Young African women must be placed at the centre of Africa’s leadership development efforts if the continent is to build a stronger and more inclusive future, the Executive Director of LEAP Africa, Kehinde Ayeni, has said.
Ayeni made the statement at the conclusion of the fifth cohort of the Leadership Accelerator Programme (LAP) for Young African Women in Nairobi, Kenya.
The programme brought together young women from different parts of Africa and marked a major step in LEAP Africa’s efforts to develop a new generation of female leaders.
More than 4,500 women from 48 African countries and 12 countries outside Africa registered for the latest edition of the programme. More than 1,500 participants completed the free online learning stage, while 31 women were eventually selected for an intensive physical boot camp in Nairobi.
The boot camp was the first physical gathering of the programme to be held in Nairobi, giving participants the opportunity to interact directly with experienced facilitators and other emerging female leaders from across the continent.
Ayeni said the programme was created to address the leadership gap facing African women by providing young women with practical leadership skills, confidence and networks that can help them contribute more effectively to their communities and institutions.
She explained that empowering young women should not be viewed simply as a gender-related initiative, but as an investment in Africa’s broader development.
According to her, women who receive the right training and support can play important roles in shaping public policy, leading businesses, strengthening communities and transforming institutions.
“The Leadership Accelerator Programme was created to intentionally bridge the leadership gap among African women,” Ayeni said.
She added that LEAP Africa was building a network of women prepared to lead with courage, competence and integrity while creating positive change around them.
The organisation’s Director of Programmes and Partnerships, Amabelle Nwakanma, said reaching the fifth cohort demonstrated the growing demand for leadership opportunities among young African women.
Nwakanma said the programme had also highlighted the depth of talent available among young women across the continent.
She argued that many young women already possess the ability to become effective leaders but often lack access to the networks, opportunities and support needed to develop their potential.
According to her, bringing participants together in Nairobi was part of LEAP Africa’s broader plan to create a pan-African leadership community that connects women across national borders.
She said the physical boot camp allowed participants to build relationships that could continue beyond the programme and potentially develop into long-term professional and leadership networks.
The programme’s latest cohort attracted participants from a wide range of African countries, creating an environment where young women could exchange experiences and learn about leadership challenges from different perspectives.
Participants also described the boot camp as an important personal and professional experience.
One participant said the programme changed her understanding of leadership by showing that effective leadership is not simply about holding positions of authority.
She said the sessions reinforced the importance of service, collaboration and creating opportunities for other people to succeed.
The participant also highlighted the relationships developed during the programme, describing the network of emerging female leaders as one of the most valuable aspects of the experience.
As African countries continue to face challenges around economic development, governance, employment and social inclusion, LEAP Africa believes that developing young leaders will be critical to addressing these issues.
The organisation said continued investment in young women can help create a stronger pipeline of leaders capable of influencing institutions, communities and policies.
With the completion of its fifth cohort, the Leadership Accelerator Programme is positioning itself as part of a growing effort to prepare young African women to take on greater leadership responsibilities across the continent.
