Leap Africa has intensified efforts to bridge the leadership gap among African women by equipping young women across the continent with the skills, networks and confidence required to take up leadership roles and drive meaningful change.
The organisation demonstrated the commitment through the fifth cohort of its Leadership Accelerator Programme (LAP) for Young African Women, which culminated in its first-ever physical Boot Camp in Nairobi, Kenya.
The fifth cohort attracted more than 4,500 women from 48 African countries and 12 non-African countries, while over 1,500 participants successfully completed the free online learning phase.
From the participants, 31 outstanding young women from Nigeria, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda, Mauritius, Kenya, Zambia, Cameroon, Namibia, Sierra Leone and Malawi were selected for the immersive Boot Camp.
The programme, developed and implemented by LEAP Africa, is designed to deliberately strengthen Africa’s female leadership pipeline by providing young women with the knowledge, competencies, networks and confidence to influence policies, transform institutions and contribute to community development.
Executive Director of LEAP Africa, Kehinde Ayeni, said closing the leadership gap among African women required deliberate investment in the next generation of female leaders.
‘The Leadership Accelerator Programme was created to intentionally bridge the leadership gap among African women. We believe that investing in young women today is investing in Africa’s future,’ Ayeni said.
According to her, the programme seeks to develop women capable of leading with courage, competence and integrity while influencing policies, transforming institutions and strengthening communities.
The Nairobi Boot Camp featured keynote sessions, panel discussions, experiential learning, peer collaboration and case study presentations facilitated by accomplished women leaders, industry experts and other distinguished speakers from across Africa.
Participants explored issues including transformational leadership, personal branding and executive presence, financial intelligence, male allyship and the failure advantage.
Director of Programmes and Partnerships at LEAP Africa, Amabelle Nwakanma, said the completion of the fifth cohort demonstrated the importance of creating opportunities and support systems for young African women.
‘Every cohort reminds us that Africa is rich with brilliant women who simply need the right opportunities, networks, and support systems to thrive,’ Nwakanma said.
She added that hosting the first physical Boot Camp in Nairobi underscored the organisation’s commitment to building a pan-African leadership movement that connects and empowers women beyond national boundaries.
A participant described the programme as transformative, noting that it broadened her understanding of leadership and reinforced the importance of service, collaboration and creating opportunities for others.
The participant also highlighted the relationships built among emerging female leaders from different African countries as one of the most valuable outcomes of the programme.
LEAP Africa said it would sustain efforts to strengthen the continent’s leadership pipeline by preparing more young women to address complex challenges, participate in decision-making and contribute to sustainable development.
The organisation’s intervention, therefore, positions investment in young African women not only as a gender-focused initiative but as a deliberate strategy to expand the continent’s pool of capable, confident and purpose-driven leaders.