The African Leadership Academy has long served as one of the continent’s foremost proponents of youth engagement, preparing thousands of African students toward success in both social and academic endeavours. In addition to a curriculum centered by African Studies and core coursework, the African Leadership Academy offers Entrepreneurial Leadership courses to its students, proving their commitment to improving conditions for the academy’s students and the communities that surround them. Through the ongoing support of ALA supporters such as Tunde Folawiyo, students of the academy will continue to flourish.
Designed to harvest the interpersonal skills essential for initiating positive change throughout Africa, the two-year Entrepreneurial Leadership program takes place during a student’s first year at the academy and is a requirement for all students. During this coursework, students will develop the mindset, approach and unique skills needed in order to become entrepreneurial leaders. The Entrepreneurial Leadership syllabus includes a variety of teaching methods including team-based challenges, mini-lectures, guest speakers, case studies, simulations and games, each designed to encourage a deeper understanding of leadership. Students will participate in a series of design challenges with an emphasis on creativity with brainstorming, prototyping and testing new ideas all playing a major role in the curriculum. The types of challenges to be conquered during this portion of coursework range from the construction of a tower made of tooth picks to others targeting issues that face the African continent today.
As part of the academy’s curriculum, the ALA’s entrepreneurship case learning program provides students with African entrepreneurial role models to aid and inspire students with immeasurable support throughout their journey at the academy. In addition to this, the academy frequently invites entrepreneurs and other special guests to share with students their stories of success and failure, teaching students valuable life lessons along the way.
Leadership Modules play an important role in students grasping the complexity of great leadership. These are part of the academy’s key curriculum, designed to focus on a particular set of skills and concepts. Leadership topics include speech and presentation, values and emotional intelligence, all imperative to adequate leadership. Each module utilises both a mix of group activities and individual learning, as well as direct feedback from faculty in order for students to receive the constructive criticism needed to improve upon areas of opportunity. Supporters of the African Leadership Academy such as Tunde Folawiyo continue to forge an impact on the lives of thousands of African students through their everlasting encouragement.