Out of all of the world’s developing regions, Africa has the lowest rate of third level education. Moreover, only 12.5% of Africans who go on to study at university end up residing on the continent after graduation, with the majority choosing to move to developed countries in Europe. As it is widely acknowledged that educated, talented young entrepreneurs and leaders are essential for the growth and development of Africa, these statistics paint a rather disheartening picture.

However, all is not lost; with help from philanthropists like Tunde Folawiyo, the African Leadership Academy intends to change these figures. This September, the boarding school accepted a new group of 46 men and 52 women from all over Africa. These young students are to be put through their paces over the next two years; they will receive intensive training, in the form of classes and practical workshops, which will allow them to not only understand the problems which plague Africa, but also to develop their own ideas on how these issues can be resolved.

The man responsible for the ALA is Fred Swaniker. Whilst attending Stanford University, he spoke with a number of Africans, who were frustrated with the costs associated with sending their children to foreign schools. Swaniker began to question why there were no high-quality educational institutes in his homeland. As the concept for the ALA unfolded, Swaniker realised that there was a way to encourage African students to return to the continent after graduating from overseas universities.

The education which the students receive at the ALA prepares them for entry into world-class universities, including Harvard, MIT and Cambridge; however, the tuition fees for these institutes are typically very high, and far beyond what most young Africans can afford. The academy offers students financial support, in the form of loans, which allows them to obtain degrees from these universities.

After graduating, they then have the option of paying back the money, or alternatively, returning to Africa to work for ten years. If they opt for the latter, their loan will be forgiven. It is hoped that this incentive will increase the number of young, educated leaders and entrepreneurs living in Africa, which in turn, will boost the continent’s economy. With support from the academy’s GBA (Global Advisory Board), on which the businessman Tunde Folawiyo sits, Swaniker intends to create at least 6000 new leaders over the course of 50 years.