consultancy, where she focuses on introducing environmentally sustainable building practices in her home country.
Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya
Kenya
Dr. Ntaiya is the Founder of Kakenya’s Dream, a nonprofit organization leveraging education to empower vulnerable girls and rural communities in Kenya. She is the first woman from her Maasai village to go to college in the United States, and is using her education to benefit other girls in her community.
Mpara Faith
Cameroon
Mpara is the Co-Founder and Operations Manager of New Generation Technologies (NGT), a start-up company in Buea of the south-west region of Cameroon. She is passionate about providing quality education to children and youth through technology.
Suleiman Kuchengo
United Republic of Tanzania
Suleiman is the Founder of Suku Chai (Tea brand), SUKU Online TV, and SUKU Online TV, which aim to fight poverty and promote gender equality.
Zama Dlamini
Swaziland
Zama is Executive Director of the nonprofit organization House of Our Pride, which works with the LGBTI community in advocating for their rights.
Pascal Adriyo Anguezi
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Pascal is the Head of Law Enforcement for Garamba National Park. Pascal works to protect the remaining elephants, giraffes, and other wildlife in the park and is passionate about conserving wildlife for future generations.
Ruth Bolline Alouch
Kenya
Ruth works with state and non-state actors in various capacities of research, policy, programming, and education for stabilization of fragile countries in Africa. She's passionate about conversations on Africa, mentorship, leadership, and governance.
Hazabintwali Charles
Rwanda
Hazabintwali is the Executive Director of Les Enfants de Dieu in Rwanda, which is devoted to transforming the lives of street kids in Rwanda.
Richard Kachungu
Zambia
Richard is Co-Founder of the Young Emerging Farmers Initiative in Zambia, a youth-oriented nonprofit building and empowering the next generation of "agripreneurs."
Shamiso Ruzvidzo
Zimbabwe
Shamiso is an award-winning African philanthropist, entrepreneur and Information and Communications Technology for Development Strategist. With a special focus on gender-based violence advocacy and governance, she has been at the forefront of technology and educating the girl child.
Philippe Houinsou
Benin
Philippe is the Founder of Resonant Africa, a nonprofit organization that focuses on building the emotional intelligence and socio-emotional skills of young Africans – aiming to promote a fair, healthy, and prosperous Africa.
Bongajum Lesley
Cameroon
Bongajum is a serial entrepreneur and Founder of Bonga Power Bike, Levre Rose and Bonga Juice Bars Co Ltd. He is using entrepreneurship and holistic business models as a tool to solve the problems plaguing his community and Africa.
Mpho Tjope
South Africa
Mpho is an author, motivational speaker, and Albinism activist who founded Albinism Advocacy for Access, which specializes in giving access to young people and making their lives easier.
Michael Sunbola
Nigeria
Michael believes that in a world of plenty, no one should go to bed hungry. That's why he founded Lagos Food Bank, a nonprofit, nutrition-focused initiative committed to combating malnutrition and improving the health of pregnant women and infants in rural communities.
Caren Wakoli
Kenya
Caren is a certified leadership coach, transformational leadership trainer, democracy and good governance champion, certified 7-Habits of Highly Effective People trainer, writer, and social entrepreneur. Her mission is to equip the next generation of Kenyan and African leaders with the skills necessary to achieve their highest potential and lead change in their communities.
Karen Mukwasi
Zimbabwe
Karen is Co-Founder and Director of The Pada Platform, a nonprofit that works with young women and girls to foster digital inclusion and create safe spaces for them. She is passionate about telling women's stories that defy stereotypes.
Turki Mohamed
Djibouti
Turki is an Information Resource Center Director at the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti, where he provides vocational and self-development training to unemployed youth. Turki believes that the opportunities young people need to thrive can be created here in the continent and hopes that Africa as a whole will see the real potential of its youth unleashed.
