56 Nigerians Travel to United States For Mandela Washington Fellowship Program 

The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria proudly unveils the selection of 56 distinguished young Nigerians for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship program, celebrating its 10th anniversary. These fellows will travel to 28 cities across the United States from June 19 to August 1, culminating in a summit in Washington D.C., where they will engage with U.S. leaders in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors. 

Additionally, three fellows will participate in the Professional Development Experience at a U.S. organization for four weeks following the summit before returning to Nigeria. 

Initiated in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders stands as the cornerstone of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). This program is a testament to the enduring U.S. commitment to invest in Africa’s future. The fellowship offers a comprehensive program that includes academic coursework, leadership training, and networking opportunities. 

Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria David J. Greene welcomed the 56 young Nigerians chosen for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship, emphasizing the rigorous selection process and their ability to lead and inspire others. He highlighted the fellows’ diverse achievements and encouraged them to share their culture in the United States and use the fellowship to expand their influence in Nigeria. 

He expressed appreciation to the Public Diplomacy team and the State Department for their efforts in identifying future leaders and reminded the fellows of the importance of sharing their knowledge upon return to their communities. 

Since the fellowship’s inception, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has had the privilege of supporting 569 young Nigerian leaders through this exchange program. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria eagerly anticipates the Mandela Washington Fellowship’s continued success and its positive impact in shaping Africa’s future. 

The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria is pleased to announce that the following Nigerians will participate in the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship: 

	First Name	Last Name	Track	Institute
	Oluwatomisin	Adeyefa	Leadership in Civic Engagement	University of Maryland, Baltimore County
	Similoluwa	Olusola	Leadership in Public Management	Syracuse University
	Musa	Yusuf	Leadership in Business	University of Notre Dame
	Irene	David-Arinze	Leadership in Civic Engagement	Michigan State University
	Christiana	Onoja	Leadership in Business	University of Notre Dame
	Ifeoluwa	Solomon	Leadership in Business	University of Texas at Austin
	Olanike	Timipa-Uge	Leadership in Civic Engagement	Florida Gulf Coast University
	Murtala	Abdullahi	Leadership in Civic Engagement	Michigan State University
	Abdulsalam	Ashade	Leadership in Public Management	Boise State University
	Sarah	Kuponiyi	Leadership in Business	Jackson State University
	Nafisa	Atiku-Abubakar	Leadership in Civic Engagement	The Presidential Precinct
	Maryam	Abdulkadir	Leadership in Business	University of Iowa
	Joseph	Waribugo	Leadership in Civic Engagement	Florida Gulf Coast University
	Abubakar	Abdurrahaman	Leadership in Civic Engagement	Drexel University
	Obianuju	Iloanya	Leadership in Public Management	Bridgewater State University
	Wale	Bakare	Leadership in Business	University of Nevada-Reno
	Afeez	Iyiola	Leadership in Business	University of Texas at Austin
	Ahmad	Abubakar	Leadership in Civic Engagement	The Presidential Precinct
	Chioma	Arum	Leadership in Public Management	Texas Tech University
	Mariam	Nurudeen-Arole	Leadership in Public Management	Arizona State University
	Riliwan	Amoo	Leadership in Business	Lehigh University
	Isah	Dahiru	Leadership in Business	Drake University
	Saifullah	Maishanu	Leadership in Public Management	Bridgewater State University
	Margaret	Wonah	Leadership in Civic Engagement	University of Maryland, Baltimore County
	Chibuike	Egbujiem	Leadership in Business	Clark Atlanta University
	Aisha	Rilwanu Sidi	Leadership in Business	Lehigh University
	Festus	Moses	Leadership in Business	Rutgers University
	Paul Olubori	Kehinde	Leadership in Business	University of Notre Dame
	Nnene	Bassey	Leadership in Public Management	Bridgewater State University