Fellows
Brian Dzidefo Dzansi
Ghana
Brian Dzidefo Dzansi has eight years of professional experience in innovation management, digital policy, and entrepreneurship development. He has worked with both local and international organizations, including the Danish Embassy, AfriLabs, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Institute of Fiscal Studies Ghana, and IMANI Africa. Brian is the CEO of Node Eight, a digital innovation hub in Ghana, where he oversees the digital skills training of over 1000 young people, improving their employment prospects. He has supported over 25 early-stage start-ups over the last six years. He has participated in the Mashav Fellowship and the Enpact Startup Fellowship and served as an African expert for the Berlin African Network. Brian holds a master's degree in policy from the Korean Development Institute of Policy and Administration and a bachelor's degree in electrical electronics engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Brian plans to expand his Node Eight initiatives through an impact fund to invest in innovative ventures. Brian is also dedicated to lobbying for digital policies that promote entrepreneurship and streamline Ghana's digital transformation.
Bupe Chikumbi
Zambia
Bupe Chikumbi is an education activist and human biologist, holding a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from the University of Zambia where she also pursued an MBCHB (doctorate) for a year. With six years of experience in social enterprise, she works at the intersection of leadership, science, and education. She founded Genius Education Zambia, an EdTech STEM organization empowering the Zambian education system with technology. She is a Geneva Science Diplomacy Anticipator Delegate and Ashoka Fellow, author of two STEM textbooks, and has been selected for various youth leadership roles such as the 30 under 30 List for Zambia in 2023. Additionally, she served as Project Officer at the United Nations SDSN, earned a diploma in the French language and continues her education in the Spanish language. Bupe aspires to enhance educational outcomes and prepare Zambian youth for the workforce. After the Mandela Washington Fellowship, she plans to hone her skills in social enterprise and business, becoming a leading voice for science, education, and leadership in Africa.
Cheikh Abdallahi
Mauritania
Cheikh Abdallahi has over three years of experience in the energy and mining sectors. Cheikh is currently employed as a continuous improvement engineer at Kinross Gold Corporation, where he is responsible for conducting business cases to support decision-making regarding the implementation of new technologies, systems, and processes. Previously, he worked on infrastructure projects. Cheikh has a master's degree in energy economics and management, another in strategic management, and an engineering degree in electricity. He is passionate about energy. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Cheikh and some colleagues intend to open a training center to assist unemployed youth.
Chisomo Thezhi Kanthema
Malawi
Chisomo Thezhi Kanthema has over eight years of experience in digital manufacturing, STEM education, health technology, and information systems. He is a passionate educator and entrepreneur dedicated to reducing Africa's reliance on imports by developing local, sustainable manufacturing capabilities. Chisomo is currently the co-founder and chief operating officer of Qubix Robotics, which focuses on fourth-generation industrial technology in manufacturing and education. Chisomo combines his knowledge of STEM education and digital manufacturing to prepare young people for careers in advanced manufacturing. He is a climate ambassador for the World Bank's Global Youth Climate Network (GYCN) and a mentor at the Tony Elumelu Foundation. He volunteers at TME Education, where he coordinates electronics and microcontroller training. Chisomo's commitment to inclusive development extends to his work with women in manufacturing. Chisomo intends to apply the knowledge he gains from the Mandela Washington Fellowship to develop innovative solutions for green energy access through advanced manufacturing. He hopes to make Qubix Robotics a leading startup in sustainable manufacturing across sub-Saharan Africa.
Christiana Ojonugwa Onoja
Nigeria
Christiana Onoja is the co-founder and COO of Jeme Technologies, a Nigeria-based IT services firm, where she oversees operations, partnership development, and technical service delivery to clients in the oil and gas, telecoms, financial services, and public sectors. Her focus is on closing the IT service gap for businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa. She holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, is a COREN-certified engineer, and is a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (MNSE). She is dedicated to shaping the future of cybersecurity in Africa by serving on the Young CISO Network's Board of Trustees. Beyond her professional endeavors, Christiana's dedication to addressing gender disparities in STEM prompted her to establish the Partnership for African Women's Advancement (PAWA Initiative) in 2019. This initiative enables women and young girls to close the gender gap in business, employment, and technological proficiency by providing data science training and comprehensive mentorship. Through the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Christiana plans to gain experience in global market research, strategic technology implementation, and stakeholder collaboration.
