A new group of African leaders has been selected for the 2026 Tutu Fellowship and the impact could go far beyond individual recognition. The African Leadership Institute has announced its latest cohort, bringing together professionals from business, government and civil society who are already shaping change across the continent. With representatives from 15 countries, the initiative is designed to strengthen leadership capacity and support practical solutions to Africa’s most pressing challenges.
The programme arrives at a time when Africa’s development depends heavily on strong, ethical and innovative leadership. By investing in individuals who are already active in sectors like finance, technology, education, governance and human rights, the Fellowship is positioning itself as a key driver of long-term growth. The diversity of this year’s cohort also reflects the wide range of opportunities and challenges across the continent, from digital transformation to social equity.
The Tutu Fellowship, run in partnership with Oxford University, is the flagship programme of the African Leadership Institute. Each year, 20 to 25 candidates are selected from hundreds of nominations. Beyond training, the programme builds a network of leaders who collaborate across borders and sectors, helping Africa take a stronger position in global affairs.
A diverse cohort tackling Africa’s biggest challenges
This year’s associates bring experience and influence from different industries, but they share a common goal: creating lasting impact.
Abdullahi Alim from Somalia, is the founder and CEO of Africa Future Fund, working to reshape investment flows between the Gulf and Africa. His work focuses on large-scale projects that align profit with development goals, drawing from his experience at global institutions like the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Economic Forum.
Aniekeme Umoh (Nigeria), serves as Group Chief Operating Officer at The uLesson Group, where she oversees operations across digital education platforms, including Miva Open University. Under her leadership, the group has expanded to serve learners across Nigeria and internationally.
Astrid Rosemary Ndagano Haas (Uganda), is a feminist urban economist who advises cities on financing infrastructure and services. Her work focuses on building inclusive and sustainable urban systems, and she also chairs the Mawazo Institute board.
Bernard Ghartey (Ghana), Principal at Norrsken22, has played a key role in raising one of Africa’s largest first-time technology funds and continues to support impact-driven startups across the continent.
Deus Valentine Rweyemamu (Tanzania), CEO of the Center for Strategic Litigation, is addressing rule of law challenges in East Africa through legal advocacy and policy work, building on years of experience with global institutions.
Djimhotengar (Edgard) Djerassem (Chad), is the Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer at EquityBCDC, where he manages complex financial risks across operations. His background includes a decade at the Central Bank of Central African States.
Fabrice Chubaka Muchiga (Congo, Democratic Republic), founder of the Africa Peace Initiative, works at the intersection of peacebuilding, governance and education, connecting grassroots communities with high-level diplomacy. Fabrice also serves as a Director leading Teach For All’s work in francophone Africa.
Franklyn Edochie (Nigeria), Head of Metals and Mining at Africa Finance Corporation, has led multi-billion-dollar investments that support Africa’s natural resource development and energy transition. Previously, he worked at Goldman Sachs and Société Générale in New York and he also serves on the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Leadership & Board-Level Investment Committees.
Gilles Kounou (Benin), CEO of Kkiapay (Open SI), is driving financial inclusion through digital payment solutions while contributing to Benin’s broader digital transformation. His work has earned international recognition, including the World Bank Mission Billion Challenge, the WURI Prize for Tonti+, and the FAO Award for Agrikalpay, an AI and blockchain-backed wallet for farmers.
Howard Lakougna (Cameroon), Senior Program Officer at the Gates Foundation, focuses on scaling digital public infrastructure to improve services for underserved populations across the Global South. Prior to the Gates Foundation, Howard served as a Technical Program Manager at Facebook/Meta, where he managed cross-platform initiatives in the social impact division.
Keagile Makgoba (South Africa), Head of Communications for Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, works on shaping narratives around technology, policy and digital platforms while engaging governments and communities. Prior to joining TikTok, Keagile worked as a consultant at Instinctif Partners, a global firm specializing in investor relations and corporate communications.