Samson Wambuzi
Uganda
Samson is a lifelong teacher and a co-Founder of Yiya, an organization dedicated to increasing high school graduation rates in East Africa by improving the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education through community-based engineering projects.
Rahama Nantoumé
Mali
Rahama is a Project Officer for preventing radicalization in prison at Think Peace, an organization working on issues of governance, peace and security, and violent extremism.
Charles Immanuel Akhimien
Nigeria
Charles is a medical doctor and is the Co-Founder of MOBicure, the digital health company behind the Omomi & myPaddi health apps, which have reached over 60,000 people across Africa.
Elvis Ossindji Binou
Gabon
Elvis leads the energy platform of the Gabonese Sovereign Wealth Fund. He originates, structures, and closes projects that will transform the structure of the Gabonese economy and at the same time secure a solid savings base for the Gabonese future generations.
Emilia Miki
Cameroon
Emily is the founder/CEO of Denis Miki Foundation and Efeti Ventures. Her projects have touched over 6 out of the 10 regions of Cameroon in the areas of health, education, countering violent extremism, food security, talent promotion, and wealth creation.
Tanekeu Goula Durance
Cameroon
Tanekeu Goula Durance is the Co-Founder of Quality Healthcare Clinic in Cameroon, which focuses on providing high quality primary health care services that are safe, comprehensive, accessible, and affordable for everyone. She is passionate about empowering and encouraging people to live happy and healthy lives.
Touria Benlafqih
Morocco
Touria is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Social Impact and Development Employment (SIDE), a social business that connects nonprofits in rural areas with corporations and volunteers.
Titilayo Ogunrinde
Nigeria
Titilayo is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Milky Express Nigeria, a pioneering organization in the lactation industry, where she equips mothers with the tools they need to breastfeed effectively.
Jeremy Lissouba
Republic of the Congo
Jeremy is a Member of Parliament in Congo-Brazzaville, mcember of the main opposition party, and a deputy judge on the country’s High Court of Justice. Focused on issues of governance, sustainable development and social entrepreneurship, he also runs an incubator for small businesses and a farm.
Luther Jeke
Liberia
Luther is the Manager of iCampus, Liberia's first shared innovation, co-working, and community space for organizations and individuals focused on the intersection of technology, accountability, and social change.
Kingdom U. Nwanyanwu
Nigeria
Kingdom is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dehat Ability Support Initiative, a nonprofit that promotes the welfare of deaf and hard of hearing teens by ensuring they have equal access to opportunity.
Breznévia Mascarenhas
Mozambique
Breznévia is a Community Relations Manager at Minas de Revuboè. She inspires young people to believe in their potential and own their responsibility to transform their villages.
Oyo Effiom
Nigeria
Oyo is the Founder and Executive Director of The Guru Foundation, a social development organization working to provide students with affordable educational support services. He is also the author of two books and a leading motivational speaker.
Limbi Blessing
Cameroon
Limbi Blessing is the Founder of Ecological Balance, a nonprofit that uses the environment as a tool to bring about social change. She believes that every natural ecosystem can best be protected by people who live adjacent to it and more so if it contributes to their livelihood.
Hossam Tolba
Egypt
Hossam Tolba is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Creativo Spaces in Egypt, an organization that aims to build peaceful communities, empower young people to learn, and explore and grow their minds.
Funkola Odeleye
Nigeria
Funkola is a Co-Founder of DIYLaw, a legal technology company committed to empowering Nigerian entrepreneurs through free legal and business resources. She believes that entrepreneurship is the most sustainable solution to unemployment.
Uadamen Ilevbaoje
Nigeria
Uadamen is a Project Manager for Tracka, for BudgIT, a Nigeria-based civic organization focused on simplifying public data and making the budget accessible to all Nigerians. He believes that the transformation of Africa is in the hands of citizens
Caleb Ndaka David
Kenya
Ndaka is the Co-Founder of The Africa Centurion Initiative, a nonprofit that seeks to improve the lives of rural and underprivileged communities in East Africa through technology and entrepreneurship. Caleb believes access to education through technology should not be a privilege for a few, but a basic right for all.
