News
The latest news from the African Leadership Institute and its Fellows. AFLI Fellows are leaders and change-makers, so this section has a lot of news. All text in all of the posts is fully searchable.
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- Written by: Jolomi Akperi
- Category: News
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2024 Tutu Fellow Modupeola Fadugba has won the 2025 Norval Sovereign African Art Prize for her stunning 2024 painting, Portrait of an Artist at Ease. This prestigious award, presented in partnership with Schroders, recognizes outstanding contemporary African artists and comes with a $35,000 grand prize, a solo exhibition at the Norval Foundation in Cape Town, and a two-week artist residency at Outset Contemporary Art Fund in London.
A Nigerian multimedia artist, Modupeola is renowned for her evocative paintings, drawings, and socially engaged installations that explore themes of cultural identity, social justice, and game theory. She is the founder of The People’s Algorithm, an interactive initiative designed to spark dialogue about improving Nigeria’s education system.
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- Written by: Norman Smit
- Category: News
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Tutu Fellows and his 2008 classmates are paying tribute to Paul Kapelus, who died on 16 February 2025, leaving a wife and two daughters. At the time of his passing, he was a Director of Synergy Global Consulting. The immediate outpouring of grief and sadness from Fellows at news of his passing is testament to how close he was to many.
In the words of AFLI CEO and 2009 Fellow Lai Yahaya, "I remember every conversation I ever had with Paul, each being more meaningful than the last. He was wise, thoughtful and empathetic. But he lives on - through every person he touched, every connection he made, every soul he nurtured. He really did exemplify the sort of person we all aspire to be."
In his last message to the Tutu Fellows that he shared on the Thursday before his passing, Paul wrote the following:
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- Written by: Norman Smit
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2018 Tutu Fellow Jean-Guy Afrika has been appointed by President Paul Kagame as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB).
The appointment was announced by The Office of the Prime Minister of Rwanda on January 13th, 2025, and has taken effect immediately.
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- Written by: Norman Smit
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2024 Tutu Fellow Laureen Fredah has launched a community project aimed at providing free lunch meals for primary school children in rural, economically-deprived Western Uganda. She shared the news of the project in a LinkedIn post. A community project is a requirement for completion of the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellowship Programme.
In the post she emphasised on how sad the statistics are that inspired her project: In Uganda, 36.9% of the population is undernourished, with children bearing the brunt of this. She said 25.4% of children under the age of five are stunted.
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- Written by: Norman Smit
- Category: News
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2022 Tutu Fellow Steve Tchoumba has appeared on CNN’s Inside Africa in an episode called Diary of a tech CEO. He shared aspects of his daily life and a lot of insights from his career path. Steve is the Executive Manager of ActivSpace, the first tech hub for digital entrepreneurs in Cameroon.
He describes himself as being - not a tech guy - but the business guy of the tech world, who's job is to gather capital and build the teams that can implement the projects.
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- Written by: Norman Smit
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2014 Tutu Fellow Risper Alaro Mukoto has been named by Business Monthly East Africa in a year-end series as one of the top 20 Most Powerful Women in Finance in East Africa in 2024. The publisher of the magazine, Hanningtone Gaya, that "in the grand theatre of finance, traditionally a playground for men dominated by calculated risk, numbers, and cold logic, the tides are shifting. This evolution of leadership is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of women, who are reshaping the industry with a focus on human centricity – a quality now synonymous with authentic leadership. We are witnessing a renaissance, where women bring a fresh approach that balances strength with empathy and integrity, transforming the financial world."
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- Written by: Norman Smit
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2007 Tutu Fellow Niven Postma will be the African Leadership Institute's Programme Director for the Tutu Fellowship Programme, beginning in January 2025. She will be active during the build up to the first workshop of the 2025 cohort of Tutu Associates at Mont Fleur in South Africa at the beginning of May. Her responsibilities will focus on the design and delivery of the programme.
Niven has had a wide range of leadership experiences in the public and private sectors as well as not-for-profits. She is a globally respected coach, facilitator, speaker and author on leadership and organisational development, based in Johannesburg, but delivering her services across Africa, the UK and USA with world renowned institutions.
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- Written by: Tafadzwa Taruvinga
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2015 Tutu Fellow Wiebe Boer has been appointed as the Chief Growth Officer at JIPA Network in the Caribbean. JIPA Network is a healthcare company that collaborates with medical experts to provide healthcare, critical medical services and elective procedures - surgeries that are not emergencies and which can be scheduled - to patients in the United States, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. As the Chief Growth Officer, Wiebe is responsible for developing growth strategies, identifying new business opportunities and market expansion.
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- Written by: Peter Wilson
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After eight years at the helm of the African Leadership Institute, 2010 Tutu Fellow Jackie Chimhanzi PhD, has accepted an exciting position as Regional Director, Southern Africa, with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI). At TBI, she will be responsible for the Institute’s portfolio in Zambia, Malawi, Angola and Mozambique.
