The United States Mission in Nigeria has celebrated 54 emerging Nigerian leaders following their completion of the 2025 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
The welcome reception, held in Lagos on Thursday, recognised the Fellows who were selected from more than 7,400 applicants and underwent intensive leadership training at top U.S. universities in business, civic leadership and public management.
Speaking at the event, the US Consul General in Nigeria, Mr Rick Swart, formally welcomed the Fellows into the 14,000-member U.S. government exchange alumni network in Nigeria.
“The experiences you gained and the networks you forged during your exchange in the United States will continue to shape and elevate the work you do at home, driving positive change for generations,” Swart said. He urged the Fellows to uphold high standards of leadership as they apply their skills to national development.
The event also recognised ten alumni for exceptional post-fellowship achievements. Among the honourees were Aishah Buba, who received the Trailblazer Award for mental health advocacy, and Olusola Owonikoko and Emmanuel Mimshach Obioha, who received Alumni Collaboration Awards.
Others included Debola Deji-Kurunmi and Grace Jerry for leadership development and disability advocacy, Adepeju Jaiyeoba for enterprise and innovation, Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti for technology leadership, Asher Adeniyi for job creation, Oluwafunke Adeoye for civic engagement, and Chimdi Neliaku for public management.
Nigeria remains the largest contributor to the fellowship, with 678 participants out of a continental total of 7,800 since the programme’s launch in 2014.