David Jeng
The Gambia
David Jeng is an innovation and entrepreneurship development expert with over 10 years of experience in training, business development, policy, access to finance, the digital economy, intellectual property, and incubation. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and finance and a master's degree in intellectual property. He is the founder of Bliss Executives, a management consulting firm focused on addressing the business goals and challenges of small enterprises in Africa. He also serves on the board of The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. David is committed to providing decent jobs for African youth. After he completes the Mandela Washington Fellowship, he plans to use his knowledge, skills, and network to create initiatives that bring private sector-led development to Africa.
Elisa Vanussa De Silveira Capololo
Angola
Elisa Capololo has more than nine years of experience in the technology field. Elisa is currently an application management technician at Selenium, focused on technology product management, software development, and testing. She has been a Google Developer Group (GDG) Luanda organizer since 2018 and a Women Techmakers Luanda ambassador since 2019. Elisa previously worked as a project manager and front-end developer for an education startup in Angola. She holds a degree in computer engineering and completed Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology's Entrepreneurs in Training program, where she received training in business, technology, communication, and marketing, becoming the first Portuguese and Angolan speaker in the program. Elisa is motivated by analyzing real-world societal issues and developing practical solutions that improve the employability of young people. After finishing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, she plans to develop solutions that improve the lives of young people in Angola and throughout Africa, by generating jobs, sustainability, and growth; and continue her study of technology and entrepreneurship.
Emmanuelle Nuccia Bouiti
Republic of the Congo
Emmanuelle Amekoudi Nee Bouiti earned a master's degree in marketing/communication and has over 15 years of experience in the international development sector, distinguished by her leadership and commitment to social entrepreneurship, innovation, and female leadership in Africa. Currently serving as a project manager at Enabel, a Belgian development agency in Guinea, Emmanuelle leads an initiative aimed at enhancing the employability and economic integration of youth and women. She also developed the African digital economy in her Project Manager role at DigiBoost in Benin, an EU-funded Enabel project. She also impacted the entrepreneurial landscape as Incubation and Acceleration Manager of startup growth at EtriLab by preparing startups for funding rounds. As a co-founder of Jokkolabs in Senegal, Emmanuelle was a pioneer in establishing innovation ecosystems, thus facilitating the emergence of young talents and innovative solutions. Following the Mandela Washington Fellowship, she plans to continue working on employability and economic integration, working with Enabel and development stakeholders, and contributing to socio-economic progress in Francophone Africa.
Hans Martinien Assisa
Burundi
Hans Assisa is a team leader at Bujahub, a digital innovation nonprofit which helps businesses succeed and drive economic growth in Burundi. He helps entrepreneurs discover, connect, and network through innovative technology. Hans is passionate about supporting young people with knowledge to better both their career and life. To accomplish this goal, he has worked with the African Union, United Nations Development Program, United Nations Funds for Population Agency, and UNICEF. Hans has connected with the British Embassy's liaison office in Burundi to increase the impact of their annual Chevening Scholarship program registration rate and help more Burundian entrepreneurs benefit from this scholarship. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Hans plans to further the monumental growth of BujaHub and start the best research lab for startups and large companies who can innovate and disrupt the marketplace. Hans holds a law degree, multiple certificates for leadership training, Google online digital skills training, and holds a certificate from the English Learning Program of the U.S Embassy Burundi office.
