Shola Akindes
Benin

Feyishola (Shola) Akindes has more than eight years of experience in financing solutions and investment structuring, initially for companies and, more recently, for infrastructure and energy projects. In his work with African Infrastructure Investment Managers, Shola structures and executes investments in Africa across various sectors, from deal sourcing, investment appraisal, and transaction execution to investment portfolio monitoring. Shola is native of Benin and holds a master’s degree in Finance from Paris Panthéon-Assas University. Currently based in Abidjan, he is especially focused on French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries and is committed to having an influence on the continent. Convinced that education is the most powerful weapon that one can use to change the world, Shola is an active member of Cupertino Education, a non-profit organization that has the vision of unleashing the potential of talented young Africans, advising them on their academic and professional orientation for the continent’s development. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Shola intends to expand his responsibilities in his current company and contribute to improving governance and planning in the context of major infrastructure and energy projects.

 

Tsholofelo Letsholo
Botswana

Tsholofelo Letsholo has more than 13 years of experience in administration and human resources. She is an assistant director at the Department of Teacher Training and Technical Education under the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science, and Technology in Botswana, where she leads a team of human resource specialists and administrators who coordinate and facilitate resources for creating a knowledge-based economy. Tsholo has received the Best Performer Award for fostering professionalism in administration and human resources practices. She is a community builder and has initiated various activities at her home village to motivate learners and educators. She is also the founder of Green Crown, a motivational and inspirational business platform that instills the concept of self-worth in others. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Botswana and a master’s degree in Strategic Management from the University of Derby. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Tsholo intends to apply the skills and frameworks acquired to create smooth and prompt coordination of resources and enhanced service delivery in public sector institutions in Botswana.

 

Alice Ayuk Tambe Agbor Epse Besong
Cameroon

Alice Ayuk Tambe Agbor Epse Besong is a nurse educator and a disaster and emergency management nurse with more than 11 years of experience in teaching and general clinical nursing. Alice is currently a nurse educator and class coordinator with the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon, where she works at the École des Infirmiers Spécialisés de Yaoundé. There, she focuses on transferring knowledge to students in the areas of general nursing, emergency care, and research. Alice is a 2013 Australia Awards’ Africa Alumna. She holds a master’s degree in Disaster and Emergency Nursing Management from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and a master’s degree in Nursing Education from the University of Buea in Molyko, Cameroon. Alice is committed to providing quality education to nurses in Cameroon and saving lives by providing much-needed first care during disasters and emergencies. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, she hopes to start “ambulance nursing” in Cameroon, a method that will provide healthcare to accident victims on the scene before transporting them to hospitals.

 

Justus Tshikona Kanupabu
Congo, Democratic Republic of the (DRC)

Justus Tshikona Kanupabu is an énarque, expert jurist, and lawyer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He has a bachelor’s degree in International Public Law, a master’s degree in Law and Environmental Governance, and a master’s degree in Public Policies. Justus has a special interest in the management of public policies, with particular attention to the role of citizen communities. He is the co-founder and country coordinator of the non-governmental organization Ligue de la Jeunesse pour la Renaissance du Congo, a platform of Congolese youth organizations for democratic governance, the rights of man, and sustainable development in the DRC. Justus envisions a country where good governance reigns and where democracy at the service of the people, human dignity, and sustainable development are achieved through the implementation of effective and sustainable policies. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program for Young African Leaders, he plans to help youth organizations learn to play an active role in building a democracy that works to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable communities and to increase the use of both national resources and official development assistance.

 

Joe Francis Loukou
Cote d'Ivoire

Annaud Joel Francis Loukou is currently head of the Forecasting Department at Compagnie Ivoirienne d?Électricité (CIE), where he is responsible for electricity demand forecasting, scheduling of generating units, and coordination of maintenance activities. Previously, he served seven years at CIE as power generation analysis and planning engineer, a job that involved carrying out studies to ensure cost-effective, safe, and reliable electricity generation that met the growing demand in Côte d?Ivoire. Annaud holds a degree in Energy Engineering from the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Yamoussoukro. Through the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Annaud hopes to enhance his knowledge of transparency and accountability, effective communication, and innovation implementation, as well as gain a broad understanding of public processes. He also plans to expand his professional network, which will enhance his effectiveness as a leader in electricity delivery.

