Aliko Dangote
Abayomi Susan
•Highlighting Africa’s Next Wave of Change-Makers
The World Economic Forum, in partnership with the Aliko Dangote Foundation, has unveiled the 2026 cohort of the Young Global Leaders (YGL) Aliko Dangote Fellows, spotlighting a new generation of African leaders dedicated to expanding opportunities and strengthening institutions across the continent.
The Fellowship serves as a vital link between Africa’s emerging changemakers and the global Young Global Leaders network, promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing, and sustainable development. Through the programme, high-impact African leaders are supported to fully participate in the Young Global Leaders initiative and wider WEF engagements.
According to WEF, the 2026 YGL Aliko Dangote Fellows come from diverse sectors including healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship, and advocacy across sub-Saharan Africa. The new fellows are Dr. Esperance Luvindao, Charlot Magayi, Rewa Udoji, Dr. Stephen Modise, Dr. Musa Kika, Hatim Eltayeb, Kemi Lala Akindoju, and Vimbai Masiyiwa.
With a strong focus on empowering women leaders, the Fellowship is designed to support Africans driving solutions to pressing socio-economic challenges while strengthening leadership capacity across critical sectors.
Over the last 14 years, the Aliko Dangote Foundation-backed Fellowship has supported more than 130 young African leaders, offering access to Davos meetings, executive education programmes, and influential peer networks that amplify African voices on the global stage.
Speaking on the announcement, Fatima Aliko Dangote, Trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation and Group Executive Director, Oil & Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, described the 2026 fellows as “leaders who will expand opportunity and strengthen institutions, advancing Africa on its own terms.”
She stated: “Africa’s future will be shaped by the strength of its people. When the right leaders — especially women — are empowered and given a global voice, they do not just lead; they redefine what is possible. That is why we invest in people, because it remains the surest path to lasting prosperity, stability, and self-determination. The 2026 cohort reflects this vision.”
Fatima further noted that the Fellowship was created to identify, empower, and support exceptional African leaders under the age of 40, ensuring they have the resources and global exposure needed to participate actively in the WEF Young Global Leaders community and accelerate their impact both within Africa and internationally.
Profiles of the new fellows show that Hatim Eltayeb leads the African Leadership Academy, strengthening one of Africa’s foremost leadership institutions; Dr. Esperance Luvindao combines clinical expertise with digital health innovation; Charlot Magayi is advancing clean energy and public health solutions in Kenya; while Dr. Stephen Modise is championing data-driven healthcare reforms in Botswana.
Also recognised are Dr. Musa Kika, who advocates constitutionalism and civic rights through law; Rewa Udoji, whose work bridges culture, finance, and women’s economic empowerment; Kemi Lala Akindoju, who is reshaping the creative industry through talent development and storytelling; and Vimbai Masiyiwa, who is promoting sustainable tourism, community ownership, and women’s empowerment through Batoka Africa.
Together, the fellows reflect the broad spectrum of leadership the Fellowship seeks to nurture — from public service and entrepreneurship to institution-building and cultural transformation.
It will be recalled that the Aliko Dangote YGL Fellowship has supported more than 90 fellows from over 25 African countries, enabling full participation in the WEF Young Global Leaders programme through access to global convenings, executive education, peer networks, and leadership platforms.
Over the years, fellows have participated in more than 400 engagements across annual meetings, regional summits, and learning programmes, contributing to conversations around finance, climate change, healthcare, technology, and governance.
