KIGALI, Rwanda -
Saturday, 31. January 2026
(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Prominent African policymakers and leaders will gather over the weekend in Kigali, Rwanda, to launch Leadership Lab Yetu
(Yetu). This pan-African hub aims to bridge the gap between emerging
and established leaders, providing the skills, values, and networks
necessary to unlock Africa’s demographic potential and foster
intergenerational collaboration.
A New Vision for African Governance
With over 60% of Africa’s population under the age of 25,
the continent is undergoing a historic demographic transition. While
rich in energetic leaders with bold ideas, young people remain largely
underrepresented in decision-making processes. Yetu—meaning "ours" in
Swahili—seeks to ensure future generations shape a leadership landscape
that drives continental prosperity.
“The
African leaders that emerge in the next 10 years will be the architects
of the world’s evolution over the course of the next 100 years,” said Monica Geingos,
Founder and Co-Chair of Leadership Lab Yetu and Former First Lady of
Namibia. “They must be equipped with the capacity and confidence to
navigate complexity, unlock opportunity, and bend the arc of leadership
towards implementing scalable solutions. We are thrilled to launch
Leadership Lab Yetu as a transformative space where the innovation and
drive of high-potential, innovative leaders can converge with the
experience of those who understand the bottlenecks inherent in state
processes and systems.”
The
official launch event will be attended by Yetu’s Board of Directors and
guests such as, H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou, Former President of the
Republic of Niger, Dr Nkosana Moyo, Founder and Executive Chair of the Mandela Institute for Development Studies, Jakkie Ciliers, Chairman of the Board and Head of African Futures & Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies, and many more.
The
event also marks the unveiling of the inaugural cohort of the
Intergenerational Leadership Accelerator. Exceptionally talented
leaders, including Hon. Lesego Chombo,
Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs for Botswana, will begin
addressing critical governance and development issues as a collective.
Driving Impact through Research and Action
Through its flagship
fellowship program and policy labs, Yetu allows leaders to co-create
and test innovative solutions. Additionally, the hub will produce
forward-thinking research on governance and youth inclusion to provide
decision-makers with evidence-based insights.
Rumbidzai Chisenga,
CEO of Leadership Lab Yetu, noted: “Our mission is to strengthen
institutional capacity by equipping leaders with policy insights needed
to steer the future with integrity and agility”.
Notes to editors
Leadership Lab Yetu
(Yetu) is a pan-African hub championing intergenerational leadership. We
connect emerging and experienced leaders to imagine, build, and
implement lasting solutions to Africa’s distinct challenges. To find out
more, visit: www.labyetu.org. Find us on social media:
Facebook: Leadership Lab Yetu, Twitter/X: @LabYetu, Instagram: @leadershiplabyetu Bluesky: @labyetu.bsky.social, Threads: @leadershiplabyetu, YouTube: @LeadershipLabYetu
Contacts :
Media contact
Atalanta
E: Yetu@atalanta.co
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e6d58630-1d84-4632-a18e-fe26de89d9a4