Although she will be stepping down from her role as Chief Executive of AFLI, in mid-November 2024, she will continue as a member of AFLI's Board and remain involved in AFLI’s development and activities. To ensure continuity whilst searching for a successor to Jackie, the Board has put into place an interim arrangement. 2009 Tutu Fellow Lai Yahaya - who is also an active member of the AFLI Board - will serve as Interim CEO for a period of six months.
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- Written by: Tafadzwa Taruvinga
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2013 Tutu Fellow Jumoke Oduwole JSD has been appointed as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment in Nigeria by President Bola Tinubu. She is among seven new ministers announced by the president on 23 October 2024, when he reshuffled his cabinet. Upon her confirmation by the Senate as Minister, Jumoke will succeed Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, who has been reassigned as the Minister of State for Finance. She will be taking the helm at the ministry at a time described by The Africa Report as "the worst cost of living crisis in 30 years." She has indicated that she sees her role as ensuring the ministry is a catalyst for economic growth.
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- Written by: Tafadzwa Taruvinga
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2017 Tutu Fellow Bosun Tijani PhD has been appointed as the Co-Chair of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience, effective from 1 November 2024. The ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). The aim of the Advisory Body is to promote dialogue and collaboration on improving the resilience of submarine cables, which power global communications and the digital economy. It is tasked with ensuring that the many stakeholders involved collaborate effectively, bringing together governments, regulatory authorities, and industry. The Advisory Body will serve a two-year term.
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- Written by: Judy Malan
- Category: News
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The Tutu Class of 2024 graduated on 8 September 2024 that culminated in a joyful celebration at the Africa Centre in London. The keynote speaker, Moky Makura from AfricaNoFilter, challenged us to examine and take accountability for the stories we tell about the continent – a fitting capstone to a 6 month journey during which we examined and expanded the stories we hold about ourselves, others, and the world at large.
Our exploration meandered along three pathways: Deepening our Roots to build the capacity for self-leadership, connecting to and learning from the Tribes we belong to (especially this one!) so we can grow in how we lead others, and exploring what it means to be a Good Ancestor when it comes to nudging positive and enduring systemic change.
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- Written by: Linda Kasonde
- Category: News
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The International Day of Democracy falls on 15th September every year. It is a time to pause and reflect on how democracy is working in our country. Last year, Zambia was privileged to be chosen as the African host of the Summit for Democracy. At the time, we were riding high on our democratic credentials as one of the few African nations through which change could be effected through the ballot box and having pushed back on creeping authoritarianism during the ten years preceding the 2021 general elections.
During the Summit, I was privileged to speak at a side event at which I highlighted some of the dangerous anti-democratic trends of the period 2011-2021 and ended with an expression of hope for the future, if only the UPND would heed the lessons of the past.
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- Written by: Tafadzwa Taruvinga
- Category: News
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2012 Tutu Fellow Lydie Hakizimana has been selected to participate in the 2024 Rainer Arnhold Fellowship, which is an initiative of the Mulago Foundation. Established in 1993, Mulago is a private foundation which focuses on funding what it refers to as 'high-impact organisations', through grants, debt or equity. In this context, the Rainer Arnhold Fellowship has included Happy Hearts Preschools, of which Lydie is the CEO and Co-Founder, in its 2024 selection. Lydie describes Happy Hearts as "...a network of preschools across Rwanda...[that] help children find their curiosity alongside passionate teachers who are happy to support and guide their journey of discovery."
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- Written by: Sylvia Makario
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It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that I write this tribute for a dear friend and classmate from the 2020 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellowship cohort - Aminata Wurie - a life whose impact will echo for the rest of our lives.
Aminata was a gracious soul, embodying a silent power that resonated deeply with everyone she met. Though often immersed in her thoughts, tirelessly contemplating ways to uplift and enhance the human capital of our beloved African continent through her company, Posterity Thinkers, those fortunate enough to know her were blessed with her wonderful sense of humor.
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- Patrick Gatonga joins Equity Health Insurance Kenya as Managing Director
- Plentify CEO, Jon Kornik, leverages technology to reduce household energy costs
- Mimi Kalinda launches book on using storytelling as a leadership strategy
- James Mwangi appointed as an inaugural member of The Rockefeller Foundation Climate Advisory Council
- Chude Jideonwo appointed as the Creative-in-Residence at London School of Economics and Political Science
- Dr Stella Wairimu Bosire appointed as the Interim Chairperson of the Board at Amnesty International Kenya
- The 2024 Mont Fleur Tutu Fellowship Programme Workshop
- Essay - Zambia at 60: Not yet Ubuntungwa
- Uzoma Nwagba meets with Nigeria's lending ecosystem
- Three Tutu Fellows Selected for 2024 Forum of Young Global Leaders
