Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ Future Leaders Fellowship for Young Leaders Across Africa & the Diaspora

 Apply Now: Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ Future Leaders Fellowship for Young Leaders Across Africa & the Diaspora

deadline: 2026-08-31

Apply Now: Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ Future Leaders Fellowship for Young Leaders Across Africa & the Diaspora

If you've been searching for a leadership programme that goes beyond certificates and actually builds character, discipline, and vision — the Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ Future Leaders Fellowship is worth your attention. Applications are officially open, and it's a fully virtual, mentorship-driven programme designed for young changemakers who want to lead with integrity.

What Is the Fellowship About?

The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation has launched this fellowship as a highly selective, merit-based initiative inspired by the legacy of Chief Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ, SAN, GCFR (1909–1987) — a statesman celebrated for principled governance, social justice, and his commitment to human development through education.

The programme is designed to raise a new generation of ethical, visionary, and impact-driven leaders. It's an 8-week virtual leadership journey combining:

-Leadership development training

-Personal effectiveness coaching

-One-on-one and group mentorship

-Collaborative learning with fellow young leaders

-Practical problem-solving centred on real societal challenges

The inaugural cohort begins October 4, 2026, with sessions holding every Saturday, 6:00pm–10:00pm (Nigeria Time, WAT), requiring about 4 hours of commitment per week.

Who Is It For? (Eligibility)

You may qualify if you:

Are aged 20–35 years

-Are from Africa, the Caribbean, or the global African diaspora

-Show strong leadership potential, integrity, and a service-oriented mindset

-Can commit to the full 8-week programme duration

-Are able to submit a personal statement and provide two referees (admission is strictly merit-based)

🇳🇬 Nigeria and all Nigerian states are fully eligible. In fact, the Foundation itself is Nigerian-rooted (based in Ikenne, Ogun State), so applicants from anywhere in Nigeria — including Arewa/Northern Nigeria — are strongly encouraged to apply. This is also open continent-wide across Africa, plus the Caribbean and diaspora communities worldwide.

Why It Matters

At the launch, the Foundation's Executive Director, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, noted that many talented young Africans face economic uncertainty and social inequality despite their potential — what's often missing is structured mentorship and a values-based leadership framework to turn that potential into impact. This fellowship is the Foundation's answer to that gap: moving, in their words, "from celebrating history to shaping the future."

Deadline for Submission

📅 Applications close on 31 August 2026.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through the official fellowship portal:

🔗 https://oaflf.obafemiawolowofoundation.com/apply

For further inquiries, applicants can reach out to the Programme Coordinator via the contact details listed on the official fellowship page: https://oaflf.obafemiawolowofoundation.com/

Worth sharing 🌿 — tag a young leader in your circle who needs to see this. Leadership isn't just inherited; sometimes it's built one fellowship at a time.