Scholarship Programme for
Leadership Development

Scholar

Nebiyou Yismaw

The MINDS Scholarship gave me the opportunity to study at one of the top universities in the filed of technology.  This is a dream of any aspiring engineer and with MINDS it was a dream come true. The MINDS Scholarship Programme means a lot, more than words could describe, as without it all this amazing academic experience would have been impossible.

This Programme is unique, as it will help me to get a world-class education that is customised in the African context.  Through different projects, practicums and internships offered by the academic institution, I plan on making a transformative impact in the continent by providing sustainable solutions to critical issues mainly in the areas of health, sanitation, food production and distribution and security.

Scholar

Gifty Buah

The MINDS Scholarship Programme has given me the opportunity of a lifetime to have access to an education of the highest quality in Africa.  I believe Africa has great potential in technology and I am going to use this opportunity to empower tech startups in Africa to become global brands.

Scholar

Donatien Ishimwe

To me, the MINDS Scholarship Programme is a golden platform supporting sustainable development of Africa as a continent under the great Pan-Africanism cause of self-reliance, dignity and prosperity. Simultaneously, it is a beacon that sheds light on Africa potentials as a continent with opportunities and hope for young people with dreams of a bright future.

As I am a young man who didn’t dream to leave my home (Africa) to go away to let mean world exchange my dignity with their mere opportunities hoping to pave for my dreams, getting my tertiary education in Africa daily gives me a sufficient time of recognising and understanding my values, responsibility and assignments as one of leaders Africa needs in different sectors.

For long time, I had dreams to become a professional in petroleum industry. Though my career preparation was apparently the sole requirement to realise my dreams, its associated costs could have been a big hindrance.

I am currently gaining all necessary skills and knowledge to make myself competent enough to cater for successful and sustainable development of my country petroleum industry upstream sector either as a technical professional or entrepreneur. In my future career, I also hope to become an active advocate of youth professional development for proactive and competent domestic manpower, optimum exploitation and rational use of Africa natural resources to meet expectations.

Scholar

Joreen Arigye

The MINDS Scholarship has been a key defining opportunity, a life changing moment and a definite milestone in my life.  Beyond the world-class education, the experience of being at Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda has facilitated a lot of personal growth, the diversity casts a Pan-African network of amazing colleagues and the confidence gained from the comprehensive skills and competencies acquired, firms the foundation and illuminates a clear trajectory of my future goals.

I would like to join the movement that encourages, promote and expedites skills and knowledge acquisition among youth in Africa.  It is only then that they are empowered to fulfill their dreams, their family’s goals, their community development goals and in turn the continent’s.  I plan to do this by adding my efforts to teaching computer programming skills at primary and secondary school levels.  I would emphasise putting deliberate efforts in crafting a strong reading culture and effective communication skills at a young a

Scholar

Daniel Omeiza

Since birth I have loved technology and appreciated technology as a great tool for life enhancement.  Being an indigent Nigerian, the journey to achieving my dream of becoming a world-class engineer was impeded, as I was not able to get the necessary exposure to opportunities to grow and develop.  Although I had made great plans, implementation was a challenge as I lacked financial support, which all changed when MINDS came into my life and changed my trajectory. My dream of attending a world-class institution such as Carnegie Mellon University might not have happened without MINDS.

The Scholarship Programme has given me the confidence to take the necessary steps to fulfil my vision and dream of my future.  After my studies I plan to collaborate with other MINDS Scholars to build a strong network to encourage others to work together to improve access and the standards on education in Africa. I shall use my leadership skills to create an African-led technology ecosystem, where solutions are built to solve particular African challenges, in the areas of health, education, agriculture and social life.

Scholar

Daniel Athior Atem Manyuon

My career aspiration is to become a development professional. I have witnessed the fragility of South Sudan and Africa financial sector and economy. There is a complete lack of access to credit facilities by the local population. That is when my interest to pursue a Master’s degree in Development Finance developed.

Africa is facing many challenges to achieve sustainable development and poverty reduction. The programme will help me add to the local capacity of the Africa people to counter these challenges and support the sustainable development and recovery of Africa through developmental initiatives like microfinance. The award of the MINDS Africa scholarship to me remains as a tremendous uplift in pursuing Master’s degree, thus boosting my determination to achieving my dreams in future. And to help create stable South Sudan and Africa where future generation can enjoy peace, liberty, transformable development, and prosperity.

This course will equip me with the skills needed to target some of the developmental gaps in Africa. These gaps are poverty, lack of access to credit facilities, infrastructures, financial exclusion, underutilize agriculture, etc. that need innovative development financial policies to be able to finance to reduce the gaps.

Scholar

David Mawazo

I am David Mawazo, a Kenyan currently studying at Carnegie Mellon University-Africa, located in Kigali Rwanda. At CMU-Africa, I am under one of the programmes being offered, the Masters of Science in Information Technology, with a pursue in cybersecurity and IT Entrepreneurship.

Being a MINDS Scholar has provided me with a great opportunity to advance my studies and skills towards creating technical solutions and promote development conversations for our continent. It has modified my approach and understanding as a young leader towards addressing problems core to our journey towards economic stability.

The opportunity of being a MINDS Scholar has been an eye-opening and enlightening experience so far, through the opportunity it has provided me with to undertake my graduate studies, but as well as let me be in the company of many colleagues who have come from numerous parts of this continent. Being in their company has enabled me to have enriching conversations about the development of our continent and the efforts we are putting in to achieve the best.

Scholar

Zoleka Mnanzana

The MINDS scholarship has allowed me an opportunity to rethink Africa, the African context and particularly what role I need to play in her growth and prosperity. This was through enabling me to study at African Leadership University School of Business, the most innovative company in Africa, studying a Masters in Business Administration. With a world class curriculum and faculty, as well as a Pan African network I find myself constantly asking what can we do better, what should we be doing better?

When during my MBA I realised that mine was a calling not in corporate, MINDS quickly stepped in to help facilitate the development I would need as I embarked on my new path that would be more fulfilling. I believe in my continents opportunity to use agriculture and agribusiness not only to feed itself and the world, but to play a significant part in the creation of jobs and alleviate poverty.

Scholar

Jacob Makgato

I am Jacob Makgato, a proud beneficiary of the Minds Scholarship and student at African Leadership University, School of Business (ALUSB) in Kigali, Rwanda.

Minds scholarship gave me an opportunity to become a member of a pan-African cohort of MBA students, a diverse community of experienced professionals from 15 African countries who are passionate about leading impact and driving prosperity across the continent.

As a South African with 11 years in education, the MINDS scholarship has enabled me to join an innovative new MBA programme located in a trailblazing African country, to build a pan-African network and open my mind to how business is done in different parts of our beautiful continent while developing my leadership ability. The programme design is in the African Context through case studies about African countries, companies, African research and the constant application of the business theory to solve real African problems.

