The programme, titled 'Forsaken for a Sake,' was officially unveiled on November 9, 2025, at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, Nigeria.
The launch marks the beginning of Cohort 1â€"2025, which will support an initial group of 100 mentors and mentees in Nigeria. Africa Re served as the host institution for the event, selected from among 10 African cities identified for the programme rollout under the campaign 'From Rwanda to the World.'
Tackling fatherhood and fatherlessness
The mentorship initiative focuses on the transformative role fathers play in shaping children's lives, and the deep social consequences linked to fatherlessness. Research shows that children raised by present and supportive fathers are more likely to perform well academically, develop stronger self-esteem, and avoid high-risk behaviours such as substance abuse and crime.
Conversely, the partners emphasise that fatherlessness is strongly linked to poverty, emotional distress, poor educational outcomes, and increased vulnerability to early pregnancies and other social challenges.
Speaking on behalf of Dr Corneille Karekezi, Group Managing Director and CEO of Africa Re, Roger Bong Bekondo, Director of Communications & Public Affairs, emphasised the corporation's dedication to building inclusive and resilient African societies.
'Africa Re is deeply committed to fostering a healthy and inclusive continent, one where every child feels the love of a father or finds a community that helps them heal from his absence,' he remarked.
Bong Bekondo added that partnering with KORA Academy aligns with Africa Re's long-standing mission to uplift communities through sustainable development initiatives.
He encouraged mentees to immerse themselves in the programme and use the opportunity to heal, grow and develop leadership skills. He also called on mentors to give back by offering guidance, hope and stability to young participants.
'Let Forsaken for a Sake be a beacon of hope and a catalyst for a better society across Africa,' he said.
The launch event featured a panel discussion involving prominent Nigerian thought leaders who shared their personal journeys shaped by either strong paternal guidance or the absence of it. Their insights highlighted the long-term effects of fatherhood experiences, underscoring the need for awareness, healing, and mental health ownership among the youth taking part in the programme.
A book to guide the journey
The mentorship launch also included a ceremonial handover of the book 'Forsaken for a Sake: Your 30-Day Self-Coaching Collection: Overcoming Fatherlessness' authored by Mireille Karera and published by KORA Coaching & Business Academy. Each mentor and mentee received a copy as part of their upcoming training.
In her remarks, Karera expressed gratitude to Africa Re for its trust and commitment to a pan-African partnership. She shared a poignant personal story linking her own life to the founding history of Africa Re.
Born a refugee in East Africa in May 1976, just months after Africa Re was established, she revealed that she later grew up fatherless, making the programme's mission deeply personal. At 49 years old, and with Africa Re now also marking 49 years, she described the launch as 'a living testimony' of the organisation's founding vision of continental collaboration and shared progress.
Karera stressed that the programme is in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063, particularly Aspiration 6, which champions people-driven development and places women, youth and children at the centre of Africa's transformation.
The ceremony concluded with a book-signing session, followed by individual interactions between the author and programme beneficiaries. Participants will now embark on an intensive short certification course focusing on mentoring skills and practical sessions tied to the daily devotional workbook.
With its blend of personal reflection, professional mentorship and continental collaboration, the Forsaken for a Sake programme aims to create a new cohort of empowered youth and leaders committed to building stronger, more supportive African communities.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