Honorine Umurisa
Rwanda
Honorine Umurisa has over two years of experience in project management. She is a co-founder and Senior Executive Director at Hope for Tomorrow Academy, a nursery and primary school where she is leading the design and piloting of a curriculum aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and real-life application. She is also a co-founder of the SaveUp for Success Foundation, a social enterprise dedicated to promoting financial freedom and empowering youth by equipping them with essential financial literacy skills and resources. Honorine is a final-year undergraduate student at the African Leadership University, pursuing a degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership with a specialization in Business Strategy and Investment. Upon completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Honorine plans to utilize lessons acquired during the fellowship, like human-centered design and market segmentation, to improve program design and strengthen capacity-building initiatives.
Igobe Gobsie Mbulawa
Botswana
Igobe Mbulawa has over ten years of experience in public and aviation weather forecasting, as well as implementing national environmental and climate protection initiatives. She is currently the project coordinator for Botswana's Montreal Protocol project, where she oversees the implementation of projects to phase out ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning. Igobe has a bachelor's degree in meteorology and climate, a certificate in environmental law, and is currently working toward a Master of Science in project management. Igobe is passionate about providing young people with the knowledge and skills they need for financial literacy and entrepreneurship. She co-founded Finance Kids Botswana, an organization providing educational programs to children, as well as Young Environmentalists, which teaches children about environmental conservation best practices while supporting environmental clubs in Botswana's schools. She volunteers with iGROW, an organization that provides psychosocial support to underprivileged children. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Igobe intends to continue advocating for financial literacy and entrepreneurship in the national school curriculum.
Immaculate Owomugisha
Uganda
Immaculate Blessing Owomugisha brings over 10 years of expertise in trade law, inclusive trade, innovation, entrepreneurship, and project management. As the Program Manager for Uganda at the East African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, she focuses on promoting economic growth, facilitating trade, and fostering business development throughout East Africa. Holding key positions in the Center for Arbitration and Reconciliation and the Private Sector Development Forum, Blessing contributes to the enhancement of trade policies. She served as Secretary General for the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and contributed to the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area and founding the Ayuda Legal Business Clinic. Blessing holds a bachelor's degree in law and is dedicated to promoting economic development and gender equality through trade. She held leadership roles in various Rotary-affiliated organizations and serves as the president of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs Alumnae Association. After the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Blessing plans to continue work on expanding the Clinic across Uganda, inclusive trade policies, and international partnerships for sustainable development.
Ladji Hamed Kone
Cote d'Ivoire
Ladji Hamed Kone is a young Ivorian leader with over two years of industrial experience and two years of volunteer service. Ladji Hamed is currently an industrial draftsman and junior project manager at CAFCI-AZUR INNOV, where he specializes in creating devices capable of transforming waste into reusable, sustainable materials. He co-founded DOMOTIX, a company that specializes in energy efficiency solutions, and A&K Services, which provides industrial software training to students and professionals. Ladji Hamed has an associate's degree in production systems maintenance. He is committed to gaining the knowledge and necessary business skills that will be the driving force behind his sustainable project. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Ladji Hamed intends to expand and improve his technology business project, which focuses on offering energy efficiency solutions to his community, thus contributing to the attainment of sustainability goals.
Mame Fatou Ba
Senegal
Mame Fatou Ba is a visionary leader in Senegal's e-commerce sector with over 9 years of managerial experience. She holds a Master's degree in Economics, specializing in Commerce and International Business Management. For the past two years, she has successfully led Yoonema, a Dakar-based platform that merges social interactions with cutting-edge technologies to redefine online commerce. Under her leadership, Yoonema has achieved significant growth, technology enhancement, and secured substantial funding. Earlier in her career, she reshaped Senegal's e-commerce landscape while at OuiCarry, driving significant improvements in operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Her initiatives there led to the implementation of advanced logistics solutions, significantly reducing delivery times, particularly in cross-border e-commerce. Recently, her leadership and dedication to technology startup innovation were acknowledged when she was recognized as one of the top African female entrepreneurs by the SheWinsAfrica initiative of the International Finance Corporation. Looking ahead, Mame Fatou Ba plans to leverage her expertise to launch a group buying venture to foster community engagement and consumer cost-savings.