My scholarship has given me the confidence to continue learning and pursue my goals of contributing meaningfully to make an impact in the development of Africa through leadership and innovation.

Scholar

Sinesipho Ralarala

The MINDS scholarship has afforded me the opportunity to study towards a Master of Laws at Strathmore University which is one of the most prestigious institutions in Kenya. The distinguishing feature of the institution is its international faculty which consists of being lectured by professionals from all over the world. Such a feature has exposed me, as an aspiring jurist, to not only the legal dispensation in Kenya but also to legal practices around the world.

In addition to academic enrichment, the scholarship promotes leadership development amongst young Africans. I believe that with  this kind of exposure I have gained insight into the gaps that exist in the African legal dispensation and I am now cognizant of what I can do to fill those gaps and plough back into the African community with the academic and leadership skills I will have enhanced upon completing the programme.

Scholar

Adedolapo Aishat Toye

“I invest my time and studies in technology and innovation. I’m obsessed with figuring out solutions to problems and believe that everything we do has a tech-related solution.” Aisha is pursuing a Master of Science in Information Technology at Carnegie Mellon University in Kigali, Rwanda. Aisha is a statistician and computer scientist passionate about software development and application software, data science as well as machine learning. She hopes to apply her knowledge to bring about positive change in education and health on the continent. She is determined to expose learners at the primary school level to technical studies, and foster a keen interest in the African girl child while pushing through the stereotype that technical studies are for men. Her Massive Transformative Purpose is to ensure that every school in Nigeria provides equal access to technical studies for boys and girls.

Scholar

Khotso Selialia

“Education is one of the greatest challenges for Africa—methods and models of teaching have much room for improvement. I want to help Africa access better, quality education. This is my passion and why I want to become a lecturer and academic.” Khotso has always loved to solve problems. When he was young, he participated in national Science fairs, hoping to come up with winning solutions to some of the continent’s most urgent problems. Khotso decided to amplify his problem-solving skills through a degree in Information Technology and he is now enrolled for a Master of Science in Information Technology in Rwanda. Combining his problem-solving skills and IT knowledge, he has started working towards developing learning solutions that can increase the efficacy of teaching and learning processes. He hopes to leverage technology, such as virtual reality and 3D simulations. He believes that this technology can be applied when teaching subjects such as chemistry where experiments that require engagement with substances in a lab, can be conducted off-site. Khotso’s Massive Transformative Purpose is to “Mainstream the use of Virtual Reality in science education at rural schools in Africa”.

Scholar

Ayo’onwi Ngwa Numfor

“I will return to my country and see how the exploitation of crude oil can benefit its people and the rest of Africa.” Nomfur’s curiosity and fascination with geology initially came from observing oil rig labourers. The region where Nomfur grew up exploits crude oil and contributes to the bulk of his home country’s GDP. He is concerned about how his region remains severely underdeveloped and how his nation, Cameroon continues to receive food aid from NGOs, even though they have crude oil in abundance. After completing his undergraduate degree in geology, Nomfur appreciated the field of petroleum more and decided to study a Master of Science in petroleum geosciences at Makerere University in Uganda. His Massive Transformative Purpose, therefore, is to actualise the value of extracted resources to improve Africa’s welfare.

Scholar

Enodias Mamvura

“My exposure to the legal systems of many African countries opened my eyes to the need for a framework that is centred on business rescue and the advancement of economic growth.” From Zimbabwe, Enodias is studying for a Masters in Laws in International Financial Law at Strathmore University in Kenya. Enodias’s desire to contribute to Africa’s financial services by playing an essential role in the regulation of financial markets, and investment laws, with the intent of fostering economic development through policies that bolster and sustain indigenous businesses. He believes that adopted laws and regulations that govern investments, financial services and the sustenance of indigenous small to medium enterprises are not fully applicable to the African context and therefore stifle the economic growth of African countries. Enodias’s Massive Transformative Purpose is to create an Africa with African laws that inspire investor protection; fairness, efficiency and transparency of securities markets and reduction of systemic risk.

Scholar

Conrad Clinton Melusi Nyathi

“Understanding Comparative Business Law in Africa is the best way for me to appreciate how business works, and the laws that govern businesses on the continent. This will be my gateway to impactful entrepreneurship.” Conrad Nyathi is from Zimbabwe and pursuing a Masters in Comparative Business Law in Africa at the University of Capetown. His Massive Transformative Purpose is to “Eradicate the use of combustible energy in Africa”. He hopes to one day set up consultancy firms that invest in sustainable energy. After he completed his undergraduate degree he was immediately employed as an assistant lecturer at Midlands State University in Zimbabwe. However, noting the limitations of an undergraduate law degree, Conrad realised that to create real and sustainable impact, he would need to branch out into entrepreneurship. His Master’s degree in Comparative Law will, therefore, equip him with the ability to analyse and compare the different legal systems operating in Southern, Eastern, Western and North Africa, giving him the much-needed tools to launch his career in renewable energy on the continent. 

Scholar

Tassallah Amina Abdullahi

“I’m passionate about health. I want to assess the relationship between climate, and the spread of disease. I would like to read, learn and model data to produce early warning systems for Africa”. Amina describes her Massive Transformative Purpose as eradicating the spread of infectious diseases in Africa through the use of machine learning. Amina is from Nigeria and pursuing an MSc in Computer Science at the University of Capetown in South Africa. Growing up she has always had a keen interest in understanding how things work.  As a researcher, she has observed the devastating effects of disease on impoverished communities, but also the positive impact of data in flattening the curve. Leveraging her natural affinity for mathematics, she decided to take up the challenge and test the waters. Amina is currently working on a project, trying to develop a model that predicts outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Scholar

John Shonganye

“Africa has the capacity to collect, analyse and disseminate health data, it’s time we focused on our own context”. John Chonga is pursuing a Masters in Science at the University of Witwatersrand. He is from the Republic of Congo. His focus is on Bio-Statistics and Technology. As a certified medical doctor, in his practice, he noted that he and his colleagues appeared to be addressing the same conditions incessantly, without considering the root cause of many of these ailments. Therefore, many Africans are dying from diseases that could have been prevented. It is for this reason that John would like to see Africa move into the realm of preventative care working innovatively and collaboratively with statisticians and its finance sectors to focus on health issues that affect the continent. He has noted the challenge that most public health research and knowledge is derived from non-African sources and applied incorrectly to the continents health problems. He sees himself playing an integral and pioneering role in the curation of contextual health data that will aid in the development of preventative treatments for Africans. Johns Massive Transformative Purpose is to solve all of Africa’s health problems using African data.

