8th May, 2017
The U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has nominated 101 young Nigerians for the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
NAN reports that the fellowship which began in 2014, is the flagship programme of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.
The Embassy said that a total of 1,000 young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa would be hosted by different Universities in America for the programme this year.
The embassy further added that 40 U.S. universities will host the 1,000 young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa.
NAN reports that in 2016, 100 young Nigerians were selected to participate in the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship.
The White House developed this initiative in recognition of the critical and increasing role that young Africans are playing in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa.
The Fellows, who are between the ages of 25 and 35, have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive impact in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries.
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NAN reports that since 2014, 86 Nigerians have participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Fellows participate in an intensive, six-week programe on academic excellence and leadership focused on business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, public management, and renewable energy at U.S. colleges and universities.
In 2016, Fellows represented all 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
They also represent diversity across the continent as 66 Fellows identified as having a disability, thirty per cent came from rural areas or towns of fewer than 100,000 people, and fifty percent of Fellows were women.
The Embassy would be organising departure seminar for the participants on Tuesday May 9 in Abuja.