Martha Kanduwapa Ndemutwila Ounyuni Nangolo
Namibia
Martha Nangolo has more than nine years of experience in economics. Martha is currently a research associate and business consultant at the Institute for Public Policy Research, where she specializes in economic, social, and political research that leads to policy change and business process improvement. Martha mentors urban high school students, focusing on financial literacy, career guidance, and critical life skills. Martha holds a master's degree in international finance and economics, a postgraduate honors in business management, and a bachelor's degree in economics. She is dedicated to changing the business narrative by establishing social enterprises in rural Namibia that promote rural development and address social ills like poverty, youth unemployment, and low literacy rates. Martha intends to start her own social enterprise after completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship in order to educate more than just the girl child she is currently working with. She intends to teach young Namibians practical business skills and to offer extracurricular science and technology classes to high school students.
Moeletsi Ernest Mokhathali
Lesotho
Moeletsi Mokhathali has been practicing law for more than six years. He currently works as an attorney at Harley & Morris Attorneys, Conveyancers, and Notaries, where he specializes in corporate litigation, corporate governance, compliance, and business risk management. Moeletsi is also a human rights advocate with experience in strategic litigation, having worked with organizations such as UNAIDS and the Southern African Litigation Centre. Aside from his legal practice, Moeletsi is deeply committed to social good. He has previously served on the Law Society of Lesotho's Gender and Women Committee, the YOUNGO's COY18 organizing committee, and is currently the World Summit Awards Youth Ambassador for Lesotho. He founded Red Sands Consultancy with the desire to help businesses achieve sustainability. Moeletsi earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the National University of Lesotho. He intends to use his Mandela Washington Fellowship experience to help businesses at all stages of maturity accelerate their journeys to a net-zero future.
Musa Abdullahi Yusuf
Nigeria
Musa Yusuf Abdullahi, the executive director of MYA Consulting for prosthetics and orthotics, has over ten years of disability experience. As a trained prosthetic specialist, he has dedicated his career to helping people with disabilities. Musa specializes in the creation of prosthetic and orthotic devices, which play an important role in restoring mobility and independence to people with disabilities. With his extensive knowledge and experience in the field, he is able to provide high-quality care and support to his clients, allowing them to regain confidence and live more fulfilled lives. Throughout Musa's career, he has remained dedicated to advancing the field of prosthetics and orthotics by staying current on the latest developments and technologies in order to provide the best possible care to his clients. After the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Musa plans to expand MYA’s production and services to out reach more people with disabilities–particularly young people in rural areas–so as to leave no one behind and expand accessibility for all.
Nathan Mourade
Mauritius
Nathan Mourade has over four years of experience working at a bamboo plant. Currently, Nathan is the founder and co-founder of Kanapaye and Wavemakers Social Innovation Ltd, focusing on the transformation of bamboo into sustainable material, and aspires to be a training and consultancy company focused on human-centered design and design thinking. Nathan currently volunteers as treasurer in Ripple Association, a citizen initiative that collects and distributes menstrual packs to women and girls experiencing period poverty and conducts awareness on menstrual health. Nathan is committed to developing and transforming the bamboo industry, recognizing its incredible versatility in creating sustainable products. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Nathan plans to create a bamboo industry in Africa through sister ventures and manufacturing facilities across the continent.
Nokuzola Charlene Ndlovu
Zimbabwe
Zola Ndlovu is a lawyer and entrepreneur working in the legal and tech industries. During her undergraduate studies at Rhodes University, Zola was involved in various charitable community development initiatives aimed to help the Makhanda community. After completing her degree in 2011, she continued her studies at the Rhodes Law Faculty graduating with a Bachelor of Law and was admitted to practice law in 2015. Zola is the founder of Odilexio, an alternative legal services provider and technology consulting firm. She has used her expertise to serve organizations in the tech, education, energy, finance, food and retail, hospitality, mining, manufacturing, non government organization, and creative sectors. She volunteers at an IP clinic that provides free legal advice to small businesses and serves as a community leader in local churches. After the Mandela Washington Fellowship, she plans to use her newfound knowledge to unlock greater value in her entrepreneurial work and help build an entrepreneurship ecosystem in Africa to support entrepreneurship education for young people in creative industries.