Scholar

Ekemini Udoh

“Nigeria was always an agrarian economy but after oil wells were discovered, there was a shift from agriculture to crude oil—now the oil wells are drying up and everybody wants to go back to agriculture, but they want profitable agriculture. This is an opportunity I thought I should grab.” Ekemini Udoh is from Nigeria and has an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Economics and Extension. The degree hones in on the economics of agriculture—making the often crude practice a business that is profitable and sustainable. Ekemini’s Massive Transformative Purpose is to double the number of empowered, female agripreneurs in Africa. Ekemini has observed the exploitation of women in the agricultural sector, many of whom are forced to labour for their family without decision making power. Observing the many opportunities in agriculture for women, agricultural businesses and the positive impact of technology and innovation on sustainability, she decided to pursue a Masters in Agribusiness management at the Makerere University in Uganda. Ekemini is not afraid to get her hands dirty, beyond theory, she also understands the practical side of agriculture. “I have grown cucumbers, maize and pumpkins. During my internship, I went to the field— we grew and processed crops and took them to market”. She hopes to one day have her own vertically integrated agricultural complex to produce, process, market, package, and differentiate products.

Scholar

Mumbi Mulenga

“I’ve worked in commercial litigation and in the energy sector, advising developers on hydro, solar, and wind power plants. It’s fulfilling and to actually see the project come together and generating electricity and you think to yourself, I was part of that.” Mumbi is from Zambia, studying at the University of Cape Town, pursuing a Professional Master’s in Commercial Law, after having completed his undergrad at the University of Zambia and subsequently being admitted to the Zambian bar as a legal practitioner. He is passionate about empowering youth and has worked with rehabilitating juvenile delinquents from juvenile correctional services back into their broader communities. Mumbi also has a keen interest in sustainable and renewable energy and believes that the future of sustainable power generation is dependent on an energy mix, with attention being paid to the elements, particularly wind, water and the sun. His Massive Transformative Purpose is to put an end to the exploitation of Africa’s natural resources to generate energy.

Scholar

Ronald Zvendiya

“There are so many great ideas coming out of the African continent regarding how we can transform Africa, but we don’t talk about our capacity to transform these ideas into action”. Ronald is from Zimbabwe pursuing a Masters in social sciences at the University of Capetown. He has an undergraduate degree in economics, but after working at an organisation called African Capacity Building Foundation, he was intrigued by the world of work and the future of work. He, therefore, decided to branch into social sciences so that he can understand the macroeconomy and how it functions, focusing specifically on capacity development. Ronald is also interested in addressing the gap between what is needed by the economy and what is offered at tertiary institutions. Climate change and digital literacy skills are some of the topics that are not being taught adequately in schools, yet have a significant impact on the economy. Ronald believes that for him to transform ideas into action, it is vital to network with diverse people that have a similar mindset and advocate for dialogue between schools and tertiaries—TVET, Universities, High schools, and the state. Ronald’s “Massive Transformative Purpose is to upskill Africans so that they can be better prepared to engage in the world of work effectively”

Scholar

Priscah Kyalo

“Many times I feel that we, as Africans sell ourselves short… Often investors come in and steer arrangements to benefit them. So I think that we need to actualise our potential to ensure that we can benefit from those deals.” Priscah from Kenya is studying a Masters of Management in Finance and Investment at the University of Witwatersrand. Although she obtained her bachelor’s degree in quantity surveying, her love for numbers led her to a career in accounting and banking. Throughout her career in the banking sector, Priscah has observed that many deals such as bilateral agreements between African governments and Western states; Agreements between Multinational Companies and African governments, particularly deals involving the extraction and exportation of raw materials; and arrangements between African governments and business often benefit the non-African parties. Her Master’s programme will allow her to help tip the scale in Africa’s favour. The rest of the world has seen the enormous investment potential that Africa possesses and she wants the people of Africa to benefit from them. Her Massive Transformative Purpose is to broker deals that ensure that Africa benefits from its natural resources.

Scholar

Chisangalalo Nyekanyeka

Chisangalalo is from Malawi, pursuing a Master’s of Science in Procurement and Supply Chain Management at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Before moving to Ghana to pursue his studies, Chisangalalo was a lecturer at Lilongwe Technical College. He observed the low levels of enterprise in his community. Many Malawians are struggling to start businesses because they lack skills and knowledge. He believes that this programme will equip him with the necessary skills that he needs to empower people in remote communities of Malawi to start entrepreneurial projects. Chisangalalo’s Massive Transformative Purpose is to double the number of small businesses operating in his community.

Scholar

Busuyi Christian Adetitun

Christian Adetitun is from Nigeria, pursuing a Master of Science in Climate Change at the University of Capetown. Christian’s interest in climate change was sparked after reading an article about the devastating effects of changes in weather patterns on the continent. Coming from Lagos Nigeria, where most of the industries are concentrated, he observed that most Nigerians have a poor relationship with their environments and lack awareness about climate change. Nigeria has a lot of professionals, including doctors and engineers but he struggled to identify an expert in climate change and its impact on Nigeria, so his desire to walk uncharted terrains pushed him to enrol in this programme. Christian hopes to be able to create awareness around the impact of climate change and develop systems that build resilience. His Massive Transformative Purpose is to ensure that every Nigerian knows about the implications of climate change.

Scholar

Khwima Nyerinda

How we trade speaks to who we are as communities, as individual countries, and as a continent. A review of trade on the African continent unravels our entire history from pre-colonial, colonial to democratic governance, and further foreshadows where we are going. It is for this reason that I have held a passion for the future of Africa’s development.

The MINDS Scholarship has given me the opportunity to discover my transformational purpose of enhancing knowledge and capacities on the intricacies of trade relations so that we may build back better. With the trade landscape expanding as a result of multi-lateral partnerships with Asia and global corporations, my aim is to facilitate innovation and creative thinking in this space, ensuring that we learn from the past for a better future.

Scholar

Joseph Dennis Nii Noi

It is an honour to be recognised as a MINDS Scholar, not only because of the stature of the programme, but also because it is a unique opportunity to interact with fellow academics and development practitioners on the future our beloved continent.

Africa is rapidly urbanising, with more cities being built and more communities relocating to these urban spaces in search of greater opportunities. As an Urban Developer, I have taken note of this rapid transition, and observed many countries adopting western models to urban development, which often do not cater for the lived-realities of the populations they are meant to serve. I aspire to change this trend, and leverage African solutions drawing on traditional and sustainable housing models to inform our urban development. The MINDS Scholarship is a significant milestone in mapping out this transformative intent, and I am inspired by my peers to strive for an Africa built on uniquely African innovative design.

