Abayomi Adewale Adeosun is a pharmacist with more than five years of experience in monitoring and evaluating public health programs and conducting research. He is currently an associate at Sydani Initiative for International Development, where he provides technical support to Nigeria s National Primary healthcare Development Agency and National Health Insurance Scheme. He is responsible for monitoring and evaluation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, through which Nigeria hopes to achieve universal health coverage. Abayomi holds a diploma of advanced study in Healthcare and Management from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute at the University of Basel and a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Obafemi Awolowo University. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Abayomi plans to promote the use of data for evidence-based decision-making in the health policy landscape in Nigeria.

Jerry Adjahi is an M.B.A. graduate in Marketing and a logistics manager at the Presidency of Benin. In this role, he manages a team of five people and oversees the internal and external logistics of the presidency. Prior to this role, Jerry worked as a sales associate in a shipping company, but felt the urge to build something of his own and help young people like him to make a better living. He strongly believes that producing locally generates employment opportunities, and that economically empowered young parents make a healthier family environment and hence better-developed communities. Today, Jerry owns a hencoop 'Alby Koklo' (Alby chicken) that recruits parents under 35 years old. His venture aims to promote local and healthier consumer habits in Benin and help unemployed youth. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Jerry intends to demonstrate through advocacy and his own example that formal employment should not stop youth from creating opportunities to fight poverty in their communities. His favorite quote is: 'Poverty is the disease, hustle is the antidote.'

Sami Sayed Altalib, a medical doctor in Sudan, has actively participated in debates, youth empowerment, and the health sector for more than six years. Nationally, Sami was the training director and then secretary general at the Medical Students International Network Sudan, and served as a health promotion consultant at Almanar Voluntary Organization. Internationally, he was an international soft skills trainer at the International Federation of Medical Students Associations and a health promotion supervisor with Doctors Without Borders. Sami was also a member of the higher accreditation committee for medical schools at the Sudan Medical Council. At the Khartoum State Ministry of Health, he was a member of the mechanism for ending violence against children in educational institutes. Sami has won many national and international debate championships. He received his medical degree from the University of Khartoum, and has participated in many medical missions, conferences, seminars, symposiums, and workshops as both an attendant and a speaker. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he plans to continue his efforts to empower youth, promote health, and strengthen his country s health system.

Moeketsi Baas is a jurist, public servant and human rights activist. He was born in a rural town of Viljoenskroon in the Northern Free State, South Africa. He later moved to a mining town, Orkney, in the North West of South Africa, where he began his high school learning. It was during this time that his passion for, amongst others, youth development, student governance as well as activism took root. He honed his leadership skills by participating in oratory and debate disciplines, while also engaged in the student governing body, which he was a president of. At just age 15 he was already proactive in climate debates at grassroots level, where he was charged with the responsibility to lead the South African National Parks Honorary Rangers as its national President, a position that was maiden at the time of his occupation. Realising his leadership potential, Baas contested and won the presidency of the Representative Council of Learners. He is a law graduate from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg South Africa. Beyond his academic credentials, Baas is an avid human rights defender for many marginalised groups such the LGBTQ and the youth in impoverished communities, where there is inadequacy in basic education, skills development and job placements. He is currently the Manager: Strategic Support and Legal Services in Kopanong Local Municipality, the second largest Municipality in South Africa in terms of geographical landscape. Preferred Pronoun: He.

Nzovwa Banda has more than 10 years of work experience, mostly with not-for-profit organizations in Zambia. Currently, Nzovwa is a finance and administration lead at the Margaret Musondo Mwape Foundation, where she works on programs aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable women and children in Zambia. She has also been involved in mentorship programs for youth and women. Nzovwa is co-founder of the Copperbelt Innovation and Technology Limited, tech start-up and incubator, and of VillageSavers Limited, a company that provides tech-based financial solutions to village banking groups and small and medium enterprises in Zambia. Nzovwa holds a licentiate certificate from the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants. She earned a bachelor s degree (with honors) in Business Studies, a postgraduate international diploma in Project Management, and a Master of Business Administration. She is currently pursuing a Master of Development Studies. Nzovwa presented a paper on the governance of diversity at a regional conference organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. From the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, she hopes to create networks that will lead to fruitful collaborations aimed at bettering the lives of the vulnerable and collaborations aimed at promoting financial literacy, especially for women.

