Lead Campus: Projects, Women and Men For the Africa of Tomorrow
published on 02 October 2018
After six months of mentoring, with periodic seminars in Cape Town or Dakar and distance learning, the LeAD Campus program to build the African leaders of tomorrow has just closed its program in Paris. The opportunity to give an award to three winners recognized for their sense of innovation and audacity.
Putting away textbooks, closing satchels: it is time for the end of the lessons for LeAD Campus. The 27 participants in the 2018 edition of this unique program, designed to identify Africa’s leaders of tomorrow, develop their skills and build contacts between them, have finished their high-level training.
LeAD Campus provides insight, unbiased analyses and prepares participants – individually and collectively – to drive change, via the networks which are built across the continent.
Before putting its new skills to use, the entire class met for the last time on 29 September for an award ceremony at the prestigious Sciences Po Paris university in Paris. Three awards for excellence, sponsored by AFD, PROPARCO and the corporate foundation Elle, respectively, were given to the most inspiring project initiators:
Apolline Keou received the responsible project award for Greenpack, a company which manufactures eco-friendly paper packaging and cardboard to replace plastic packaging, the scourge of the 21st century.
Letsogile Emmanuel Kennedy received the award for his Naledi housing project to produce ecobricks using plastic waste. This activity at the same time tackles the housing crisis in Botswana.
The award was given to Imane Agoujil for her company Itrane, which supports the marketing of Moroccan local products by women micro-entrepreneurs via an online platform.
The academic partners of LeAD Campus, represented by Nicole Bryant, Director of Sciences Po Executive Education, Thomas Mélonio, Executive Director for Innovation, Research and Knowledge at AFD, Marianne Camerer, Director of the Building Bridges program at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, and Idrissa Mbengue, Associate Director at ISM, repeatedly emphasized the importance of this innovative program in the current academic landscape.
LeAD Campus is a long-term geographical, intellectual and personal journey
The program, which has already trained some 80 women and men from over 26 African countries since it was set up in 2016, is more than just a journey and will remain their “home, with foundations in Cape Town, walls in Dakar, and a roof in Paris”, as nicely worded by Idrissa Mbengue, Associate Director of ISM in Dakar.
High-level training
Prior to this celebration, the 27 members of the 2018 class from 15 different African countries met for a week in Paris. On the agenda: working sessions on global and African geopolitical issues and development strategies, the challenges related to sustainable development, the new economic and managerial models, social impact, innovation and the inclusive economy.
The 27 African leaders, who are now ready to apply what they have learnt at LeAD Campus in their professional careers, will not be leaving their seats unoccupied for very long.
Sights set on 2019
It is already time to prepare the next academic year: for the fourth year in a row, LeAD Campus is launching its recruitment for Africans with strong potential in order to fill the ranks of the 2019 class. Applications are now open to men and women entrepreneurs, executives or leaders from the private sector, public sector and associations.
The training is accessible to both English-speakers and French-speakers. It allows its participants to develop their leadership and strengthen their understanding of business fundamentals in the African context, while promoting innovation and the creation of new inclusive economic models.
LeAD Campus also provides a continentwide network thanks to the mentors and experts met throughout the course. “Leadership, Business, Impact” are the leitmotiv of this six-month acceleration program, which is compatible with a professional activity. The new wave currently being recruited will be meeting in April 2019, in Cape Town, to continue to surprise Africa.
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