 

Soufrane Lys
Djibouti

Soufrane Ahmed Mohamed has eight years of experience working for the United Nations Population Fund in Djibouti. Her main missions are to allow young people to have access to information, to train them on issues related to reproductive rights and gender-based violence (in particular female genital mutilation), and to promote access to family planning. Soufrane is committed to improving the living conditions of women and girls in vulnerable situations by strengthening their life skills through community mobilization and capacity-building. She also feels that improving the use of social networks is important because it plays a major role in changing social norms. Soufrane holds a license in Public Law from the University of Djibouti. She speaks several languages, including French, English, and Arabic. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Soufrane plans to strengthen access to sexual and reproductive health services for local girls and for migrant and refugee populations in Djibouti. She also intends to help Djibouti achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the International Conference on Population and Development actions.

 

Siham Hassen
Ethiopia

Siham Ibrahim Hassen is a medical doctor with three years of experience working as a physician and lecturer in a teaching hospital. Her goal is to inspire healthier communities by creating awareness and transferring knowledge about preventive health measures. Siham also volunteers to provide breast cancer screening services in her community. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Siham wants to use the leadership and creative thinking skills she has acquired, as well as her expertise, to continue building a preventive society that encourages people to lead healthy lives and to transform the healthcare experience of her community in Ethiopia.

 

Simon Steven Obame
Gabon

Simon Steven Obame is an engineer in electronics and digital technologies with specialization in multimedia systems and network technologies. He has eight years of experience in the field of water and electricity associated with information systems, and more than 10 years of experience as an entrepreneur introducing new technologies into the community. Simon is passionate about new technologies, and plans to apply the skills and networks gained through the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders to popularize them both in the workplace but throughout the business environment.

 

Aji Sainey Kah
Gambia, The

Aji Sainey Kah has three years of experience in the information and communications technology and energy sectors as a legal practitioner in The Gambia. In 2019, she was part of the drafting teams for The Gambia’s Data Protection Policy and for the Cyber Crime Bill. She has been engaged in the Gambian activism space for more than five years and is passionate about human rights, gender equality, and grassroots engagement. Aji Sainey is a volunteer with Think Young Women, where she works on advancing the rights of women and empowering the next generation of women and girls. She is programs lead at Equals Now, a feminist collective that develops and implements programs that bring attention to the rights of women and girls using modern tools, strategies, and technology. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of The Gambia and a Barrister at Law from The Gambia Law School. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Aji Sainey plans to continue advancing women’s rights and advocating for digital rights and inclusion in The Gambia.

 

Stephanie Boafo
Ghana

Stephanie Maame Fowaa Boafo has worked as a senior administrative officer with Ghana’s Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for more than eight years. Her work centers on building local governance, deepening decentralization, and bringing development to the doorstep of people in her community. Stephanie holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and is well-versed in developing and implementing policies, auditing, managing budgets, and organizing ideas into written documents. Stephanie is also the founder of Girl on Fire, a non-profit organization that supports victims of domestic violence and empowers girls and women to become a better version of themselves, gain a voice, and rise against the social injustices that confront them. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, she intends to use the skills and knowledge acquired to initiate changes in her organization. She hopes the Fellowship will help build her capacity as an administrator, management accountant, and human being who is dedicated to helping others so that she can better serve her organization, her community, and her nation at large.

 

Mohamed Mohamed
Kenya

Mohamed Athman Mohamed has more than 10 years’ experience in community work. Currently, Mohamed is the assistant director of fisheries for the Lamu County Government in Kenya, where he focuses on improving the fisheries sector to ensure food security. Mohamed chairs the Lamu Professionals Forum, a volunteer organization through which he spearheads the implementation of annual career guidance programs in Lamu’s secondary schools. He also leads a team conducting entrepreneurship programs in Lamu, and recently initiated a school mentorship program that is in the pilot phase. Mohamed holds a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from Karatina University and a master’s degree in Fisheries from Pwani University. He is an excellent public speaker and is fluent in Swahili and English. Mohamed collaborates with other professionals to improve management of fisheries resources for the benefit of current and future generations. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Mohamed plans to continue designing and implementing actionable programs that will improve education, career development, and entrepreneurship in his community and the entire East African community.