Tony Nathael Bankazi is currently an account manager at Huawei Congo, where he builds strong relationships and creates new opportunities that benefit his company and generate growth and profits. Tony also ensures that his company is deeply involved in social issues in the Republic of Congo, including the environment and youth education. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Tony plans to train young people about civic engagement, entrepreneurship, the need to combat climate change, and the consolidation of patriotism through cultural and sports activities.

Felix Chauluka is the founder of A. D. Patel Early Childhood Development Center in Chiradzulu District. Since 2016, he has worked as a deputy principal hospital administrator at Mlambe Mission Hospital. In his time there, he has facilitated the re-establishment of the Cervical Cancer Clinic, which screens 300 women on average per month for free. Felix is also an heir to the Senior Group Village of Chikoja, whose population of 3,500 people comprises 463 households. He currently sits on the Council of Elders that identifies developmental activities and presents them to Village Development Committee. The Council of Elders also manages resource mobilization, writing proposals and facilitating the implementation of identified projects. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Felix would like to use the skills and knowledge acquired to continue helping people of Chikoja village to foster developmental vision and build a spirit of self-reliance.

Nathanael Congo is a senior executive from Burkina Faso with 10 years of experience in various international development organizations. He is currently the regional head of financial planning and analysis for West and Central Africa at Save the Children International, where he manages development and humanitarian projects and supervises multithematic programs that are funded by donors from around the world. He has extensive experience managing programs at multiple sites and countries, and expertise in organizational structuring, risk management coordination, and management and deployment of information technology solutions. He is also trained in fraud investigation and humanitarian accountability. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Nathanael plans to use the skills and network acquired to enhance his humanitarian activities.

Denis Adesina Daniel is a political scientist and public sector analyst with six years experience in public policy, diplomacy, and project management for local and international organizations. Currently, Denis is a junior consultant at the Board Affairs and Proceedings Department of the African Development Bank Group, where he provides secretarial services to the Board of Governors, the Board of Directors, and their subsidiary organs. Denis holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the Institut Universitaire d'Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire; a master's degree in International Relations, which was awarded under an Economic Commission for West African States scholarship by the University of Ibadan in Nigeria; and a second master's degree in Governance and Regional Integration, which was awarded under an African Union scholarship by the Pan African University in Cameroon. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Denis plans to establish the Abidjan Early Career Public Service Fellowship, which will serve as a vehicle for promoting education, good governance, and public servant capacity-building. In addition, Denis is working on an education sponsorship-mentorship program that will benefit at least 10 secondary school students per year.

Oumar Dia has more than seven years of experience in public management, e-government, e-commerce, and international trade. He engages extensively in promoting entrepreneurship by training young entrepreneurs in the legal aspects and the practice of e-commerce. He is currently a systems administrator of Senegal's Department for International Trade and the founder and chief executive officer of InfoTekki, a platform that aims to inspire and develop the entrepreneurship of young Senegalese. He holds a master's degree in Economics, a master's degree in Business Administration, and a certificate in Public Administration. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he looks forward to continuing his public sector work and his engagement in promoting entrepreneurship of young Senegalese. Oumar believes the Fellowship will give him valuable skills and connections that will enable him to be more effective in his work and give positive exposure to his projects.

Dr. Nomonde Alice Dlamini is a medical doctor with five years experience in the field. Currently, she works in the general surgery department at the National Referral Hospital of Eswatini. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, and M.B.B.S. in Medicine from the Peoples Friendship University of Russia. Nomonde is also the president of the Rotary Club of Mbabane. Upon completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Nomonde plans to apply her new skills and networks to improve her work with both the hospital and Rotary.