Komlan Abalo Braly (Togo), founder of Speech Spark Initiative, is transforming education in rural Togo, with measurable improvements in student outcomes and teacher training. He currently serves as a Mentor and Fellow at the Ban Ki-Moon Centre and previously led education programmes at One Million Leaders Africa.
Maureen Rosita Ojong Ebob-Besong (Cameroon), Portfolio Manager at the International Olympic Committee, combines sport, creativity and social impact to drive global change initiatives.
Leadership driving business, policy and social impact
The cohort also includes leaders working at the intersection of finance, governance and social development, showing how different sectors can work together.
Mazin Abdallah (Sudan), a Research and Analysis Advisor, supports conflict-sensitive aid delivery in Sudan while mentoring future policy leaders through fellowship programmes.
Mmabatho Ramatlhare (South Africa), Head of People Consulting at Investec Bank, focuses on strengthening organisational performance and leadership effectiveness in the corporate sector.
Mohammed Sabo Keana (Nigeria), founder of the Advancing Children’s Rights Initiative, has reached over 10,000 children with protection programmes and influenced policy on education in Nigeria. Mohammed has received numerous awards, including the UN SDG Action Award, the Ambassador of Peace Award (USA), and the NCMG Peace Award (Nigeria).
Mohammed Abdulrazaq (Nigeria), Senior Vice President at Africa Finance Corporation, brings extensive experience in capital mobilisation and infrastructure financing across sub-Saharan Africa. During his career, Mohammed has executed transactions with a cumulative value of over US$30 billion, having worked at Morgan Stanley UK and Renaissance Capital UK before joining AFC in 2016.
Musa Kika (Zimbabwe), Executive Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa, is a leading legal voice working on human rights across African Union systems. He has previously held leadership roles as Head of Office (Headquarters) and Director of External Relations at the Institute for Integrated Transitions in Barcelona, Spain, and as Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum in Harare.
Osasumwen Igbinedion Ogwuche (Nigeria), CEO of TOS Group, leads a diversified business while advancing women-focused political empowerment initiatives.
Otega Ogra (Nigeria), Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria, manages national digital communication strategies and public engagement. Previously, he was Director of Corporate Communications and Chief of Staff at BUA Group.
Orondaam Otto (Nigeria), founder of Slum2School Africa, has supported over 685,000 children through education initiatives, including virtual learning systems during the pandemic.
Reabetswe Kungwane (South Africa), an investment specialist at Ninety One, works on large-scale deals across emerging markets, with experience in transactions worth over $500 billion. Reabetswe serves as a trustee of The Spur Foundation, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the Silulo Foundation.
Rumbidzayi Munyaradzi (Zimbabwe), Executive Head at Sasai Fintech, develops digital payment platforms and has played a role in raising billions in capital during her time at J.P. Morgan.
Sali Hafez (Egypt), a global health researcher, focuses on health systems in fragile regions, working with international organisations on humanitarian responses. She has led multi-country humanitarian response and research in Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Iraq and beyond, working with United Nations agencies, international NGOs, and Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.
Taher El Moataz Bellah Farghaly (Egypt), founder of Heartbeat Studios, uses film and storytelling to drive social impact and represent African and Arab narratives globally.
Building a network for long-term impact
The African Leadership Institute’s approach goes beyond training individuals. It focuses on building a connected network of leaders who can collaborate across borders and sectors. Alumni of the Tutu Fellowship often go on to take on influential roles in business, policy and civil society, creating a ripple effect across the continent.
By selecting leaders who are already active in their fields, the programme ensures that its impact is immediate and practical. At the same time, the relationships built during the Fellowship help sustain long-term collaboration.
This year’s cohort reflects the depth of talent across Africa and highlights the importance of investing in leadership as a foundation for growth. As these associates continue their work, the expectation is that they will not only succeed individually but also contribute to a stronger, more connected and more resilient Africa.
