The Aliko Dangote Foundation, in collaboration with the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL), has unveiled the recipients of the 2025 Aliko Dangote Fellowship – a cohort of gifted and high calibre African changemakers selected as part of the prestigious YGL Class of 2025.
This year’s Fellows join a global community of more than 1,400 young leaders who are tackling complex global challenges with bold ideas and transformative leadership. Representing diverse sectors such as education, fintech, fashion, climate policy, and digital governance, the 2025 Fellows embody a new wave of African leadership – innovative, purpose-driven, and globally minded.
Now in its 14th year, the Aliko Dangote Fellowship empowers high-impact African leaders by funding their full participation in the YGL programme and World Economic Forum activities. The fellowship offers access to a three-year leadership development journey, world-class executive education, and collaborative platforms aimed at accelerating social and economic change across Africa and beyond.
“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,” said 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 over 130 African leaders. The initiative aims to ensure that African voices and perspectives are actively represented in global decision-making and development strategies.
Zakari Momodu, Projects Director at the Aliko Dangote Foundation, emphasised the importance of African inclusion at the global stage: “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 such as 37-year-old Kenyan Hilda Kragah, CEO of The African Talent Company, addressing the continent’s talent gap through innovative, locally developed solutions and 28-year-old Max Fontaine, a climate-focused minister spearheading Madagascar’s national reforestation initiative.
Also featured is award-winning Nigerian fashion designer Andrea Iyamah who uses her craft to tell Africa’s stories. Mark Doumba, appointed Gabon’s Minister of Economy and State Holdings in January, represents transformative leadership and an innovative spirit. Orondaam Otto, founder of Slum2School Africa, has pioneered Africa’s first Virtual Learning Classroom to support children in marginalised communities.
Grammy Award-winning music producer, singer, and performer Delvin Savara is not only an artist but also a transformative leader in Kenya’s music industry, deeply committed to nurturing the growth of the creative community. Twenty-eight-year-old Emma TheoFelus, a member of Namibia’s Parliament, is dedicated to public service, gender equality, and digital advancement. Thirty-four-year-old Salima Bah, an advocate for women’s and children’s rights, is driving Sierra Leone’s digital transformation 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 banking, payments, and fintech.
Their selection signals a strong commitment to nurturing Africa’s next generation of leaders and elevating their impact on the world stage.
The Aliko Dangote Fellowship is regarded as one of the most prestigious leadership opportunities on the continent, providing not just resources, but a global platform to drive lasting, inclusive change.
Many past recipients have gone on to demonstrate exceptional leadership and enterprise in their respective fields, thereby justifying both the purpose of the award and the merit of their nomination.
One such 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, had commended the programme 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 said.
Another recipient from 2012, Mr. Simon Kolawole a renowned journalist and the Chief Executive Officer of The Cable Nigeria, expressed his delight at the latest list. 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.”
Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) is a philanthropic organisation set up by Aliko Dangote. It was incorporated in 1994 with the mission to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden economic empowerment opportunities.
It has become the largest private Foundation in sub – Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor. Aliko Dangote initially endowed the Foundation with the equivalent of $1.25bn.
The primary focus of ADF is child nutrition, with interventions centred on health, education and empowerment, and disaster relief. Combating Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in children is at the core of ADF’s programming. The Foundation also supports stand-alone projects with the potential for significant social impact.