 

Kamohelo Makateng
Lesotho

Kamohelo Edwin Makateng is a professional soccer player and program director at Kick4Life, a non-governmental organization that works with children living on the streets of Maseru in Lesotho. The organization uses soccer (football) as a tool to change the lives of youth by teaching them life skills. Kamohelo helps youth in rehabilitation centers, orphanages, and foster care homes. He is an Alumnus of the Young African Leaders Initiative and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Kamohelo has a certificate in Sports Management from Eta College in South Africa. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Kamohelo plans to register his foundation to work more closely with other organizations to empower youth and fight gender-based violence.

 

Misa Rasolofoarison
Madagascar

Misa Rasolofoarison is a business jurist who is convinced that trade is a key lever for development. She has worked for the Ministry of Trade in Madagascar for seven years and is currently head of the International Relations Department. She is familiar with international negotiations, trade agreements, project management, market opportunity analysis, and trade policy implementation. In her work, she advocates for good governance and the rule of law. As a volunteer in her community, she cares for children with disabilities and fights child labor. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Misa aspires to be a pioneer in the economic emergence of her country through public reforms and plans to pursue her heartfelt goal of helping children.

 

Sydney Liwewe
Malawi

Sydney Zgambo Liwewe is a data analyst with more than four years’ experience at the Lilongwe Water Board, a state-owned company mandated to provide potable water in Lilongwe, Malawi. Sydney’s task is to analyze and monitor non-revenue water for the board and also to come up with strategies to minimize the loss. He is also a young expert who was recruited in 2018 by the Young Expert Programmes Bureau in conjunction with Vitens Evides International (a Dutch water utility company that partners with the Lilongwe Water Board). The bureau brings together young experts from across the world from the water and agriculture sectors to share knowledge to revamp those sectors. Sydney holds a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the University of Malawi. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he will share his knowledge with both his organization and other water utility companies in Malawi and beyond.

 

Dickel Dia
Mauritania

Dickel Dia is a One Young World Ambassador and a Saleema Youth Victorious Ambassador for the African Union, representing North Africa. In July 2017, Dickel founded the Association des Femmes Potières du Hebbiya et du Yirla (the Association for Women Potters of Hebbiya and Yirla, or AFPHY), a non-profit organization. AFPHY stands against gender-based violence and discrimination by promoting high-quality education and equal rights and by generating jobs for women and girls across rural areas of Mauritania. Dickel has a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, she will use the tools and skills she acquires to increase the positive impact she can make in Mauritania. She also intends to connect with other like-minded individuals who are working tirelessly for a truly equal world.

 

Elizabeth Kashala
Namibia

Elizabeth Kashala is a performance auditor with more than six years of experience working for the Office of the Auditor-General in Namibia. Elizabeth is a volunteer for the Future Leaders Association, a non-profit organization for which she provides research support. She has researched the role of public policy and women’s empowerment in Africa, as well as the relationship between the non-profit sector and government in Canada. In addition to being a public servant and volunteer, Elizabeth owns a construction company that provides affordable rural dwellings. She holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from Ryerson University. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Elizabeth hopes to transition into policy work by leading and improving monitoring and evaluation of Namibia’s socioeconomic policies.

 

Abiodun Essiet
Nigeria

Abiodun Essiet is a feminist and a gender activist with more than eight years’ experience advocating for community development and igniting and inspiring youths' desire for social change. Currently, Abiodun is a special adviser to the executive chair of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, focusing on finding smart solutions to community problems and service delivery. She also works toward creating an enabling environment for members of civil society to engage the government in sustainable development agendas and advocate for open government policies. Her commitment to ensuring smart city solutions led to her appointment as the Africa regional director for World Smart Cities Organization. Abiodun holds a master’s degree in Public Health and a diploma in Leadership Development. She received a Fellowship on women’s development from Coady International Institute. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Abiodun plans to use the skills and knowledge gained to advocate for the inclusion of young women in government and politics.

 

Adeniyi Ajayi
Nigeria

Adeniyi Ajayi has more than four years of experience advocating for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Lagos electoral process. He monitored the implementation of the Braille guide policy for blind voters in the 2019 elections, and volunteers with the Independent National Electoral Commission. He is a youth leader for the Nigerian Association of the Blind, Lagos State Chapter, and a monitoring and evaluation officer for the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs. Adeniyi attended the Pacelli School for the Blind and Yewa Model College, and was appointed to the College's student council as the representative for people living with disabilities. In 2015, he became president of the National Association of Nigerian Visually Impaired Students, and he obtained his degree in Political Science in 2017 from the University of Lagos, Akoka. Adeniyi is skilled at promoting inclusion and diversity in any organization and identifying opportunities for fostering collaborations between groups, organizations, and the government. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he plans to share his knowledge and experience with stakeholders to drive new policies that will ensure the participation of people with disabilities in the Nigerian electoral system.