Moumouni Ibra Hadiza has more than two years experience in petroleum engineering. She was the first woman to specialize in the oil and gas reservoir engineering field in Niger. Currently, Moumouni Ibra is a reservoir simulation engineer at Pioneer-Alfa Petroleum Services. She is also the founder and president of Niger s Women in Oil and Gas Association, through which she has organized conferences at high schools and universities to interest girls in the petroleum engineering field. She holds a bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering and a master s degree in Reservoir Engineering. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Moumouni Ibra plans to conduct a campaign to reach 270 secondary schools in rural communities and organize STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) competitions. She plans to become an expert in the technical aspects of reservoir engineering and petroleum economics and to groom the upcoming generation of engineers in Niger. Her long-range goal is to establish a reservoir studies center in Niger that will specialize in determining the reserves and petroleum prospects for recovery from fields in Niger and its neighboring countries.

Lorna Juma works in the development space as a sustainable development consultant having worked with various non-profits such as KCB Group Foundation, United Nations Volunteers, SME Development Office of the President, State House Kenya, Kenya Tea Development Foundation and the United States Development Foundation. Being passionate about creating financial inclusion among smallholder farmers and MSMEs, she conducts training on savings and credit, alternative sustainable sources of income, and sustainable farming techniques. She is experienced in designing and implementing programs that support inclusive economic growth and poverty reductions. She educates on sustainable consumption and production, and in addition, promotes sustainable economic growth among farmers and MSMEs to create quality goods, services and jobs that grow the economy and communities without causing harm to the environment. Her aspiration is to advance sustainable development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising that of future generations. She is the Country Representative for the Pan-African Youth Organization for the Blue Economy. She is also an MSMEs and Youth programs consultant at the Office of the Youth Representative, Member of Parliament, where she designs, implements, and evaluates youth programs. Lorna holds a first-class bachelor’s degree in Business Information Technology and is a Business Edge Trainer certified by the International Finance Corporation/World Bank. She is also an alumna of the mandela RLC EA. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Lorna plans to focus on increasing financial inclusion among women through targeted collective investment training as she believes being bankable is a key factor to achieving financial independence.

Felix Kaminyoghe is a pharmacist and public health supply chain specialist. Currently, Felix works with the United Nations Development Programme, where he strives to increase access to essential medicines in public hospitals and reduce antimicrobial resistance in Malawi. His daily work involves building the capacity of the pharmaceutical workforce, thereby strengthening the Malawi health system. In addition, through volunteer work, he sensitizes the general public and other healthcare workers about the issue of antimicrobial resistance and the dangers of antibiotic misuse. Felix holds a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Malawi, and is a member of the National Medicines and Supplies Committee of the Ministry of Health in Malawi. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Felix intends to use his new skills and partnerships to realize his dream.

Zara Mohammed Kareto is a humanitarian worker and consultant with more than five years of experience working on gender, information management, coordination, and peacebuilding issues. Zara was the first national interagency coordinator globally to support the rollout of GBVIMS+ (a system that allows data collection and ensures the quality of gender-based response services and incident data monitoring in the humanitarian context). She was responsible for coordinating programs in the North East region of Nigeria related to gender-based violence response and data management. Currently, she is working to roll out GBVIMS+ in Afghanistan. Zara is also a co-founder of the Kareto Development Foundation, an organization devoted to researching and addressing climate change and educational issues. She provides mentorship and technical support on gender-based violence to Nigerian youth and non-governmental organizations. Zara was a North East Intellectual Entrepreneurship Fellow and a ONE Champion. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication and is pursuing a master s degree in Humanitarian and Refugee Studies from the University of Maiduguri. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Zara intends to continue working on gender issues, climate change, youth engagement, and peacebuilding.

Lidiya Kehale Kassahun is a development practitioner, community facilitator, and business and new venture designer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She is an experienced public servant who has worked in various government organizations and non-profits for more than four years. Lidiya offers hands-on expertise in social justice, women s empowerment, and private sector development. She has rich, successful experience in leading various socioeconomic projects that have had bettered the livelihoods of underprivileged people in society. Lidiya works at the intersection of design and social impact to solve big problems, connect dots that matter, ideate human-centered solutions, and make those ideas concrete. With a great heart for the African continent, Lidiya envisions making a lasting positive impact on the lives of many children, youth, and underprivileged people in her community when she completes the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