Scholar

Takudzwa Mashaeyni

In each African country and within their development story, there are worthwhile lessons to be learned. 27 years ago, Rwanda survived a genocide, and was faced with the reality of building back its country. Today, it boasts one of Africa’s development success stories with a growing economy and resounding progress in sustainable development. Growing up in Zimbabwe, I watched intently as this development story unfolded, and as an academic, I am keen to explore how this transformation was achieved, and if it can be replicated in my country.

The MINDS Scholarship Programme has given me the confidence to confront development challenges critically and seek innovative solutions to promote Africa’s growth.  My hope is to learn and innovate from best-practices in the region to galvanise youth voices to curb the regression in democracy and socio-economic growth on the continent.

Scholar

Dinah Onyino Amimo

As a Software Engineer my career thus far has equipped me with skills to develop systems to support children and young people access aid and services. My previous experience working for Food for the Hungry led to my development of a system to track donations, and ensure that they were equitably distributed to children in need. 

My selection as a MINDS Scholar is a watershed moment in my career, and I look forward to co-creating and thinking through technological solutions with like-minded academics and scholars. In particular, my focus will be the creation of information systems to improve access to mental health support services for women and children affected by violence and abuse. 

Scholar

Joana Kasuzumira

Serving as an African Union Volunteer afforded me the opportunity to work with many countries in the region, to learn about Africa’s diversity, and to note the common challenges that we all face as a continent. It awakened me to the need for greater policy implementation to stimulate innovative thinking for sustainable development. The MINDS Scholarship is a milestone in achieving this developmental aspiration. 

My research will delve into the effect of income distribution on overall development. It aims to look at the micro-level economic structures to inform the wider systemic issues affecting the continent’s socio-economic progression.

Scholar

Solomon Tawanda Ndondo

It is important to me that men are allies in gender equality, and overall equitable empowerment of all people. Throughout my career, I have worked on improving access to rights of marginalised populations, albeit enhancing access to sexual and reproductive health rights, children’s access to information, and advocacy for greater inclusion of youth to support the decade of development for Africa. I have always sought to deeply consider the intersecting issues faced by different communities, and will continue to work towards matching words with action.

Being awarded the MINDS Scholarship is an exceptional opportunity for me to unpack how youth-led organisations can be successfully mobilised to achieve Africa’s potential. It has inspired me to claim my space as a young African leader, and work to instill the same level of assurance to the millions of other young leaders working to develop the communities and realise their transformative purpose.

Scholar

Yonah Byarugaba

Leveraging global solutions for local impact, the MINDS Scholarship affords me the opportunity to explore how digital solutions can help Africa strengthen agribusiness for greater development outcomes. Growing up, I witnessed how my community had people with acres of land, but were still unable to generate a yield to sustain themselves. This could be due to a multitude of reasons, including soil health, seed funding to prepare yield and climate change affecting seasonal changes. However, the knowledge on how to counteract these factors was simply not there.

The reality that I saw around me led to a deep-dive into how other countries were responding to shared challenges in agri-business. Lessons from Israel and the Netherlands illustrate how data can be used to improve food production. This scholarship is a way for me to meaningfully explore sustainable data and innovation solutions to resolve food production woes on the continent.

Scholar

Tloco Kalebemang

As the founder of a Tourism enterprise, I am acutely aware of the need to introduce and promote circular economies in Africa and beyond to support our development. In my opinion, the concept of companies giving back to their communities should not be seen as a rarity but should be common-place. The MINDS Scholarship is a defining moment in my career which allows me to consider the implementation of this framework in the presence of a network of peers all inspired to accelerate the development of our continent.

As an entrepreneur, my company provides tours of the Okavango wherein the guests deliver supplies and packages to indigenous communities in the area. A small step towards loftier heights, this model awakened my interest in the private sector moving beyond corporate social responsibility (CSR), to the creation of a circular economy where small to medium enterprises are equal partners in the development of communities. 

Scholar

Busang Maruping

Inclusive and sustainable development has been the driving force behind my work and research. I have worked on peacebuilding programmes looking at supporting the development of conflict-affected countries in Africa. Beyond this, my work has engaged with a myriad of social development challenges and solutions such as projects focused on the empowerment of young boys and promotion of positive references for masculinity, and advocacy to combat stigma and discrimination of people with albinism. 

The MINDS Scholarship allows me to go one step further in realising my aim to effectively communicate the need for inclusive development to a wider audience. One of the frustrations that I continued to face in my working life, was the lack of one unified voice to communicate the complexity of development challenges – their push and pull factors, the exacerbators of social unrest, and the layers of discrimination. By combining my understanding of social development with development communications, I hope to mainstream communications for development and inspire Africans to take action for a better tomorrow.

Scholar

Faith Muwar Mpara

My passion is to equip future generations to have equal access to technology. To date, I have worked with children in my community to accelerate the rate of STEM Education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). In doing so, I realised the need to go beyond STEM Education for youth, and expand this vision to the business sector. The MINDS Scholarship Programme enables me to support this dream, and further reach out to Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and support their growth through the power of information technology (ICT).

Africa has long been projected to record the most development gains in the wake of the technological era. In order to realise this aspiration, I believe that the strength of our growing youth population should be matched with a vibrant business sector also working in new technology fields. 

Scholar

Daniel Kakenga Pembe

From Morocco to South Africa, I believe Africa faces comparable issues in relation to the distribution of raw materials. With this in mind, I am driven to exploring holistic responses to shared problems. The MINDS Scholarship Programme has given me the opportunity to investigate how Africa as a whole can progress from being consumers of natural resources to the creation and implementation of our own supply chains for and by Africa.

My dream is to support Africa in realising its transformational potential; an Africa where natural resources are sustainably mined, refined, turned to products and utilised without external support – empowering African markets.

Scholar

Ahmed Hammad

When Ahmed attended the 39th SADC Meeting in Tanzania, most leaders noted Peace, security, and infrastructure development as key drivers for progress across the African continent. Ahmed believes that these three elements are critical enablers for productivity and sustainable economic growth and contribute significantly to human development, poverty reduction, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Ahmed is studying towards a master’s degree in International Studies and Diplomacy, intending to become a prominent diplomat.

He believes that the best way to solve critical issues regarding infrastructure and security issues is through regional cooperation. His Massive Transformative Purpose is to create a safe continent able to conduct its development projects without external dependence. Al Akhwayn University gives him the opportunity and space to think critically about what growth and development looks like for Africa; now, he has observed the importance of rooting out the fundamentals of capitalism and fostering national goals while working towards a common regionalism goal.