 

Ayo Fash
Nigeria

Ayotunde Paul Fasanya has more than 12 years' experience in grants financial management and child development. Currently, Ayotunde is a senior grants financial officer at the Institute of Human Virology in Nigeria, where he manages grants linked to organizations such as the U.S. Agency for International Development; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Ayotunde is also the president of Globe Takers Foundation, a child development organization that has reached about 5,000 children, and director general of the Africa Space Foundation, a non-governmental organization that partners with Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Agency to promote early childhood training in science, technology, engineering, math, and robotics. Ayotunde holds a master’s degree in Financial Management and numerous certifications in child development. He has worked with abused children to encourage their abilities in music, art, and technology. Ayotunde believes that poverty can be eradicated through the cultural educational development of children at an early age. On completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Ayotunde plans to collaborate with colleagues and organizations to scale up his assessment templates and to collect extensive data for mapping out intervention techniques for the development of the African child.

 

Shilla Ndegeya
Rwanda

Shilla Ndegeya has more than five years of experience in business management and working with civil society focused on people with disabilities. Shilla is a national director at Special Olympics Rwanda, which engages children and adults with intellectual disabilities in sports. Shilla holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management, specializing in Accounting, from Mount Kenya University in Rwanda. She is passionate about helping people with disabilities and believes they should be included without any kind of discrimination. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Shilla plans to use the knowledge obtained from the program to create long-lasting projects that generate income and improve the lives and living conditions of people with disabilities.

 

Claudia Reis
Sao Tome and Principe

Claudia Patricia Moniz has worked as an air traffic controller for almost seven years. She holds a diploma in Air Navigation Control from the African School of Meteorology and Civil Aviation in Niamey, Niger. She has also taught basic English at a public school. Claudia is passionate about life and encourages women to trust their power and fight for their rights. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Claudia hopes to apply the knowledge and skills she obtains from the program to help women and children who experience sexual abuse and domestic violence. She wants to comfort victims by making them feel safe when reporting their aggressors, and to promote women’s empowerment.

 

Abdourahmane Ndong
Senegal

Abdourahmane Ndong is a medical doctor and a public health specialist. He is currently a general surgeon and assistant professor at Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis, Senegal. After completion of his general surgery residency in Dakar, he trained in laparoscopic surgery at Queen Mary University of London. Abdourahmane participates regularly as a volunteer in surgical campaigns for disadvantaged populations, and is particularly interested in minimally invasive and global surgery. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Abdourahmane aims to participate in training the next generation of general and laparoscopic surgeons in Senegal and across Africa. He hopes his efforts will give communities better access to surgery.

 

 

Khadidiatou Fall Samb
Senegal

Khadidiatou Fall Samb has more than four years of experience in marketing and communications. Currently, Khadidiatou works at the Virtual University of Senegal, where she is in charge of the digital desk in marketing and communication. She is also a co-founder of LASIA Sénégal, a platform dedicated to helping young people achieve personal, professional, educational, and business goals by providing high-quality content through various programs and events. She believes digital tools hold real possibilities to improve and widen access to education and life skills, make the voices of young people heard, and network for positive purposes. Khadidiatou is in her final year of a master’s degree in Marketing and Communication and is also pursuing a Master of Sciences in Education. She is a member of JEADER (Jeunes Entrepreneurs Africains ‘uvrant pour le Développement Économique Régional), an association of young changemakers. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Khadidiatou plans to use the skills, experience, and networks from the Fellowship to grow LASIA Sénégal so she can help young people profit from more opportunities and better serve public institutions.

 

Linda Mncube
South Africa

Linda Mncube has more than 12 years of experience as a professional town and regional planner primarily with the local government. As the manager for planning at the iLembe District Municipality in South Africa, he is responsible for spatial planning, environmental management, and geographic information systems. Linda has a keen interest in climate change, infrastructure development, and local economic development. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Town and Regional Planning and a postgraduate diploma in Urban Management. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Linda plans to use the experience and network to be a better contributor in his field, particularly with respect to developing and implementing strategies aimed at fostering sustainable development.

