Health
LEAP Africa trains women for leadership roles
By Arinze Nwafor
LEAP Africa has concluded the fifth cohort of its Leadership Accelerator Programme for Young African Women with its first physical boot camp held in Nairobi, Kenya.
A statement from the organisers stated that the programme attracted over 4,500 women from 48 African countries and 12 non-African countries, while more than 1,500 participants completed the free online learning phase.
Following the online phase, 31 women from Nigeria, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda, Mauritius, Kenya, Zambia, Cameroon, Namibia, Sierra Leone and Malawi were selected for the boot camp in Nairobi.
The Leadership Accelerator Programme, developed and implemented by LEAP Africa, is designed to equip young women with the knowledge, skills, networks and confidence needed to lead and drive change.
Speaking on the initiative, LEAP Africa’s Executive Director, Kehinde Ayeni, said the programme was created to address the leadership gap among African women.
Ayeni said, “We believe that investing in young women today is investing in Africa’s future.
Through this programme, we are developing leadership skills and building a community of women who are equipped to influence policies, transform institutions, strengthen communities, and lead with courage, competence, and integrity.”
The boot camp featured keynote sessions, panel discussions, experiential learning, peer collaboration and case study presentations facilitated by speakers, industry experts and women leaders from across Africa.
Participants were exposed to various aspects of leadership and personal development, including transformational leadership, the failure advantage, personal branding and executive presence, financial intelligence and male allyship.
Reflecting on the fifth cohort, LEAP Africa’s Director of Programmes and Partnerships, Amabelle Nwakanma, said the programme demonstrated the impact of investing in young African women.
“Reaching the fifth cohort of the Leadership Accelerator Programme speaks to what is possible when we intentionally invest in young African women,” she said.
“Every cohort reminds us that Africa is rich with brilliant women who simply need the right opportunities, networks, and support systems to thrive. Hosting our first Boot Camp in Nairobi also reflects our commitment to building a truly pan-African leadership movement that connects and empowers women across borders.”
Participants described the boot camp as a transformational experience, noting the opportunity to learn from facilitators while connecting with emerging leaders from different African countries.
One of the participants said the programme had broadened her understanding of leadership and reinforced the importance of service and collaboration.
“The Leadership Accelerator Programme has expanded my perspective on leadership and reminded me that leadership is about service, collaboration, and creating opportunities for others. Beyond the sessions, the relationships I have built here will remain one of the most valuable parts of this experience,” she said.
LEAP Africa said it would continue to strengthen Africa’s leadership pipeline by equipping young women with the tools, confidence and networks needed to address complex challenges, influence decision-making and contribute to sustainable development across the continent.
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