Scholar

Anny Carella

Education is the most empowering force in the world. It creates knowledge, builds confidence, and breaks down barriers to opportunities. However, in Africa and my home country, Burundi, millions of children may never receive high-quality education – locking cycles of poverty, poor health, voicelessness, unemployment, exploitation, and gender inequality. Education is the key to our continent’s development. My Massive Transformative Purpose is to realise an Africa where all children can access high-quality education.

As a Network Technician, Data Scientist and Electronic and Telecommunication Engineer, the MINDS Scholarship has enabled me to move towards actualising my vision for Africa – using data science to improve quality and access to education. Internet connectivity, the internet of things (IoT) and data usage enable more effective evaluation of educational programs, curricula, resources, and interventions to facilitate student, school, and national and continental success.

Scholar

Geoffrey Ndung’u Kimani

Agriculture has always enthralled me, and my keen interest in the sector is two-fold; firstly. Agriculture is the single most important economic activity in Africa, employing two-thirds of the continent’s working population and contributing up to 60% of national GDP. Secondly, quality food production is fundamental in keeping our people healthy – a healthy community is a wealthy community. Sadly, agriculture is burdened with essential limitations like land degradation, reduction in soil fertility, dropping water tables, vulnerability and unpredictability of global climate and poor adoption and underutilisation of technological tools and practices with untimely and unprocessed information and data. As an Artificial Intelligence Engineer, I see myself using machine learning to provide solutions contextualised to agriculture in Africa.

The MINDS Scholarship has allowed me to increase my knowledge and networks in AI, propelling my Massive Transformative Purpose to see an Africa where agriculture is catapulted by machine learning, helping farmers determine the best plants or crops to plant based on indicators like soil type. Machine learning can also help detect pest and disease infestations, estimate the crop output and yield, and forecast crop prices and demand levels. I want to use AI to solve the scarcity of resources and labour and help African farmers cope with the increasing complexity of modern agriculture, leading to better agricultural practices and yields and qualitatively improving the lives of farmers and Africans.

Scholar

Gina Ashimosi

Gina has several years of experience mentoring young women, she is a leader at heart and wants to initiate change, impact Africa and leave a legacy for her community. Passionate about Pan-Africanism, she felt instantly connected with the ethos when she read the Mandela Institute of Development Studies (MINDS) vision. Gina believes that the world is based on economies, and what better way to change the economies than economics and finance when that is where the money is managed. Additionally, she believes that Africa has everything it needs to succeed; it is a continent rich in culture and resources. Thus, her Massive Transformative Purpose is to create an Africa where there is equitable development and a one Africa mindset

Scholar

Godfrey Kadzuwa

From an African perspective, the land extends beyond the economy. The importance of the market and private property, which is the core of capitalist thought and logic, is contrary to most African’s perceptions of the land. Viewing and understanding land from an African and Capitalist viewpoint is necessary for the 21st globalised century – considering land as an investment, however, not ignoring the ecological, cultural, cosmological, social, and spiritual aspects.

My Massive Transformative Purpose is to become an urban land expert to create an Africa where all people are educated about urban land and approaches and can make informed real estate investments. Because of the fast-rising population and demand for accommodation, real estate is a profitable sector in Africa. Instead of investing without foresight, I want to see Africans increasingly considering property investments by looking at location, land market dynamics and valuations. I want to help Africans think creatively and make wise investment decisions in the real estate market.

Scholar

Joshua Nwachukwu

Joshua has been a practising lawyer for seven years. He believes that formal and informal education is a powerful tool to change the life circumstances of African people. His passion for Africa’s development can be seen through his commitment to volunteering at a boy’s club for over 12 years. Where not only formal education is emphasised, additionally boys from the age of nine to university going age are trained in life skills and etiquette. His career goals and interests have changed to accommodate his passion for Africa’s development. Initially in litigation, observing that several clients were paying for legal services but waiting up to 5-10 years for justice, disheartened, Joshua decided to move on to corporate and financial law. Once he moved into this space, his eyes were opened to the developmental challenges facing Nigeria, including a lack of infrastructures like power and roads and corruption.

Joshua has enrolled for a master’s degree in International Financial Law and Regulation to research amongst other things, how public-private partnerships (PPP) can lead to infrastructure development in Nigeria. His Massive Transformative Purpose is to create a regional law firm that will provide legal and advisory services to the public and private sectors, aimed at accelerating intra-African trade and boosting Africa’s trading position. As part of his interest and commitment to education, Joshua also intends to join academia, this will enable him to empower more Africans through qualitative and comparative legal education.

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Mohamed Ibrahim Bangura

Mohamed is convinced that access to electricity should be at the core in Africa’s development. Mohamed, experienced the devastating impact of electricity deprivation first-hand when a burning candle started a fire in his childhood home. Only 23% of Sierra Leoneans have access to electricity, which is below the Sub-Saharan average of 30%. The infrastructure gap impacts people’s welfare and ability to access services, and also severely impedes competitiveness, job creation and poverty reduction.

Working for a mini-grid developer and interacting with rural communities with no access to modern energy, Mohamed observed how communities that are deprived of electricity cannot interact with a massive part of the economy, such as digital payment services. Passionate about electricity access, he has enrolled for a Masters in Electrical and Computing Engineering. His Massive Transformative Purpose is to create an Africa where no citizen’s full potential is limited because of the lack of adequate infrastructure such as access to clean, modern energy.

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Mpilo Shabangu

I believe that for Africa to move forward and prosper genuinely, it needs to find “African solutions to African Problems.” This is a term coined by George Ayittey. He used the concept to galvanise Africans to reject the imposition of several unworkable foreign templates in Africa and urge African elites to take charge of the crisis on the continent. To understand a problem, it is essential to uncover the beneficiary of the problem and not who is suffering from that problem. This degree will allow me to refine my understanding of Africa’s challenges, especially regarding Pan- Africanism. I am passionate about Black Male Masculinities, Climate Change, and Women and Children’s Rights, but, ahead of that, the issues of globalisation, modernisation, and a neoliberal capital agenda have seen African leaders quick to adopt Western prescribed solutions.

This is unfortunate as the West’s solutions relieve them of their role in Africa’s condition of underdevelopment and vilify other external factors such as ethnic conflicts, military coups, corruption, and terrorist groups as the primary contributor to Africa’s problems. Therefore, My Massive Transformative Purpose is to contribute to creating an Africa with elected leaders who understand the true meaning of ‘African problems.’

