Thirteen African Young Global Leaders inducted into the Dangote Foundation

In a bid to cultivate the spirit of excellent business organisation, thirteen out of the Seventeen Africans acknowledged by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as Young Global Leaders (YGL) in 2015 are to benefit from the Dangote Fellowship instituted by Nigeria’s Dangote Foundation.

The African young business executives were part of the 187 young leaders from 66 countries honoured for leadership and service to the society by WEF.

In a statement released by the Dangote Foundation, Nigerian billionaire businessman andinvestor, AlhajiAlikoDangote, said the institution of the fellowship award was his own way of contributing to the intellectual development of outstanding young people of African origin, saying, “The Fellowship helps YGLs from Africa attend YGL and World Economic Forum events and funds the organization of an YGL Africa Education Module.”

Also making his remarks, the Director and Head, Young Global Leaders Community at the WEF, Mr. John Dutton, stated, “The WEF has announced the leaders under 40 who are shaping the future of industry and society. About half of the new class of YGLs come from emerging economies with 17 from sub-Saharan Africa. The list of YGLs has a strong representation from women leaders and is split 50-50 between business and non-profit sectors (academia, arts and culture, civil society, policy and government, media and social entrepreneurs).”

Mr Dutton further alluded that the class of 2015 joins a community of people who has since distinguished themselves in their various fields since the Fellowship began 10 years ago, saying, “Current and former YGLs include 11 heads of state and government, 10 heads of Fortune 500 companies, 15 UN Goodwill Ambassadors, six Guinness World Record holders, four Oscar winners, three Olympic gold medallists’, two Nobel Prize winners and an astronaut.

The Dangote Fellowship, created by the WEF and AlhajiAlikoDangote, President/ CEO, DangoteGroup, designated as the foremost manufacturing brand in Nigeria, was designed to increase the quality and quantity of young African leaders across the continent by supporting the engagement of African YGLs in the community, such as those from small enterprises or the non-business sector of the African economy.

The class of 2015 includes 23 people from East Asia, 17 from Greater China, 39 from Europe, 13 from Latin America, 16 from the Middle East and North Africa, 44 from North America, 18 from South Asia and 17 from sub-Saharan Africa.The Candidates were evaluated according to specific criteria including their proven track record and commitment to society.