LEAP Africa has appointed six new directors to its Board as the organisation seeks to strengthen youth development and expand opportunities for young Africans in leadership, entrepreneurship and employability.
The appointments come amid growing concerns over youth unemployment and the need to equip young people with practical skills, professional guidance and opportunities to participate meaningfully in Africa’s economic development.
According to the organisation, the appointments will strengthen its governance and bring expertise from telecommunications, finance, investment, technology and international development to support its pan-African mission.
Clare Omatseye, Board Chair of LEAP Africa, said strong governance was central to the organisation’s ability to deliver lasting impact, adding that the new directors’ professional accomplishments, leadership experience and commitment to Africa’s development would enrich the board’s deliberations and strengthen its strategic oversight.
She said the appointments reflected LEAP Africa’s commitment to building a resilient institution capable of responding to the challenges and opportunities facing young Africans.
Kehinde Ayeni, Executive Director of LEAP Africa, said the organisation was at an important stage in its development, noting that the new directors’ experience, networks and strategic insights would create opportunities for collaboration and innovation as it expands its programmes.
She added that their contributions would be valuable in improving the reach and quality of the organisation’s interventions.
The newly appointed directors are Toyin Akinniyi, Regional Portfolio Director at Luminate; Bella Disu, Executive Vice Chairman of Globacom; Ifeoma Finnih, Director, Infrastructure and Climate at Chapel Hill Denham; Remilekun Soyannwo, Chief Executive Officer of Shell Pension Fund; Sobel Ngom, Chief Executive Officer of Tostan International; and Victor Onyenkpa, former Chief Operating Officer of KPMG Africa.
With programmes covering education, entrepreneurship, employability, active citizenship, health and wellbeing, LEAP Africa focuses on preparing young people to become ethical leaders capable of driving positive change in their communities.
The organisation said it had reached more than 12 million indirect beneficiaries across Nigeria and 48 African countries.
The appointments also highlight the importance of combining private-sector expertise with youth development initiatives, particularly as African countries seek ways to address unemployment, strengthen entrepreneurship and prepare younger generations for an increasingly competitive economy.
However, the broader challenge remains how leadership and employability programmes can translate into measurable opportunities, including decent jobs, sustainable businesses, professional development and greater participation in economic growth.