Daylene van Buuren
South Africa
Daylene is the Executive Director of City Year South Africa, a nonprofit organization that runs a one-year youth service program in Gauteng, and is passionate about empowering children and young adults.
Hantanirina Volasoa
Madagascar
Hanta is passionate about communication and gender issues. She uses her passion to bring positive social change for future generations.
Nigel Gambanga
Zimbabwe
Nigel is passionate about reducing the digital divide on the continent and believes the internet will be at the center of African growth. As a digital media practitioner at Welthungerhilfe Zimbabwe, he promotes the adoption and use of digital tools among rural farmers.
Kumbirai Kahiya
Zimbabwe
Kumbirai is a gender activist and Founder of Girls and Women Empowerment Network Trust, a community-based organization working to empower the voices of vulnerable girls and young women in rural and urban areas through education and civic engagement.
Stephen Wanyingo
Kenya
Stephen is the Founder and Executive Director of Wezesha, a youth-led, nonprofit coding accelerator that empowers, educates, and employs young people from underserved communities.
Abel Mekete Dagnew
Ethiopia
Abel Dagnew works as a computer programmer on the technology team in the Office of the Prime Minister, where he works to develop and establish the technical infrastructure and programming network models. He also spearheads an effort to develop and install dash cams in vehicles to curb high motor vehicle accident rates.
Davidetta Cassell
Liberia
Davidetta is the Co-Founder & Administrative Manager of City Cleaners Liberia, Inc., creating job opportunities by protecting the environment through proper waste management.
Allan Tumbo
South Africa
Allan is a Research Advisor at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The SAHRC is a national human rights institution that is mandated by the constitution to protect and promote human rights.
Skhulile Ndlovu
South Africa
Skhulile is the Founder of Encore Real Estate, a boutique real estate company that believes that property is not about bricks and mortar, but rather dignity through proper human settlement.
Katrina Amupolo
Namibia
Katrina is the Founder of the Empowering Erongo Young Women Project, which provides capacity building and career guidance mentorship programs to unemployed young women.
Ebtehal Elghamrawy
Egypt
Ebtehal is the Programs Manager and a Management Committee Member of Educate Me Foundation. In this role, she manages the operations arm and income-generating department She is passionate about sustainable change and financial sustainability of nonprofits.
Tina Boules Guirguis
Egypt
Tina is the Founder of Taqa Solutions, one of Egypt’s top five renewable energy start-ups aimed at providing solutions for rural electrification. She is an Energy Transition Economist, advising policymakers on how to transition energy systems to a low carbon system in ways that leverage industry 4.0 technologies.
Hilda Morara
Kenya
Hilda Morara is the Founder of Pezesha, a digital financial marketplace working to empower underserved communities in Africa. She is passionate about women and youth financial empowerment and how it leads to greater socioeconomic impact.
Grace Pisirai
Zimbabwe
Grace is a wife, mother, and engineer. She is Co-Founder of the Purple Future Trust, a nonprofit organization that takes a fun, interactive, and hands-on approach to supporting science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education among young people.
Sonia Orwa
Kenya
Sonia is the Founder of three companies: The MYne Project, ENDoW, and The African Dream Solutions. Always passionate about Africa and its promising future, Sonia’s dream is to inspire the next generation of Africans to dream big and go after their dreams.
Portia Tshabalala
South Africa
Portia is a technologist and Founder of the Portia de Catonis Foundation, which offers educational programs to students in disadvantaged communities of South Africa.
Etienne Mashuli
Burundi
Etienne is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Tujenge Africa Foundation, where they work to build African capacity through quality, innovative, and boundary-pushing education.
Adaku Ufere
Nigeria
Adaku is the Chief Executive Officer of DAX Consult, a firm providing advisory services on energy transactions, gender mainstreaming, and image consulting.
