Leaders: Africa, a program of The Barack Obama Foundation, 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 politics, 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 drive positive, innovative change in their communities, throughout Africa, and across the globe.
The program will run from October 2021 through April 2022, with a break from mid-December to mid-January. 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 an executive coach to help them gain self-awareness, clarify goals, brainstorm ideas, achieve their development objectives, and unlock their potential.
End of Program Project Leaders will collaborate to organize collective service projects. Project guidelines and expected outcomes will be shared with participants during the program launch to ensure Leaders will have ample time to organize, brainstorm, and implement their initiatives at the latter end of the six months or immediately after the program.
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
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.
![africa pattern](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20210919054930im_/https://www.obama.org/wp-content/uploads/Design-border_jpg.jpg)
MEET THE LEADERS
Wilfried Adingra
Cote d'Ivoire
Sorieba Daffae
Sierra Leone
Francis Kaifala
Sierra Leone
Adaku Ufere
Nigeria
Thandeka Xaba
South Africa
Jeremy Lissouba
Republic of the Congo
Suleiman Kuchengo
United Republic of Tanzania
Fernanda Matsinhe
Mozambique
Titilayo Ogunrinde
Nigeria
Sonia Orwa
Kenya
Angela Wachuka
Kenya
Jerry Odili
Nigeria
Kadele Bohouo
Cote d'Ivoire
Kumbirai Kahiya
Zimbabwe
Ada Ezeokoli
Nigeria
Portia Tshabalala
South Africa
Skhulile Ndlovu
South Africa
Robert Sourokou
Benin
Daylene van Buuren
South Africa
Omar Ibn Abdillah
Comoros
Mohamed Dhaouafi
Tunisia
Hauwa Ojeifo
Nigeria
Lesley Williams
South Africa
Sara Alhouni
Libya
Breznévia Mascarenhas
Mozambique
Daisry Mathias
Namibia
Refilwe Ledwaba
South Africa
Javnyuy Joybert
Cameroon
Nigel Gambanga
Zimbabwe
Caleb Ndaka David
Kenya
Bezawit Zerayacob Bekele
Ethiopia
Lilian Nakigozi
Uganda
Teresa Mbagaya
Kenya
Janvier Manirakiza
Burundi
Hantanirina Volasoa
Madagascar
Kingdom U. Nwanyanwu
Nigeria
Sithe Ncube
Zambia
Cammue Mulbah
Liberia
Ade Akpona
Benin
Grace Pisirai
Zimbabwe
Robert Hakiza
Uganda
Fatoumatta Kassama
Gambia
Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya
Kenya
Brenda Mwale
Malawi
Touria Benlafqih
Morocco
Mostafa Adel
Egypt
Turki Mohamed
Djibouti
Ahmed Elmurtada Abdalla
Sudan
Dirug Samuel
Nigeria
Maryan Hassan
Somalia
Eddy Balina
Uganda
Candace Nkoth Bisseck
Cameroon
Ellen Chigwanda
Zimbabwe
Gamariel Mboya
Tanzania
Hossam Tolba
Egypt
Mostafa Amin
Egypt
Nina Forgwe
Cameroon
Samson Wambuzi
Uganda
Wandile Mthiyane
South Africa
Gatwal Yul
South Sudan
Mpara Faith
Cameroon
Claude Marie Térence Andtoungou
Gabon
Richard Kachungu
Zambia
Tina Boules Guirguis
Egypt
Nour Brahimi
Algeria
Rachid Ennassiri
Morocco
Bvudzai Magadzire
South Africa
Tsholofelo Mokgoabone
Botswana
Lucky Chambers Umezulike
Nigeria
Paula Morais
Angola
Wangari Muchiri
Kenya
Vyonne Bellys Akoth
Kenya
Hilda Morara
Kenya
Shamiso Ruzvidzo
Zimbabwe
Lalaina Randriarimanana
Madagascar
Andrew Ihsaan Gasnolar
South Africa
Ornella Dushime
Burundi
Sai Govinder
South Africa
Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu
Nigeria
Ruth Bolline Alouch
Kenya
Willie Setlhoka
Botswana
Jessica Dewhurst
South Africa
Aya Alrabbat
Egypt
Kwame Andrews Daklo
Ghana
Goto Cooper
Liberia
Likumbi Kapihya
Zambia
King Gyan
Ghana
Ludwekazi Ndlazi
South Africa
Kevin Saffee Baffoe
Ghana
Allan Tumbo
South Africa
Oswald Chishanga
Zimbabwe
Kalkidan Belayneh
Ethiopia
O’Brien Makore
Zimbabwe
Caren Wakoli
Kenya
Veda Sunassee
Rwanda
Emilia Miki
Cameroon
Tanekeu Goula Durance
Cameroon
Gabriel Ally
South Africa
Bongajum Lesley
Cameroon
Stephen Wanyingo
Kenya
Nancy Sumari
United Republic of Tanzania
Salmine Sassi
Tunisia
Fola Bamisaye
Nigeria
Gaëlle Ramamonjisoa
Madagascar
Kémo Touré Jr.
