Obama announces Young African Leaders Fellowship Initiative

In a speech at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa on 29 June 2013, Obama stressed the crucial role Africa's young leaders will play in the continent's future. He said that the formal university training offered by the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will focus on skills young leaders need to run better government ministries, start and grow businesses, and serve their communities.

Beginning next year, the United States will bring 500 young Africans for six weeks of study at American universities. That total eventually will expand to 1,000 young African leaders annually. Participants chosen for the Washington Fellowship will be 25-35 year-olds with a record of leadership in public, private, or civic organisations. Participants also would have to show a significant commitment to building and serving their communities, the White House said.

Obama announced the program before approximately 600 young leaders from South Africa, while others in Kenya, Nigeria and Uganda participated by video conference. Obama said Africa has a bright future and praised young Africans for having a "yes we can attitude."

According to the White House, the US based training Washington fellows will receive is only the beginning of the long-term investment the United States will make in the young leaders.

"To ensure that participants can put their newly acquired skills and experiences to use, the US government is working with businesses, governments, and institutions to create meaningful opportunities to allow them to put their skills to practice in Africa," the White House said.

And the White House said the Washington fellows will be provided with tailored training in the three sectors, leveraging top university faculty, advanced curricula, and local opportunities to impart practical professional and leadership training.

"Formal university training will be augmented by workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities with leaders in each field, as well as internships across the United States," the White House said.

The Washington fellows program builds on the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) launched by Obama in 2010 to support leadership development, promote entrepreneurship, and connect the next generation of African leaders with one another and the United States, the White House says.

Source: allAfrica