Brenda Mwale
Malawi
Brenda is the Ambassador and Winner of the Future Africa Leaders Award of 2017 and 2018. She believes that money is not the only tool required to bring positive change, but also passion.
Daniela Rakotomamonjy
Madagascar
Daniela Rakotomamonjy is the Chief Executive Officer of Group ACE, a group of five multi-sectoral companies specialized in public and private projects in renewable energy, urban and rural land reform, agribusiness, and ecotourism. Daniela believes that issues related to the future of our planet and humanity are a key to a successful business.
Mohammed Elobeid
Sudan
Mohammed is a resident dentist at the Sudan Ministry of Health and a research assistant at Ahfad University for Women. He is passionate about creating platforms for young medical professionals to help their people.
Lwazi Wali
South Africa
Lwazi is Head of Venture for Founders Factory Africa, a pan African venture studio on a mission to build and scale 140 tech startups across Africa over the next five years.
Robert Sourokou
Benin
Robert Sourokou is the Managing Accountant of GIZ-AFC-ProAgri, an international agricultural organization. He is responsible for project accounting, financial analysis, and management.
Kwame Andrews Daklo
Ghana
Maryan Hassan
Somalia
Maryan is Somalia’s Chief Negotiator for accession to the World Trade Organization. She believes that fair and equitable trade can lead the way for peace and reconciliation in G7+ states like Somalia, and she is passionate about harnessing the participation of youth and women.
Rekgotsofetse Chikane
South Africa
Kgotsi is an advocate for socio-economic equality and is adept at navigating a variety of South Africa’s socially complex spaces.
Essi Geraldo
Togo
Essi is the Program Manager of the Youth Archidar Community, a social program promoting the environment’s care through green entrepreneurship. Essi believes that education is key, which is why she focuses her activities in training in eco-construction and renewable energy.
Koshin Muktar
Somalia
Koshin is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance for Youth Progress (AYP). AYP is a non-governmental organization that carries out youth development projects to build a peaceful and prosperous Somalia.
Pontso Tsoeunyane
Lesotho
Pontso serves as the Founder of AfriDreams, an organization that aims to address prominent challenges in education, peace and security, and health by engaging youth.
Wandile Mthiyane
South Africa
Wandile an architectural designer, social entrepreneur, and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ubuntu Design Group (UDG), an architectural organization that focuses on social impact design projects ranging from individual housing to urban design.
Cammue Mulbah
Liberia
Cammue is the Founder and Executive Director of a fast-growing, local nonprofit organization, Survivors Aid International Liberia (SAIL).
Omar Ibn Abdillah
Comoros
Omar is the Founder of OIA Group, an initiative that aims to support all sustainable development actors to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. He believes that young and active citizens must work together to build a sustainable Africa.
Thandeka Xaba
South Africa
Thandeka is the Founder of the Tariro Foundation, as well as a beauty tech startup called GlamAlly. She is passionate about social entrepreneurship.
King Gyan
Ghana
King works at the Right to Dream Academy (RTD). As Director of Purpose, he runs the daily operations of the RTD Academy. He loves being able to leverage the power football/sports to build the character of the youth and provide them with a world-class education.
Mahamane Fondogoumo Djitteye
Mali
Mahamane is a peace-building activist, civic leadership coach, grant writer, and Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Timbuktu Center for Peace Studies, a youth-driven organization focusing on empowering the next generation of peacemakers in the Sahara Desert.
Muzalema Mwanza
Zambia
Muzalema is a civil engineer and Founder of Safe Motherhood Alliance, a social enterprise that develops innovative technology maternal health products to meet the unique needs of women in resource-poor settings, particularly low-income communities and rural areas.
Kadele Bohouo
Cote d'Ivoire
Kadele is the President of Inclusion of the Amputees and Limb Deficient Persons of Côte d'Ivoire (IPADEMCI), where he works to defend and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. His goal is to promote an inclusive society in Côte d'Ivoire through advocacy and sensitization.
