April 9, 2015
In mid March, the World Economic Forum — the group whose annual conference in Davos, Switzerland draws international attention — named its fresh group of “Young Global Leaders” for 2015. Among the 187 young leaders listed as some of the people championing change across the world, there were 17 from sub-Sahara Africa.
This year’s African YGLs include:
Cameroon
– Landry Signé (Social Entrepreneur) – Stanford fellow and co-founder and CEO of Glabal Network for Africa’s Prospertiy, a non-profit focused on fostering technological social innovation
– Mamadou Toure (Business) – MD of GE Africa, leading the firm’s Capital Markets, Sales and Project Finance team across Sub-Saharan Africa
Ghana
– Betty Enyonam Kumahor (Business) – Managing Director of Africa for Thoughtworks, a global software development firm
Kenya
– Edwin Macharia (Business) – Partner at Dalberg, a strategic advisory firm, and former Director of Agriculture at the Clinton Foundation
– Kennedy Odede (social entrepreneur) – grew up in Kibera, Africa’s largest slum, to establish a soccer team, which became a league and evolved to become Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) which in 2009 built the Kibera School for Girls, the slums first tuition-free school for girls
– Lorna Rutto (social entrepreneur) – Founder, Ecopost, a Nairobi-based company, Ecopost, converts consumer plastic into durable, easy to use and environmentally friendly plastic lumber, an eco-friendly alternative to timber
– Sylvie Mulinge (Business) – General Manager, Enterprise Business Unit, Safaricom Limited – as the youngest Director at the most profitable business in East and Central of Africa, she has a front row seat in driving the business agenda in the region.
Mali
– Moustapha Ben Barka (politics) – From September 2013, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mali, responsible for the promotion of investments and private initiatives. Barka has been with Minister of Industry and Promotion of Investments, Mali since April 2014.
Namibia
– Ally Angula (business) – co-Founder and MD of Leap Investments Namibia, a diversified business with interests in farming and fashion
Niger
– Saadatou Mallam Barmou (politics) – Humanitarian affairs adviser to the President – previously has worked for ICRC in Mali, Niger and other countries and advised the UN. Was named Woman Leader of the Year in Niger in 2012.
Nigeria
– Cynthia Mosunmola Umoru (business) – Founder and Chief Implementation Officer, Honeysuckle PTL Ventures, an investment business focused on production, packaging and delivery of food
Rwanda
– Jack Kayonga (business) – Executive Chairman, Crystal Ventures. Former CEO of Rwanda Development Bank now running an investment vehicle valued at 500 million US dollars
South Africa
– Funeka Montjane (business) – Chief Executive, Personal and Business Banking, Standard Bank South Africa
– Mokena Makeka (Arts & Culture) – Cape Town-based Founder, Owner, Creative Director and Managing Director, Makeka Design Lab – a multi-disciplinary design practice responsible among other projects for designing Cape Town’s new main transit station.
– Thembalihle Phillip Baloyi (business) – Founder and executive director, Discovery Insure, an innovative motor insurance business
Tanzania
– Genevieve Sangudi (Business), Managing director, Head of West Africa, Carlyle Group
Zimbabwe
– Farai Gundan (Media) – US-based writer for Forbes (U.S.A) , Forbes Africa & Forbes Woman
Source: CNBC Africa
