The Aliko Dangote Foundation and the World Economic Forum have unveiled the 2026 cohort of the Young Global Leaders (YGL) Aliko Dangote Fellows, spotlighting a new generation of African leaders driving innovation, social impact, and institutional transformation across the continent.
The fellowship, created to connect Africa’s emerging changemakers with the global Young Global Leaders network, supports outstanding African professionals by enabling their participation in the World Economic Forum’s YGL programme and broader global engagements.
The 2026 cohort features leaders from healthcare, entrepreneurship, technology, advocacy, finance, and the creative industries across sub-Saharan Africa.
The newly announced fellows are Dr Esperance Luvindao, Charlot Magayi, Rewa Udoji, Dr Stephen Modise, Dr Musa Kika, Hatim Eltayeb, Kemi Lala Akindoju and Vimbai Masiyiwa.
According to the organisers, the fellowship places strong emphasis on empowering women leaders while supporting Africans developing solutions to critical social and economic challenges.
Over the last 14 years, the fellowship, funded by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, has supported more than 130 young African leaders through access to the Davos meetings, executive education programmes, influential peer networks, and global policy platforms.
Commenting on the announcement, Fatima Aliko Dangote, Trustee of the Aliko Dangote Foundation and Group Executive Director, Oil & Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, described the fellows as leaders who would help expand opportunity and strengthen institutions across Africa.
She said Africa’s future would be shaped by the strength of its people, stressing that empowering visionary leaders, particularly women, remains key to driving prosperity, stability, and self-determination on the continent.
According to her, the fellowship was designed to cultivate exceptional African leaders under 40 and provide them with the resources and global exposure needed to accelerate their impact both within Africa and internationally.
The organisers highlighted the achievements of the new fellows, noting that Hatim Eltayeb is helping strengthen one of Africa’s leading leadership institutions, while Dr Esperance Luvindao combines clinical expertise with digital health innovation.
Charlot Magayi was recognised for advancing clean energy and public health solutions in Kenya, while Dr Stephen Modise was praised for his data-driven public health reforms.
The fellowship also acknowledged Dr Musa Kika for his work in defending constitutionalism and civic space, while Rewa Udoji was commended for bridging finance, culture, and women’s economic literacy.
In Nigeria’s creative industry, Kemi Lala Akindoju was recognised for supporting talent development and expanding opportunities in the creative economy, while Vimbai Masiyiwa was celebrated for promoting sustainable tourism and women’s empowerment.
Since its launch, the Aliko Dangote YGL Fellowship has supported fellows from more than 25 African countries, enabling participation in over 400 engagements, including annual meetings, regional summits, and executive learning programmes focused on governance, climate, finance, technology, and healthcare.