Senegal
Nvulane Nhlapo
Lesotho
Moitshepi Matsheng
Botswana
Albert Uwayo
Rwanda
Aïssatou Aïda Dosso
Cote d'Ivoire
Davidetta Cassell
Liberia
Lucinda van den Heever
South Africa
Lalita Purbhoo Junggee
Mauritius
Helene Manyi Arrey
Cameroon
Abel Mekete Dagnew
Ethiopia
Abdul Samed Zurak
Ghana
Abdoul Aziz Traore
Burkina Faso
Mohammed Elobeid
Sudan
Thuba Sibanda
Namibia
Wenceslas Djokpeé
Benin
Zama Dlamini
Swaziland
Luther Jeke
Liberia
Charles Immanuel Akhimien
Nigeria
E.N. Ejob
Cameroon
Linda Kamau
Kenya
Isabella Akinseye
Nigeria
Oyo Effiom
Nigeria
Lwazi Wali
South Africa
Somto Anunobi
Nigeria
Lanre Oniyitan
Nigeria
Anne Waruguru Kiai
Kenya
Hazabintwali Charles
Rwanda
Koshin Muktar
Somalia
Zachuas Ogonji
Kenya
Ebtehal Elghamrawy
Egypt
Modjenpa Bibiche
Cameroon
Nosa Oghafua
Nigeria
Anthony Owei
Nigeria
Whitney Achieng Okumu
Uganda
Daniela Rakotomamonjy
Madagascar
Ako Essan Emile
Cote d'Ivoire
Dr. Hassanatu Mansaray
Sierra Leone
Souley Harouna
Niger
Pontso Tsoeunyane
Lesotho
Katrina Amupolo
Namibia
Donald Tererai
Zimbabwe
Essi Geraldo
Togo
Elyes Guermazi
Tunisia
Etienne Mashuli
Burundi
Marvin Tarawally
Liberia
Kwadwo Lartey
Ghana
Rahama Nantoumé
Mali
Limbi Blessing
Cameroon
Michael Sunbola
Nigeria
Xabiso Dubasi
South Africa
Ngatia Kirungie
Kenya
Blaise Aboh
Nigeria
Frankson Musukwa
Zambia
Kingsley Ezeani
Nigeria
Taryn Lock
South Africa
Uadamen Ilevbaoje
Nigeria
Clara Chassungo Silva
Angola
Rekgotsofetse Chikane
South Africa
Ernest Charles Futta
United Republic of Tanzania
Samaila Goje
Nigeria
Tumelo Makobye
Botswana
Muzalema Mwanza
Zambia
Mmoloki Pitse
Botswana
Pascal Adriyo Anguezi
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Elizabeth Kasujja
Uganda
Karen Mukwasi
Zimbabwe
Harry Mwailengo
Kenya
Chris Kulanga
Malawi
Valerio Thompson Boco
Equatorial Guinea
Ines Atugonza Muganyizi
United Republic of Tanzania
Mahamane Fondogoumo Djitteye
Mali
Philippe Houinsou
Benin
Nichole Onome Yembra
Nigeria
Lusungu Kalanga
Malawi
Koffi Leon Kouame
Cote d'Ivoire
Mwayi Kampesi
Malawi
Elvis Ossindji Binou
Gabon
Innocent Magambi
Burundi
Brahim Ali Abakar
Chad
Mandipa Machacha
Botswana
Mohamed Hassan
Kenya
Nkemdilim Uwaje
Nigeria
Funkola Odeleye
Nigeria
Kitso Phillip Phiri
Botswana
Bukola Bolarinwa
Nigeria
Cathy Sibanda Thebe
Botswana
Mpho Tjope
South Africa
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!
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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.
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Nichole Yembra is inspiring, empowering, and connecting the future of women-led tech in Africa. See how she's doing it.
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"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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