Mmoloki Pitse
Botswana
Mmoloki is the Founder and Lead Project Manager of Wakanda Drone Labs, a drone technology solutions startup that supports conservationists and the farming community across Botswana.
Nkemdilim Uwaje
Nigeria
Nkemdilim is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Futuresoft, one of Nigeria's leading digital solution providers. Her love for technology is rooted in bridging the digital divide and transforming Africa by harnessing the benefits of embracing technology.
Kitso Phillip Phiri
Botswana
Kitso is the Executive Secretary for the Botswana Labour Migrants Association, an organization he co-founded to advocate for the rights of mineworkers and their families. As a business and human rights lawyer, his work is focused on corporate and legal accountability, promoting decent work, mining, and social justice.
Bvudzai Magadzire
South Africa
Bvudzai leads the regional research and advocacy agenda for VillageReach’s work in improving health outcomes in select African countries.
O’Brien Makore
Zimbabwe
O’Brien is the Founder and Director of HarareYangu, an initiative that utilizes new media in promoting good urban governance through effective citizen participation. His vision is to transform the outlook of African cities.
Janvier Manirakiza
Burundi
Janvier is the Founder and Executive Director of Dreaming for Change, a nonprofit organization that strives to enhance human dignity by providing educational opportunities, economic development, and sustainable agriculture for impoverished communities in rural Burundi.
Modjenpa Bibiche
Cameroon
Modjenpa is the Head of the Wealth Creation Department at Reach Out Cameroon (ROC). He is passionate about improving household incomes of women and young girls, specifically those in international development programs, living with HIV/AIDS, and school dropouts.
Paula Morais
Angola
Paula C de Morais is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and President and Founder of the Ana Carolina Foundation. She is focused on the humanization and improvement of children with health disabilities.
Jerry Odili
Nigeria
Jerry is the Founder of Tech ME, a nonprofit organization leveraging technology to solve social issues, from reducing youth unemployment to bridging the technology gender gap.
Lucinda van den Heever
South Africa
Lucinda is a Senior Researcher at Accountability International, a human rights, research, and advocacy think tank that works to improve accountability to the most marginalized populations.
Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar
South Africa
Andrew is a legal and policy specialist working on public transport and infrastructure across Africa. Andrew has a keen interest in issues of SDGs, inequality and poverty. He is the chair of a youth empowerment non-profit and sits on board of a non-profit that feeds thousands of young children in ECDs in South Africa.
Nosa Oghafua
Nigeria
Nosa is the Founder of Learnira, a nonprofit working to make the world’s best science, technology, engineering, and math educational tools and programs accessible to under-resourced schools in Nigeria.
Lalita Purbhoo Junggee
Mauritius
Lalita is the Founder of Eco Hustle Ltd., a company that manufactures upcycle bags and biodegradable sanitary napkins. She also hosts a weekly radio show for entrepreneurs.
Abdoul Aziz Traore
Burkina Faso
Aziz is the Founder of Suudu Andal (House of Knowledge), a civil society organization, where he has trained and mentored over a hundred women and girls on leadership, civic engagement, and the use of social media for advocacy under a project funded by The National Endowment for Democracy.
Innocent Magambi
Burundi
Innocent was born in a small refugee settlement in Congo in 1979. His parents had fled tribal conflict in Burundi seven years earlier. He founded “There is Hope,” a nonprofit that provides opportunities for refugees and their host community to escape poverty and become self-reliant.
Oswald Chishanga
Zimbabwe
Oswald is the Founder and Executive Director of the Save Our Environment Trust, a nonprofit whose main mission is to empower communities to mitigate, adapt, and build resilience against climate change and natural disasters.
Dr. Hassanatu Mansaray
Sierra Leone
Hassanatu works as a Senior Policy Specialist at the African Development Bank (AfDB), actively involved in the preparation of the AfDB’s policies, strategies, and sustainable development initiatives in Africa.