Ofentse Jerremia Kombe is a social activist with experience in the civil society sector and in local government and municipal governance in South Africa. He is a founding member of Boitekong Progressive Youth, where he helped create more than 500 jobs. Ofentse also helped to found the political party Botho Community Movement, which contested local government elections in the Rustenburg Local Municipality and won a seat in the council. He is currently a councilor and the youngest member of the mayoral committee, and political head of the directorate responsible for local economic development in the Rustenburg Local Municipality. Ofentse is a final-year Bachelor of Administration student at the University of South Africa. He is a Young African Leaders Initiative Alumnus and part of the Activate Network. Ofentse wants to lead effective and efficient management of public resources to enable socioeconomic development at all levels of government, and hopes to increase youth participation in governance. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, he will continue working to attract investment for the construction of an education hub in Rustenburg, including a university.

Maletsie Letsie is labor inspector at the Lesotho Ministry of Labour and Employment, where she is responsible for inspections in the textile and manufacturing sector. That sector employs more than 40,000 Basotho, of which 80% are women. Maletsie is passionate about upholding workers rights and ensuring the dignity of working women. She holds a master s degree in Public Policy, a bachelor s degree in Social Sciences, and a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Maletsie plans to use her new knowledge and skills and the innovative ideas gained from the Fellowship s network to improve how labor issues are handled in her country.

André Rafael Machava is an agricultural engineer and environmental specialist with more than nine years of experience in the agriculture, irrigation, and rural development sectors in Mozambique. He works as the co-principal investigator at the National Irrigation Institute, a research organization that helps smallholder irrigation in Mozambique to be more productive, self-sustaining, and inclusive. André has undertaken several socioeconomic surveys, feasibility studies, environmental studies, and climate-change mitigation and adaptation strategies for development projects. He holds a master s degree in Environmental Sciences and a bachelor s degree in Agricultural Engineering. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, André will continue to help smallholder farmers lift themselves out of poverty and to improve people s livelihoods and well-being to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Glory Mhalu is a nutritionist with eight years of experience working with mothers and children under age five. She has worked in nutrition programs that focus on reducing childhood stunting and maternal anemia. Currently, Glory is a program manager at The Centre for Counselling, Nutrition and Health Care, where she oversees a nutrition program that mainstreams gender into nutrition interventions to reduce stunting in rural communities of Tanzania. Glory holds a master s degree in Human Nutrition from Michigan State University. She has a broad understanding of the causes of undernutrition and uses social behavior change communication methods to help communities adopt pro-nutrition behavior. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Glory plans to strengthen the counseling unit at the organization where she works and offer services to mothers and caregivers of children under five in urban communities to improve feeding practices and reduce undernutrition.

Gaël Mouteli is a social entrepreneur from Gabon. As the founder and president of Strong Community ONG Green, he supports community development through educational, environmental, and humanitarian projects. With nine years of experience in community development, Gaël currently works for International Baccalaureate as an English teacher and head of the community and services department at Gabon s Lycée Franco-Britannique École Internationale. Gaël is also a trainer and consultant for the Gabonese Ministry of Entrepreneurship, where he focuses on youth leadership. Gaël has a bachelor s degree in Economics and is currently working on his master s in Diplomacy Studies from Omar Bongo University. He has also taken coursework in English Studies, including Civilization and Literature, and was president of students from 2016 to 2018. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Gaël hopes to pursue his dream of earning his Ph.D. and teaching in universities across the world.

Nakaru Hellen Ngamanat has nine years of experience in accounting. Nakaru is deputy director of revenue in the Turkana County government. Passionate about girls education, she volunteers as a mentor to girls through a community-based organization. Nakaru holds a bachelor s degree in Accounting from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, Kenya, and a master s degree in Public Policy and Administration Public Finance from Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. She aspires to be a finance minister. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Nakuru hopes to apply the knowledge and skills she has learned to improve community engagement in Turkana County, to improve and expand educational opportunities for girls, and to improve resource mobilization so that her community benefits.

