56 young Nigerians travel to U.S. for 10th Anniversary of Mandela Washington Fellowship
The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria proudly unveils the selection of 56 distinguished young Nigerians for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship program, celebrating its 10th anniversary. These fellows will travel to 28 cities across the United States from June 19 to August 1, culminating in a summit in Washington D.C., where they will engage with U.S. leaders in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors. Additionally, three fellows will participate in the Professional Development Experience at a U.S. organization for four weeks following the summit before returning to Nigeria.
Initiated in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders stands as the cornerstone of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). This program is a testament to the enduring U.S. commitment to invest in Africa’s future. The fellowship offers a comprehensive program that includes academic coursework, leadership training, and networking opportunities.
Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria David J. Greene welcomed the 56 young Nigerians chosen for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship, emphasizing the rigorous selection process and their ability to lead and inspire others. He highlighted the fellows’ diverse achievements and encouraged them to share their culture in the United States and use the fellowship to expand their influence in Nigeria. He expressed appreciation to the Public Diplomacy team and the State Department for their efforts in identifying future leaders and reminded the fellows of the importance of sharing their knowledge upon return to their communities.
Since the fellowship’s inception, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has had the privilege of supporting 569 young Nigerian leaders through this exchange program. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria eagerly anticipates the Mandela Washington Fellowship’s continued success and its positive impact in shaping Africa’s future.
The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria is pleased to announce that the following Nigerians will participate in the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship:
| First Name | Last Name | Track | Institute | |
| Oluwatomisin | Adeyefa | Leadership in Civic Engagement | University of Maryland, Baltimore County | |
| Similoluwa | Olusola | Leadership in Public Management | Syracuse University | |
| Musa | Yusuf | Leadership in Business | University of Notre Dame | |
| Irene | David-Arinze | Leadership in Civic Engagement | Michigan State University | |
| Christiana | Onoja | Leadership in Business | University of Notre Dame | |
| Ifeoluwa | Solomon | Leadership in Business | University of Texas at Austin | |
| Olanike | Timipa-Uge | Leadership in Civic Engagement | Florida Gulf Coast University | |
| Murtala | Abdullahi | Leadership in Civic Engagement | Michigan State University | |
| Abdulsalam | Ashade | Leadership in Public Management | Boise State University | |
| Sarah | Kuponiyi | Leadership in Business | Jackson State University | |
| Nafisa | Atiku-Abubakar | Leadership in Civic Engagement | The Presidential Precinct | |
| Maryam | Abdulkadir | Leadership in Business | University of Iowa | |
| Joseph | Waribugo | Leadership in Civic Engagement | Florida Gulf Coast University | |
| Abubakar | Abdurrahaman | Leadership in Civic Engagement | Drexel University | |
| Obianuju | Iloanya | Leadership in Public Management | Bridgewater State University | |
| Wale | Bakare | Leadership in Business | University of Nevada-Reno | |
| Afeez | Iyiola | Leadership in Business | University of Texas at Austin | |
| Ahmad | Abubakar | Leadership in Civic Engagement | The Presidential Precinct | |
| Chioma | Arum | Leadership in Public Management | Texas Tech University | |
| Mariam | Nurudeen-Arole | Leadership in Public Management | Arizona State University | |
| Riliwan | Amoo | Leadership in Business | Lehigh University | |
| Isah | Dahiru | Leadership in Business | Drake University | |
| Saifullah | Maishanu | Leadership in Public Management | Bridgewater State University | |
| Margaret | Wonah | Leadership in Civic Engagement | University of Maryland, Baltimore County | |
| Chibuike | Egbujiem | Leadership in Business | Clark Atlanta University | |
| Aisha | Rilwanu Sidi | Leadership in Business | Lehigh University | |
| Festus | Moses | Leadership in Business | Rutgers University | |
| Paul Olubori | Kehinde | Leadership in Business | University of Notre Dame | |
| Nnene | Bassey | Leadership in Public Management | Bridgewater State University | |
| Mustapha | Abubakar | Leadership in Business | University of Iowa | |
| Basira Kankia | Lawal | Leadership in Public Management | University of Minnesota – Twin Cities | |
| Ruth | Soronnadi | Leadership in Public Management | Georgia State University | |
| Kingsley | Kalu | Leadership in Public Management | University of California – Davis | |
| Rabi’A | Idrees | Leadership in Business | University of Texas at Austin | |
| Ikechukwu | Ogoegbulem | Leadership in Public Management | Arizona State University | |
| Yahaya | Suleiman | Leadership in Public Management | Georgia State University | |
| Zakariyya | Haruna | Leadership in Civic Engagement | Michigan State University | |
| Odunayo | Aliu | Leadership in Civic Engagement | Kansas State University | |
| Babafemi | Adewumi | Leadership in Business | Jackson State University | |
| Michael | Benjamin | Leadership in Business | University of Iowa | |
| Aisha | Suleiman | Leadership in Business | Rutgers University | |
| Michael | Oyalana | Leadership in Business | Clark Atlanta University | |
| Serena | Francis | Leadership in Civic Engagement | Louisiana State University | |
| Iswat | Badmus | Leadership in Public Management | Syracuse University | |
| Oluwayemisi | Oluyode | Leadership in Public Management | Texas Tech University | |
| Oluwanifemi | Ayeni | Leadership in Civic Engagement | University of Delaware | |
| Chidimma | Ajemba | Leadership in Civic Engagement | Louisiana State University | |
| Michael | Yusuf | Leadership in Public Management | Texas Tech University | |
| Hafiz Mukhtar | Musa | Leadership in Public Management | Wayne State University | |
| James | Akan | Leadership in Public Management | Georgia State University | |
| Esther | Eze | Leadership in Business | Drake University | |
| Eva | Chukwunelo | Leadership in Civic Engagement | Florida Gulf Coast University | |
| Uchenna | Okoro | Leadership in Business | Clark Atlanta University | |
| Ibrahim | Oladipo | Leadership in Civic Engagement | University of Delaware | |
| Arinze | Ajogwu | Leadership in Civic Engagement | University of Georgia | |
| Roberta | Oyedokun | Leadership in Business | Purdue University |
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit mandelawashingtonfellowship.org.
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