Kalkidan Belayneh
Ethiopia
Kalkidan Belayneh is a Medical Doctor and a Public Health Advocate for the Ethiopian Government. One day, she hopes to see all women exercising their reproductive rights and fulfilling their dreams without facing obstacles related to their reproductive needs.
Brahim Ali Abakar
Chad
Brahim Ali Abakar is a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist who has been working to fight against food and nutritional insecurity in the Sahel region of Africa for the last six years. He believes that despite the rich contributions of international partners, Africa's food self-sufficiency requires a common agricultural development policy, supported by African states.
Goto Cooper
Liberia
Goto is the Founder and Executive Director of Educate Future Liberia, a nonprofit organization that helps young Liberians unleash the potential of underserved youth through impact-driven projects and programs.
Mohamed Hassan
Kenya
Mohamed is the Founder of Kakuma Hub, an organization that fosters peaceful co-existence among refugees and host communities, while also providing safe spaces for creative ideas. Mohamed spent over 20 years in a refugee camp and uses his experience to advocate for refugees.
Sara Alhouni
Libya
Sara is a Program Ambassador of Young Mediterranean Voices and is a Project Assistant at the Libyan office of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. She is passionate about debating and defending the principles of social justice, freedom of speech, and gender equality.
Willie Setlhoka
Botswana
Willie Setlhoka is the Principal Anti-Corruption Officer and Section Head of Financial Investigations at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime. He is determined to assist his country to be fully compliant with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.
Isabella Akinseye
Nigeria
Isabella is a writer, editor, seasoned host, and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Yellow Tamarind Productions, a media and PR company.
Veda Sunassee
Rwanda
Veda works for the African Leadership (AL) Group. He started his career with the group here at the African Leadership Academy (ALA), seeking to nurture leaders from all over the continent. Since 2015, Veda has been working at the African Leadership University (ALU), first as the director of student life at the Mauritius campus and currently serving as head of college at the Rwanda campus.
Sai Govinder
South Africa
Sai is driving the digital job creation stream at the Youth Employment Service (YES). YES is a nonprofit, business-led collaboration to create one million employment opportunities for unemployed South African youth.
Nancy Sumari
United Republic of Tanzania
Nancy is the Founder and Executive Director of the Neghesti Sumari Foundation and The Jenga Learning Hub, which is a maker’s space and learning lab that aims to reform education in Tanzania.
Vyonne Bellys Akoth
Kenya
Vyonne is the Founder and Director of Impart Change, a nonprofit organization that empowers children and youth to be peace champions in their communities.
Hauwa Ojeifo
Nigeria
Hauwa is the Founder of She Writes Woman, a women-led movement of love, hope, and support that gives mental health a voice.
Lucky Chambers Umezulike
Nigeria
Lucky is the Senior Program Manager of Connected Development at Follow The Money initiative, where he works to improve millions of lives across the world through development governance.
Whitney Achieng Okumu
Uganda
Whitney is the Founder of Girls Tomorrow Initiative, a civil society organization that strives to engage youth, girls, and women through technology and training on matters of menstrual hygiene management, health rights, and community development.
Returning Leaders
Part of the theory of change of the Obama Foundation is that our Leaders continue to be force multipliers in their communities and on the continent long after their program year concludes. That’s why we’re pleased to welcome back 15 members of the 2018 class to serve as speakers, facilitators, and mentors for the new class. Meet a few of them below!
King Gyan is a star Ghanaian footballer, but we know him as a changemaker who’s inspiring the next generation through sport. Take a peek at King's day-to-day work at the Right to Dream Academy.
Nichole Yembra is inspiring, empowering, and connecting the future of women-led tech in Africa. See how she's doing it.
"Effective leadership isn't about telling others what to do. It takes emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy."—Veda Sunassee writes about his experience at the convening. Read the full blog +
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