The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General on Tuesday recognized 40 young Nigerians selected to participate in the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and a key component of President Barack Obama’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa. The White House developed this initiative in recognition of the critical and increasing role that young Africans are playing in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa.
Speaking at a special gathering in Abuja and via satellite in Lagos, U.S. Ambassador James F. Entwistle congratulated the new fellows on their competitive selection amongst 7,000 Nigerian applicants and tens of thousands of others throughout Africa.
“You all should be proud of your accomplishment. Your selection says a lot about who you are as young leaders and the level of impact you are having on your communities as entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and public servants,” said Ambassador Entwistle. He added, “You will have the opportunity to meet hundreds of bright and inspiring minds, just like yourselves, from other parts of Africa. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn, to share, and to expand your network.”
In 2014, 44 Nigerian fellows comprised part of the inaugural class of Mandela Washington Fellows. Fellows participate in an intensive, six-week program on academic excellence and leadership focused on business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public management at U.S. colleges and universities.
Below is a list of the 2015 fellows, including their disciplines and hosting institutions:
NAME DISCIPLINE UNIVERSITY
1 Alueshima Utasha Public Management Florida International University
2 Lukmon Buliameen Business and Entrepreneurship University of Wisconsin-Stout
3 Ikuba Ona Civic Leadership Arizona State University
4 Oluwaseyi Dara Business and Entrepreneurship University of Wisconsin-Stout
5 Catherine Edeh Public Management University of Minnesota
6 Ibrahim Balami Business and Entrepreneurship Clark Atlanta University
7 Nkemdilim Azinge Civic Leadership Rutgers University
8 Amina Alkali Civic Leadership University of Delaware
9 Grace Jerry Civic Leadership University of Virginia
10 Fatu Ogwuche Public Management Howard University
11 Rilwan Hassan Business and Entrepreneurship Northwestern University
12 Benjamin Dankaka Public Management Virginia Commonwealth University
13 Muhammad Saleh Civic Leadership Tulane University
14 Rukayya Sani Civic Leadership Wagner College
15 Haruna Ndahi Business and Entrepreneurship University of Nevada, Reno
16 Bobwealth Omontese Public Management Syracuse University
17 Chinomnso Ibe Civic Leadership Wagner College
18 Abiola Odunaiya Civic Leadership University of California Berkeley
19 Chioma Achi Civic Leadership University of California Berkeley
20 Jamila Mohammed Public Management Syracuse University
21 Mlumum Ikpaahindi Public Management University of Minnesota
22 Cynthia Chiamaka Ndubuisi Business and Entrepreneurship Dartmouth College
23 Abosede Oluwaseun Lewu Business & Entrepreneurship University of Notre Dame
24 Oluwafunmilayo Adebimpe Ilori Business & Entrepreneurship Clark Atlanta University
25 Adekunbi Gbemisola Adeoye Business & Entrepreneurship University of Texas at Austin
26 Damilola Opeyemi Sobowale Business & Entrepreneurship Clark Atlanta University
27 Anuoluwapo Oluyomi Akinola Business & Entrepreneurship Dartmouth College
28 Chioma Ilobekeme Agha Business & Entrepreneurship Dartmouth College
29 Ejiro Sharon Okotie Civic Leadership Arizona State University
30 Oluwafunmilola Wonsebolatan James Civic Leadership
Tulane University
31 Glory Chinenye Oguegbu Civic Leadership
University of Delaware
32 Ayoola Philip Adeniyi Business & Entrepreneurship University of Nevada-Reno
33 Oladipo Adesida Business & Entrepreneurship University of Nevada-Reno
34 Omotola Samuel Oni Business & Entrepreneurship Northwestern University
35 Oluwatimilehin Paul Olagunju Civic Leadership
University of Virginia/College of William & Mary/Presidential Precinct
36 Olakunle Olusola Ajayi Civic Leadership Rutgers University
37 Olusola Samuel Owonikoko Civic Leadership Wagner College
38 Williams Kwame Rashidi Civic Leadership University of California, Berkeley
39 Olakunle Joel Adewale Civic Leadership Tulane University
40 Oluwamayowa Adepeju Salu Civic Leadership
Arizona State University