Paul Olubori Kehinde
Nigeria
Paul Olubori Kehinde has over seven years of experience in financial education, coaching, sales, and business development. Paul is currently the CEO and founder of Go Learn, a financial literacy platform that focuses on financial education and digital skill development for young people. He is a forex trader with financial market experience, has worked with top global brokers as partners, and has trained over 5,000 people in the foreign exchange market. Paul has a bachelor's degree in geography education and a master's in humanities and social work. He is driven by the need for financial freedom among young people to minimize the rate of cyber crime by providing them with digital skills, opportunities to earn money, and education on how to manage money. Following the completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Paul plans to improve young people's education and expose them to a variety of global and skill opportunities that go beyond their hometown. He is convinced that if we can help young people gain skills, we can minimize, if not eliminate, cyber crime and poverty.
Robert Kirathe Maina
Kenya
Robert Maina has more than five years of experience in the IT industry. Robert is currently working as a software quality assurance lead and cloud security expert at Sharelook Inc., where he is responsible for delivering high-quality and secure software products. He also volunteers for two organizations that assist the less fortunate in society: RefuSHE and Kamune Elites. Robert has a bachelor's degree in information technology. He is committed to addressing some of Kenya's and Africa's most pressing issues, such as unemployment, unequal access to quality education, and climate change. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Robert plans to leverage his extensive network and skills to advance his career, take on more leadership responsibilities in his current organization, lead initiatives that foster innovation, drive social impact initiatives, and mentor emerging leaders.
Ruth Myriam Bagbila
Burkina Faso
Ruth Myriam Bagbila is an experienced social change agent with a master's degree in gender and development. She is committed to increasing awareness of gender inequity and women's empowerment. She has six years of experience in marketing and sales management, as well as more than two years of project management and training experience. Her current role at Empow'Her involves overseeing the implementation of the Women Communities Project in Burkina Faso, a project that focuses on the social and economic empowerment of women in rural and peri-urban areas. She also volunteers at Mahna, guiding young people through their job search. Following the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Ruth Myriam's goal is to improve women's social and professional integration in Burkina Faso by providing practical, diverse entrepreneurship and employability training in local languages.
Shakila Mbaraka Mshana
Tanzania
Shakila Mshana has over five years of experience in the entrepreneurship and innovation space. Currently, she serves as a co-founder and managing director at StartHub Africa in Tanzania, focusing on the expansion, growth, and long-term sustainability of the hub. Shakila holds a master’s degree in embedded and mobile systems and specializes in mobile systems. She is motivated to learn and develop technical and leadership skills in business and entrepreneurship. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Shakila plans to adapt and utilize the knowledge and networks gained to positively impact the innovation and startup ecosystem in Tanzania and across Africa.
Sharon Anyango Onyango
Kenya
Sharon Onyango has more than five years of experience in sustainable urbanization, with a focus on urban climate science. Sharon is currently a landscape planner and the founder of Ecotopia Pavers, where she works to reduce urban heat island effects, improve human thermal comfort, and improve urban stormwater management. Previously, she worked as a research scientist at the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. In 2020, she won Africa's biggest innovation challenge, My Little Big Thing by MK-Africa. Sharon holds a Master of Science in landscape planning and conservation from Kenya's JKUAT University and a bachelor's degree in environmental science and landscape technology. She is dedicated to providing an eco-friendly solution for urban pavement construction and fostering a harmonious relationship between urbanization and nature. Sharon intends to use her Mandela Washington Fellowship experience to diversify Ecotopia Pavers' products while bridging the gap between science and practice in order to create a smart, equitable, and sustainable urban future.