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Norman Angel Agong

Despite the transformation brought about by information communication technologies in Africa, few professionals in the field are committed to fostering the development and management of digital technology and knowledge resources and promoting appropriate technology to meet digital technology needs. My Massive Transformative Purpose is to contribute to an Africa where technology is used to drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve the ease of doing business for entrepreneurs using future technologies. This degree will allow me to steer my career toward providing technical and managerial services in Information technology. I have passionately worked towards building my civic leadership knowledge and experience to tackle pertinent issues affecting African communities. Platforms like Mozilla Open  Leaders X allowed me to develop an Online Safety Education Kit (E-Safety Education Toolkit for Young People in Uganda) to raise awareness about cyber security risks management in Uganda; I have also built regional and global capacity through training and developing Internet leaders who are motivated to learn and engage and act within their region and beyond. These varied experiences interacting with young leaders from different countries, sharing and learning from stories of failures and success while supporting and holding each other accountable for the change and development of Africa we want to see have shaped my Massive Transformative Purpose today.

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Simphiwe Hlatshwayo

Simphiwe’s goal is to become a Policy analyst who can affect policies that will develop her home country of Eswatini. She is passionate about poverty and education and wants to see the girl child given equal access to education. Enrolled for a master’s degree in economics, Simphiwe believes that working for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Swaziland will allow her to achieve her Massive Transformative Purpose, which is to achieve the first two of eight Millennium Development Goals: Achieve Universal Primary Education and Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty.

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Sunday Jacob Nwanyim

In the words of Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” As a proponent of education. Sunday not only understands the value of educating youth on recent technologies to drive digital economies, he also believes that with more educated people on the continent, who truly look out for the interests of others; Africa will grow and be able to compete on an equal footing with first-world nations. Sunday Nwanyim is pursuing a Masters Degree in Information Technology at Carnegie Mellon University. Sunday’s Massive Transformative Purpose is to realise a self-reliant Africa where people can leverage Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to create wealth that boosts economies.

Currently, Africa’s biggest challenge lies in widespread corruption. With an undergraduate degree in cyber security, Sunday has seen the value of technology in curtailing corruption. “The best solution to corruption is transparency, and the easiest way to bring transparency is to bring technology into our economic system.” He has also observed the brain drain occurring in Nigeria and would like to set up systems that allow engineers to see opportunities so that they tap into the potential, and overcome the urge to leave the continent. Thus, on completing the degree, his vision is to build a hub that provides technical and leadership training for ICT engineers in Nigeria.

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Abdul-Jalil Zakaria

Data is critical to making informed decisions, particularly in the energy sector. During my undergraduate studies in Ghana, I worked on projects related to net metering and designing microgrids to improve energy access for underserved communities. Energy access is a fundamental developmental issue that requires serious attention, and I am committed to contributing to finding solutions for Africa’s energy challenges. I am driven to see Africa’s economic growth catapulted through digital tools and widespread access to electricity.

Digitalisation and energy access are critical developmental issues that I am passionate about, and I plan to use my degree to contribute to finding solutions to these challenges. My travel experiences in Africa have exposed me to the importance of diversity and cross-cultural understanding. I have learned that interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds requires patience and the ability to manage diverse opinions. As Africans, we are incredibly diverse, and we need to learn to work together and find common ground to address the continent’s developmental challenges.

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Muhammed Danso

I am passionate about leveraging technology to drive Africa towards self-sufficiency and prosperity. My expertise in research, AI systems, and entrepreneurship is geared towards this goal. I envision a united Africa free from poverty, hunger, and conflict. In the Gambia, I have noticed that commercial agriculture is not widespread, and most families only grow enough food to sustain themselves.

With a Master’s in Science in Engineering Technology, I’ll be better equipped to develop autonomous systems that can detect and monitor pests and diseases in crops – helping to commercialise agriculture in Africa, creating a reliable source of income for farmers and promoting food self-sufficiency. Integrating AI and Robotics into African countries can also allow us to become more self-reliant, with agriculture being a significant source of revenue for our continent. Through my work as a scholar and researcher, I am committed to addressing developmental challenges and positively contributing to Africa’s growth and progress.

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Ephraim Adongo

Ephraim Adongo is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Cape Town. He is passionate about establishing an African-centered technology solutions company that caters to the needs of the African community. Ephraim believes that healthcare is a fundamental right and is working on a project to provide easy access to quality healthcare services through technology. He co-founded a tech company that provides solutions from website creation to building mobile applications, cloud services, data management, data analysis, machine learning, and prediction models.

Ephraim and his team are working on a project to link doctors, hospitals, patients, and pharmacies on a single platform to provide easy access to healthcare services. They hope to launch this project soon. Ephraim is committed to building a sustainable future for Africa by providing access to technology and healthcare for all.

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Sylvester Sedibane

My dream and intention are to create a non-profit educational organisation, and a Pan-African institution focused on Education, Training, and Development (ETD), similar to what MINDS has already accomplished. I am acquiring the necessary skills, knowledge, and expertise to bring my vision of efficient, relevant education that meets the needs of the industry to fruition. Growing up in South Africa, I have seen the unfortunate consequences of the Bantu Education Act of 1953; I have dedicated my life to addressing the education crisis in Africa. Our current systems and institutions fail to adequately prepare young people for the future, with high-quality education accessible only to a privileged few.

As an ETD advocate, investing in young people is the key to breaking the cycle of inequality and creating a brighter future for Africa. My vision for Africa is one where quality education and information are accessible to ALL children, regardless of their ethnic, class, racial, religious, ability, or geographical backgrounds and contexts. I envision providing access to high-quality education that empowers young people to become the best versions of themselves, developing metacognitive, solution-oriented thinking. I want to see citizens with economic opportunities that enable them to provide for themselves and their communities, reducing their dependence on the government.

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Rahman Mabano

With a strong interest in policy-making and several completed courses in renewable energy design and sustainable energy, I am pursuing a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. As a child of Burundi, my ultimate goal is to contribute to Africa, achieving independence by utilising our natural, physical, and intellectual resources and abilities to thrive with an autonomous system that benefits Africa to its fullest potential. As someone particularly concerned with the energy sector, I see untapped potential in Africa for the self-generation of energy.

Currently, we rely on importing fuel just to keep our lights on and businesses running. Sustainable energy is the foundation for moving forward and revolutionising priority growth sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, production, and all other service and tech industries. I want to see a prosperous Africa where our citizens stay and do not become assets to other countries. I envision an Africa in the not-too-distant future that is so utopian that all Africans living elsewhere will return and help build our home.

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Lerato Violet Pitso

Lerato Pitso is pursuing a Honours degree in Sociology at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. Her interest in sustainable development in Africa led her to focus on the relationship between economics, labour, and development. Lerato believes in developing transformation strategies and projects for Africa’s economic growth.

She is particularly concerned about rampant unemployment in Africa, where she believes more effort can be placed on developing entrepreneurial skills than demanding jobs from the government. Lerato’s vision for Africa is to have people take responsibility for the continent’s challenges and work together towards its development. She hopes to work for an agency or organisation that focuses on development and aims to empower communities to make a sustainable income for themselves.

