Dangote Foundation, YGL Announce 2025 Cohort of African Changemakers
By Patience Ikpeme
The Aliko Dangote Foundation, in collaboration with the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL), has revealed the distinguished individuals selected for the 2025 Aliko Dangote Fellowship. This year’s cohort comprises a group of highly talented and impactful African leaders who will join the prestigious YGL Class of 2025.
These new Fellows become part of a dynamic global network of over 1,400 young leaders actively addressing complex global challenges through innovative ideas and transformative leadership. Representing a wide array of sectors, including education, fintech, fashion, climate policy, and digital governance, the 2025 Fellows embody a fresh generation of African leadership characterized by innovation, purpose, and a global perspective.
Now in its 14th year, the Aliko Dangote Fellowship empowers high-achieving African leaders by fully funding their participation in the YGL program and activities of the World Economic Forum. The fellowship provides access to a comprehensive three-year leadership development journey, world-class executive education opportunities, and collaborative platforms designed to accelerate positive social and economic change across Africa and the wider world.
“We are honoured to welcome the YGL Aliko Dangote Fellows to the Class of 2025, and into the YGL Foundation’s transformative three-year leadership programme,” stated Ida Jeng Christensen, Head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders. “Learning is the compass that guides leaders toward wisdom, empathy, and purpose – and these exceptional changemakers embody those values.”
Since its inception in 2011, the partnership between the Aliko Dangote Foundation and the World Economic Forum has supported the development of over 130 African leaders. This initiative aims to ensure that African voices and perspectives are actively and meaningfully represented in global decision-making processes and international development strategies.
Zakari Momodu, Projects Director at the Aliko Dangote Foundation, conveyed the importance of ensuring African inclusion on the global stage, stating, “We believe it is imperative that Africa, Africans, and African issues are properly represented at the highest levels of global conversations and decision-making.”
The Class of 2025 includes remarkable individuals making significant contributions across the continent. Among them is 37-year-old Kenyan Hilda Kragah, CEO of The African Talent Company, who is tackling the continent’s talent gap through innovative, locally developed solutions. Also joining the cohort is 28-year-old Max Fontaine, a climate-focused minister leading Madagascar’s national reforestation initiative.
The 2025 Fellows also include award-winning Nigerian fashion designer Andrea Iyamah, who uses her creative work to share Africa’s diverse stories with the world. Mark Doumba, who was appointed Gabon’s Minister of Economy and State Holdings in January, represents transformative leadership and an innovative spirit within governance. Orondaam Otto, the founder of Slum2School Africa, has pioneered Africa’s first Virtual Learning Classroom to provide crucial educational support to children in marginalized communities.
Grammy Award-winning music producer, singer, and performer Delvin Savara is recognized not only as an influential artist but also as a transformative leader within Kenya’s music industry, deeply committed to fostering the growth of the creative community. Twenty-eight-year-old Emma TheoFelus, a member of Namibia’s Parliament, is dedicated to public service, advocating for gender equality, and promoting digital advancement. Thirty-four-year-old Salima Bah, a strong advocate for the rights of women and children, is driving Sierra Leone’s digital transformation in her role as Minister of Communication, Technology, and Innovation. Thirty-seven-year-old Mayowa Kuyoro, a partner at McKinsey & Company’s Lagos office, leads the firm’s Financial Services Group across Africa, focusing on key areas such as banking, payments, and fintech innovation.
The selection of these individuals demonstrates a strong commitment to nurturing Africa’s next generation of influential leaders and elevating their impact on the global stage.
The Aliko Dangote Fellowship is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious leadership development opportunities available on the continent, providing not only essential resources but also a significant global platform for driving lasting and inclusive change.
Numerous past recipients of the fellowship have gone on to demonstrate exceptional leadership and entrepreneurial success in their respective fields, validating the purpose of the award and the merit of their initial nomination.
One such past recipient, His Excellency Debo Adesina, former Ambassador of Nigeria to Togo and former Editor-in-Chief and Chief Operating Officer of The Guardian Newspapers in Nigeria, commended the program for its significant role in shaping future leaders.
“In my 2005/2006 class of YGLs were accomplished young men and women who, afterward, went to greater heights by expanding the frontiers of excellence in public service, academia, the professions, innovations and all sorts of fields. I was inducted on the same day with Daron Acemoglu, the cerebral economist-academic who co-wrote the best-selling book, ‘Why Nations are Poor,’ Sergei Brin and Larry Page who both founded Google, Ndidi Nwuneli – President and CEO of the ONE Campaign, Brian Molefe from South Africa and Prince Harkon of Norway. Gavin Newsom was Mayor of San Francisco then. There were many more across the world in that class and in the years after who are still working hard to make our world a better place,” he recalled.
Another recipient from the 2012 cohort, Mr. Simon Kolawole, a renowned journalist and the Chief Executive Officer of The Cable Nigeria, expressed his enthusiasm for the latest list of Fellows. He stated: “I had a most rewarding experience as a Young Global Leader (YGL) in every sense of the term. I gained invaluable knowledge through short courses at top universities and by participating in global conferences. I had the opportunity to interact with YGLs from a wide range of cultural and professional backgrounds. The entire experience has played a significant role in shaping my professional journey.”
The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) is a philanthropic organization established by Aliko Dangote. Incorporated in 1994, its mission is to enhance opportunities for positive social change through strategic investments aimed at improving health and wellbeing, promoting quality education, and broadening economic empowerment opportunities across the African continent.
It has grown to become the largest private Foundation in sub-Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment provided by a single African donor. Aliko Dangote initially endowed the Foundation with the equivalent of $1.25 billion.
The primary focus areas of ADF include child nutrition, with interventions centered on health, education, empowerment, and disaster relief. Combating Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in children is a core element of ADF’s programming. The Foundation also supports impactful stand-alone projects with the potential for significant social benefit.
