Throughout the centuries, Africa has been ravaged by poverty, war and famine. These problems have been further exacerbated by a distinct lack of strong governance. Leadership is the key to the growth and development of this continent’s nations; this is something which the founder of the ALA, Fred Swaniker, realised very early on in his life. Through the establishment of the African Leadership Academy, he hopes to give Africa a brighter future, by cultivating the minds of talented, intelligent and capable young men and women. Tunde Folawiyo, a respected businessman, and member of the ALN (African Leadership Network) understands the importance of the work which Swaniker does, and has done his utmost to support this educational institute.
This boarding school was created specifically for those who have demonstrated leadership abilities, and is considered to be one of the finest education institutes of its kind on the continent. Since it was first established over a decade ago, it has been visited by a number of internationally renowned public figures, including the First Lady, Michelle Obama. This programme itself is highly intensive, and provides students with the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills that they need to become entrepreneurs and leaders within their chosen fields.
It focuses on the issues which Africa is currently facing, as well as those which it has faced in the past, and prepares students for entry into the world’s top universities, including Cambridge, Stanford and Oxford. The school also encourages them to return to their homeland after graduation, in order to use their newly-acquired knowledge to further Africa’s economic and political progress.
With support from its Global Advisory Board, of which Tunde Folawiyo is a member, and investment from several organisations, the ALA has gone from strength to strength over the last few decades. The Cisco Scholars programme, a collaborative effort between Cisco and the ALA, has also been of great help. Over the past few years, its fund of $680,000 has enabled more than 16 scholars to attend this boarding school. All of these scholars come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and so would have found it considerably more difficult to rise above their circumstances, without the help of this scholarship.
The ALA’s chief operating officer, Chris Bradford, explained that the collaboration had come about, due to the common values which the academy and Cisco shared. Both organisations are concerned with education and innovation, and are committed to empowering young Africans, by providing them with the intellectual and financial support they need to become tomorrow’s leaders.