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Baboucarr Nyang

I’m passionate about exploring Africa’s economic sustainability options and addressing the ethical and philosophical foundations of institutional approaches. I am particularly interested in examining the effects of Macroeconimices Factors on debt sustainability, focusing on Gambia, my home country, where we are burdened with high debt levels. While I have worked with multinational and international organisations in the past, my current focus is ensuring that public funds and resources are used appropriately. Corrupt practices in public finance management remain an issue in Africa, and I am dedicated to addressing excessive borrowing and other factors that hinder access to funds for the masses.

For example, 46% of the national budget in Gambia is allocated towards servicing accumulated debt. As an activist, I have organised meetings, mobilised people, and led protests to raise awareness about issues affecting the masses. With a Master’s in Development Finance from the prestigious Strathmore University in Kenya, I believe I can help improve Africa’s future prospects.

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Lepapa Ramphoko

As I grew older and travelled across my home country of Lesotho, I witnessed the widespread deprivation common in many communities. This experience inspired me to make it my mission to tackle poverty. I believe the easiest way to do this is by addressing financial exclusion in Africa by creating investment and savings groups for those struggling with financial planning and decision-making.

Drawing on my experience in training communities on saving and investing for their future, I understand the transformative power of fundamental financial literacy. By providing families with sustainable tools for economic growth, we can empower them to achieve long-term prosperity. As I pursue My Master’s degree, I hope to gain the necessary skills in corporate finance, investment management, and risk management to create innovative financial solutions that benefit Africa’s underserved communities.

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Samuel Emmanuel

Providing primary and secondary scholars access to computers is the best way Africa can find more sustainable, innovative solutions to our problems. Learning the ins and outs of a computer completely transformed the trajectory of my life, and I felt the need to share and teach my knowledge. So, when I worked, I also volunteered to teach secondary learners basic computer skills on weekends.

As part of Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corp Programme, I was posted to a rural community where I taught mathematics. I organised inter-school quizzes, crisis management, and debating competitions during my year there. This experience inspired me to start a foundation that provides access to high-quality education and scholarships for high-performing scholars from remote areas who lack the financial means to pursue quality education. I feel a responsibility to “pay it forward” and help others as I have been helped. It is easier for individuals to excel and clarify their real-life and career purposes when they are not distracted by financial concerns.

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Michael Hove

I am enthusiastic about helping businesses thrive, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that often face financial challenges and need more management expertise. By generating and organising capital and directing it to these SMEs, I can facilitate job creation and crucially contribute to the socio-economic well-being of the Zimbabwean and SADC communities.

With a focus on venture capitalism and private equity, I can significantly impact the SMEs I work with. Furthermore, I am researching free trade areas in Africa to reduce the cost of production, particularly in regions that rely heavily on raw materials and labour. My work is driven by my desire to change how business is conducted in Africa and to make a significant contribution to the future of our continent. By sharing my knowledge and expertise, I hope to bring new ideas and perspectives and help unify Africa through trade.

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Choukouriya Arinloye

Data must be used to inform and drive decisions in Africa’s priority growth sectors. To actualise Africa’s potential, we must prioritise widespread high-quality education and ensure access to technology in this highly digital and mechanised era. I have an undergraduate degree in Software Engineering, and I am now studying data science and applied machine learning at the Master’s level at Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda. As an education advocate, I highly appreciate the opportunity to receive a high-quality education at one of the continent’s best institutions of higher learning and exposure to other cultures, systems, innovative solutions and like-minded changemakers and leaders that will shape Africa’s tomorrow.

As one of the next-generation African data scientists, I see myself significantly contributing to the innovation and enhancement of data collection, sharing, and analysis, with the primary purpose of maximising efforts and efficiency, particularly in agriculture, health, education, ecology, trade industry, and energy. My ultimate goal is to use my degree to help governments, businesses, institutions, and development initiatives make better, more informed decisions using technology.

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Cornelius Chen-Chen

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Kundai Mazarura

Kundai Mazarura is pursuing a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. Her interest in the pharmaceutical industry led her to her massive transformative purpose of establishing a large pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Zimbabwe that will employ innovative manufacturing technologies such as 3D and 4D Printing to produce bespoke drug delivery systems to meet the unique needs of different patients.

In addition to revolutionizing the manufacturing field, Kundai believes that Africa has the potential to be the source of solutions to some of the world’s unmet therapeutic needs and dilemmas through tapping into untried indigenous remedies with minimal side effects.

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Medhn Hadush

Medhn views the application of AI in Africa as being in its infancy. Through AI, Africa has a unique opportunity to develop its competitiveness in healthcare, agriculture, education, language translation and other sectors and address socio-economic challenges. Concerned by the multi-layered gendered digital divide, skills disparities among professionals and opportunities for usage of essential technologies to advance well-being, her drive is to ensure that AI does NOT marginalise women in Africa.

The main exclusion area involves data inaccuracy (AI’s primary input), especially on gender-sensitive issues like health and employment. Data inaccuracy can also be an outcome of collection methodologies which miss activities and communities that fall outside the radar of the formal lens, resulting in “data blindness”. Medhn is working towards eliminating the invisibility of women in data. Her aspiration of using her skills to help develop AI in Africa propelled her to enrol for her Master’s in Engineering with a focus on AI. Medhn’s Massive Transformative Purpose is to have an inclusive and advanced AI industry in Africa.

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Gemma Lwizi

Gemma is studying toward a Master’s in Digital Marketing and Analytics at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco. Passionate about education in the digital sector, Gemma believes that the future is digital and that Africa must not be left behind. She envisions a united African continent, leveraging digital advancements for growth and development. In addition to her academic pursuits, Gemma is actively involved in initiatives that promote digital literacy and education access in Zambia, aiming to empower the next generation with the skills needed for a digital future.

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Tlotliso Mokomane

Tlotliso is currently studying at the University of Cape Town, aspiring to become a proficient professional in spatial science and a leader in her field. Her research focuses on developing methodologies to document forced removals, with case studies including District Six and Die Vlakte in South Africa. Tlotliso is passionate about addressing historical injustices and envisions a united Africa characterised by development and equality for all. Her academic journey at UCT is a crucial step toward achieving these ambitious goals.

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Diana Murigu

Diana, specialising in Urban Planning at the University of Cape Town, graduated summa cum laude in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Nairobi. She is dedicated to empowering marginalised groups through policy and practical interventions, fostering an inclusive and equitable Africa. Diana’s work focuses on creating responsive urban solutions that address social equity and improve the quality of life in underrepresented communities. Her current Master’s studies will be instrumental in helping her bridge the gap between policy and practice, enabling her to make a tangible impact. Actively involved in community development, Diana volunteers her time to various projects, demonstrating her commitment to enabling spaces for sustainable and inclusive growth in urban areas.