 

Rombek Esaya Kolorinda Rombek
South Sudan

Rombek Esaya Kolorinda is the founder and executive director of Global Aim South Sudan, a non-profit that is working to support people’s livelihoods and to strengthen their resilience through transformative programs in agriculture, education, and life skills training. Rombek is passionate about helping vulnerable communities in Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan, by strengthening farmers’ agronomic skills, training youth and women in village savings and loan association techniques, and training artisans and fisheries groups in Magwi and Nimule Payams. Rombek is a former county deputy speaker of the Ganji County Legislative Council in the defunct Jubek State. He chaired a committee that created the County Business Code of Conduct, which was passed by the council. He was a chief of the Wonduruba Peace and Conflict Resolution among the Clans of Wonduruba in Juba. Rombek holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Catholic University of South Sudan, an affiliate of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Rombek aspires to be a vocal parliamentarian and believes that the Fellowship will enable him to achieve that goal.

 

Nashwa Abdelbadie
Sudan

Nashwa Mohamed has more than four years of experience volunteering with youth empowerment movements. Nashwa is a hub coordinator at Alsharq Youth Network’s Khartoum Hub, where she focuses on raising youth awareness and participation in peace and social cohesion. She is partnership and resource mobilization chair of the Young African Leaders Initiative Alumni Chapter of Sudan. She has held managerial positions in many youth-led organizations, such as Abwab for Youth Development and the ER Street Initiative. Nashwa holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance, and she holds certificates in management accounting, strategy and competitive analysis, and sustainable finance. Her commitment to voluntary work stems from her belief in the importance of giving back and making positive contributions to her community and the world. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Nashwa plans to take her involvement to the next level and use her new expertise as a civil servant, her developed leadership competencies, and her expanded professional network to transform how youth initiatives are integrated and managed in Sudan.

 

Pamela Allavo
Togo

Pamela Allavo is a medical doctor who is passionate about humanitarian issues, education, and information communications technology. She is the co-coordinator of Les Zopitaux et Moi, the first Togolese digital media outlet specializing in health education. Her goal is to reach out to communities through the power of digital technology and to encourage others to be healthier by raising awareness of health risks and promoting preventive health education campaigns. Pamela also provides free medical services to her community. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Pamela plans to use the acquired knowledge in public management to influence and transform more people’s opinions about healthcare issues in Togo.

 

Owiny Hakim
Uganda

Owiny Hakim has more than 14 years of experience as a community civic educator working with local Ugandan leaders to advocate for inclusive communities. He recently walked from Kampala to Nairobi to Addis Ababa to popularize the African Agenda 2063. Throughout the journey, he had civic discussions with various community groups and leaders on how youth can participate in building desirable local communities. He currently works with the International Republic Institute to implement peaceful coexistence and sustainable use of local resources between refugees and host communities in Lamwo District. He trains refugees and local government leaders in conflict analysis and peaceful conflict mediation. Owiny is a co-founder of Carry Boys? Football Club, a project that provides underprivileged children with a safe place to play and a mentor. He is leading a project to plant a 100-hectare forest in Palabek Kal in Lamwo District as a way to alleviate resource use by the South Sudan refugee population. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Owiny plans to champion a non-profit biogas project with Silveria Uganda to bring sustainable cooking gas to rural farming families in Uganda as a long-term, low-cost alternative to charcoal and firewood.

 

Mwape Musonda
Zambia

Mwape Musonda is an accomplished leader who is passionate about the positive change that young people can bring about in society. He has a diversified leadership portfolio that includes serving as board member and immediate past national treasurer at the Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia; as acting financial accountant and chairperson for the Staff Union at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research; and as founder and executive director of Madlon Investments Ltd. Mwape holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from Copperbelt University. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he looks forward to helping a new generation of Zambian leaders transform their communities.

 

Tukiya Kanguya
Zambia

Tukiya Kanguya is a public health practitioner with three years’ experience working in the health sector. Currently, she is a research coordinator at the Social Science Department of the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, where she focuses on mental health research. Tukiya is passionate about improving mental health services for individuals in disadvantaged communities who struggle with depression, trauma, and anxiety, and works to address the mental health treatment gap through evidence-based research that will lead to policy reforms. She is also president of the Commonwealth Alumni Association of Zambia and the Zambia country coordinator for African Young Leaders in Global Health. In these roles, she mentors youth in civic engagement and leadership. On completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, she will continue her work in the mental health field and help bring about a Zambia where every citizen has access to affordable mental health treatment.