The launch marked the beginning of a transformative initiative designed to unlock Africa's demographic potential and equip the continent's emerging leaders with the skills and insights needed to address complex governance challenges.
The event was attended by members of Yetu's Board of Directors and distinguished guests, including Monica Geingos, 3rd First Lady of the Republic of Namibia and Founder & Co-Chair of Leadership Lab Yetu; Mahamadou Issoufou, Former President of the Republic of Niger; and Ndaba Gaolathe, Vice President of the Republic of Botswana. Other notable participants included Dr. Nkosana Moyo, Founder and Executive Chair of the Mandela Institute for Development Studies, and Jakkie Cilliers, Chairman of the Board and Head of African Futures and Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies.
The launch was supported by strategic partners, including the Ministry of Youth and Arts of Rwanda and the African School of Governance (ASG). Dr. Utumatwishima Jean Nepo Abdallah, Rwanda's Minister for Youth and Arts, and Francis Gatare, President of ASG, delivered remarks encouraging practical leadership and innovation among the inaugural cohort of Dr. Hage G. Geingob Fellows and ASG pioneers.
A key highlight of the event was the unveiling of the first cohort of Fellows joining Yetu's flagship Intergenerational Leadership Accelerator (ILA). The 12-month program brings together ministers, parliamentarians, senior advisors, and local government leaders from across Africa to collaborate on practical policy solutions for challenges such as job creation, education, and institutional reform.
Alongside the ILA, Leadership Lab Yetu will serve as a hub for forward-looking research on governance, youth inclusion, and demographic trends, generating evidence-based insights to inform policy design and institutional reform across the continent.
Speaking at the launch, Monica Geingos highlighted the importance of preparing Africa's next generation of leaders to navigate complex challenges and implement scalable solutions.
'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… 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," she said.
Rumbidzai Chisenga, CEO of Leadership Lab Yetu, emphasised the lab's mission to strengthen institutions and equip leaders with practical policy insights.
"The research we produce will be timely and forward-looking. The bold ideas that new and experienced leaders co-create will become the bedrock for inclusive and effective governance across the continent," she remarked.
Monica Geingos is a Namibian lawyer and entrepreneur who served as the country's First Lady from 2015 to 2024. Her professional background includes serving as Managing Director of Stimulus Investments, a major private equity fund, and as Chairperson of eBank Namibia. She also chaired the Presidential Economic Advisory Council. Through Leadership Lab Yetu, she now aims to leverage her experience to mentor and connect the next generation of African leaders.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