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Tefo Ntsane

Tefo is studying at the University of Cape Town, bringing his expertise in healthcare to a new environment. Passionate about transforming healthcare in Africa, Tefo envisions an economically free and healthy continent where everyone has access to quality healthcare services. Actively involved in health awareness campaigns and community health initiatives, he aims to build world-class healthcare systems that improve health standards across the continent. Tefo believes that better healthcare will lead to increased productivity, enabling Africans to contribute to the continent’s development fully. His commitment to addressing the poor state of healthcare in many African countries drives his mission to enhance the well-being of African citizens and promote economic freedom and prosperity for all.

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Nothando Phuti

Passionate about the fast-tracking of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, Nothando Phuti is pursuing a Master of Arts in Migration and Displacement at the University of the Witwatersrand to deepen her understanding of Africa’s migration management systems and their impact. She envisions a united and integrated Africa where the African passport facilitates the free movement of people, goods, and services. Nothando believes this will unlock untapped markets, create jobs, and provide opportunities beyond congested cities, fostering trade and development within the continent. By moving away from colonial-era migration governance that imposes arbitrary national borders, she aims to address unequal access to education, opportunities, and resources. Her ultimate goal is to unite the people of Africa and achieve equitable prosperity, ensuring that all Africans benefit from the continent’s growth and development.

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Vicent Mwita

Vincent is advancing his studies at Makerere University. His goal is to establish a crop tissue culture laboratory and work with local researchers to diagnose and mitigate emerging diseases. Vicent is deeply concerned about employment issues and food security, driven by high youth unemployment and poor farming methods. He envisions empowered local communities in Tanzania, capable of leveraging technology and local resources to tackle critical challenges. By improving farming techniques and introducing innovations like plant biotechnology, Vicent aims to create visible, positive transformations. He sees a future where local farmers achieve sustainable yearly production and thrive.

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Khamis William Khormai Kuol

Khamis is pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Cadi Ayyad in Marrakech, Morocco. With a passion for human rights, Khamis aims to become a human rights defender, advocating for improved governance in Africa. He believes that good governance is essential for development, paving the way for advancements in infrastructure, science, and research. Khamis envisions an Africa that fully utilises its abundant natural resources sustainably to lift its population out of poverty. Beyond academics, he is actively involved in initiatives that promote human rights and good governance, striving to create a better future for all Africans.

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Ahmad Ahmed

Ahmad is pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Cape Town. Committed to leveraging technology for social impact, he focuses on artificial intelligence and software development to address challenges in education and healthcare. Passionate about bridging the digital divide, Ahmad works to ensure equitable access to digital resources and digital literacy across Africa, fostering socioeconomic advancement and inclusive growth. He envisions an Africa where technology drives sustainable development and empowers communities. Ahmad is dedicated to advocating for policies and initiatives that promote digital inclusion. Through innovative solutions, he strives to create meaningful social change and enhance the quality of life across the continent.

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Kudakwashe Chawadya

Kudakwashe is advancing his expertise in Development Finance at the University of Cape Town and has significant experience working with financial institutions on sustainable energy investments. He is passionate about addressing Africa’s energy gap, aiming to attract finance for energy development projects and influence policy to create a favourable environment for investment. With over 600 million people in Africa lacking access to reliable electricity, Kudakwashe envisions a future where every African has access to sustainable energy. He is driven by a passion for researching renewable energy technologies and exploring innovative solutions to close the energy gap.

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Kenneth Paa Kwesi Agyir

Kenneth is pursuing a Master’s in Development Policy and Practice at the University of Cape Town. With a background in law, Kenneth is passionate about developing sustainable resource-based economic growth through effective legal regulation, governance, and policy. He aims to leverage his Africa-focused development policy and governance skills to work with development institutions across the continent. Kenneth is dedicated to ensuring that natural resource-based economic development is balanced with environmental accountability. He envisions an Africa where economic growth benefits all while safeguarding the environment for future generations. Actively involved in policy research and forums, Kenneth advocates for equitable prosperity through sustainable management of Africa’s abundant natural resources. His commitment extends to promoting transparent governance and climate-conscious development strategies, aiming to mitigate inequality, protect biodiversity, and build resilient communities across Africa.

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Lassana Ndiaye

Lassana is studying towards a Master’s degree in Geo-Information Science For Natural Resources Management at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. His work is dedicated to empowering local communities to manage natural resources sustainably. Actively involved in various conservation and sustainable development projects, Lassana aims to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship. He envisions a resilient Africa that responsibly harnesses its natural resources while encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. Passionate about sustainable land management, natural resource conservation, and disaster risk reduction, he strives to address pressing environmental challenges in Africa.

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Hassan Isak

Hassan is enhancing his expertise in Legal Advocacy at the University of Cape Town. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Mogadishu University, Hassan founded the Samale Law Firm, an organisation based in Mogadishu that provides legal representation in civil and criminal litigations. He is passionate about environmental issues and sustainability development, working part-time as a volunteer to raise awareness and engage in environmental activities. Hassan’s professional work includes developing legal frameworks to protect community rights and promote sustainability. He envisions a united Africa characterised by good governance and prosperity. In addition to his studies, Hassan actively participates in community service and clean-up drives, demonstrating his commitment to both legal advocacy and environmental stewardship.

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Privy Mzizi

Privy is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Civil and Water Engineering at the University of Cape Town. He previously graduated with honours in Civil Engineering from the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe. Privy is deeply committed to sustainable water resource management and infrastructure development, particularly addressing critical issues such as increasing water scarcity. He has actively participated in projects aimed at enhancing water and road infrastructure. Privy envisions a politically united and economically stable Africa, free from the burden of diseases and equipped with advanced infrastructure. His goal is to contribute to the continent’s development by shaping policies through research and pushing the boundaries of innovation. In addition to his academic pursuits, Privy actively engages in initiatives that promote sustainable development and community resilience.

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Adeline Pivoine Gusenga

Adeline is currently expanding her knowledge with a Master of Science in Immunology and Clinical Microbiology from Makerere University. Adeline is deeply committed to improving health outcomes in Africa through her focus on immunology and microbiology research. Her work, driven by a passion for creating health resilience and equity, confronts the region’s infectious diseases. Adeline’s ultimate aim is to reduce Africa’s reliance on foreign pharmaceuticals and bolster local clinical trial research, ensuring medications and vaccines are developed and tested within the continent using African resources and talent. She envisions a future Africa that fully utilises its natural resources, a continent living in peace, free of poverty and preventable diseases. Adeline actively participates in medical outreach programs and research initiatives.