Loide Dolly Nghixulifwa is a senior public prosecutor with seven years experience at magisterial level. Passionate about the conservation of Namibia s flora and fauna, she is part of the Environmental Crime Unit, and a certified trainer of the Namibia Rapid Reference Guide on Investigation and Prosecution of Wildlife Crime (which she also assisted in compiling). Loide Dolly is also the founder of Sida Oms ('Our Home' in Khoekhoegowab), a charity the supports community development through donations and mentorship sessions for the most vulnerable parts of Namibia s Hardap Region. Upon completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, she plans to apply her new skills and networks to continue assisting community mobilization and development, and advocating against wildlife crimes.

Mohamed Salat Osman is an economist and a financial management specialist with 10 years of experience in budget and grants management, auditing, project management, and monitoring and evaluation. He has managed annual budgets in excess of $100 million for the past seven years. He is currently the chief officer for alternative livelihoods development for Wajir County, Kenya, seeking to diversify pastoral livelihoods by implementing climate-smart agriculture programs. Passionate about promoting literacy, Mohamed volunteers with the Literature Africa Foundation to equip libraries and distribute study and revision materials to underprivileged children in Kenya. He holds a bachelor s degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Nairobi, is completing a master s degree in Economics (Policy and Management) from Kenyatta University, and is undertaking his Certified Public Accountant qualifications. He is an advocate for fiscal transparency and looks forward to strengthening accountability and good governance practices in the public sector through his experience in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

Laminou Ousseini Hankouraou has over 11 years of experience in public administration. Currently, Laminou is a deputy manager of the social dues office at the National Social Security Fund of Niger, focusing on protecting populations against social risks. He has professional experience in law, and is also an environmental activist and holds a leadership position in a local association engaged in green activism and sustainable development. Laminou holds a master s degree in Public Law, Labour Administration, and Social Security. He is motivated to reduce the rate of poverty by expending protection against social risks through the social security system. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Laminou plans to develop an effective social security welfare system for informal sector workers, who are predominant in Niger.

Mpho Petros has more than five years of experience in health and nutrition with the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Botswana and the United Nations International Children s Emergency Fund. She works as a teacher under the Ministry of Basic Education and educates young girls on health and nutrition issues during puberty. She holds a bachelor s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences and a certificate in Health Systems Strengthening from the University of Melbourne. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Mpho plans to continue her work in health and nutrition with a focus on creating strong links between communities and health service providers.

Salimata Sangare is head of the One Stop for Business Registration program at the Mali Investment Promotion Agency. She focuses on company creation, marketing authorization, and tax and customs exoneration management. Salimata has worked as a legal assistant and adviser for bank, trial, and business lawyers; a tax expert; and an adviser in charge of public private partnerships for the Ministry of Investment Promotion and Private Sector. She has also worked on projects for the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. She led a project for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and a project for the United Nations Capital Development Fund to promote women s entrepreneurship. Salimata holds a master s degree in Business Law and Tax from Université Paris 8. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Salimata plans to build strong institutions in Mali.

Nawa Joe Silishebo is a co-founder of the Young Emerging Farmers Initiative (YEFI), an organization that promotes the increased participation of young people in agricultural activities. He is also a youth in agribusiness consultant and chief executive officer of Manari Investment Company Limited. Nawa was a 2021 regional finalist, representing Africa, for the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Nawa plans to use his new knowledge and skills to further his work with YEFI.

Fatima Sinkala has more than 11 years of experience in hospital pharmacy. Currently, Fatima is a clinical pharmacist and deputy department head at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital In Francistown, Botswana, where she focuses on management, clinical pharmacy, and leadership. Fatima holds a master s degree in Clinical Pharmacy. She is committed to the adoption of antimicrobial stewardship programs to help curb the problem of antimicrobial resistance. On completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, she plans to advocate for antimicrobial stewardship programs to be compulsory in every health facility in Botswana.

Miheret Fekadu Tolla has five years of experience as a water engineer. She is passionate about providing potable drinking water for people in rural areas. Many people in her community do not have access to drinking water and suffer from waterborne diseases; as such, she feels that her work as a water engineer in Ethiopia is extremely important. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Miheret plans to create a non-profit charity to help people in her community lead healthier lives.