The next generation of African

Haunted by the tragic loss of lives in developing countries due to the lack of affordable ventilators, Temitope co-founded i-VeNTILATE—a bold initiative to design low-cost, open-source ventilators. Motivated by the fact that many hospitals cannot afford machines that cost up to 20 million naira, Temitope and two friends set out to build safer, more accessible alternatives. Their process involves reverse-engineering existing ventilators and developing prototypes using pneumatics, bellows, and bag-valve masks—while tackling challenges like barotrauma risk and the absence of PEEP features. Still in development, i-VeNTILATE is making consistent progress toward its mission: ensuring life-saving medical equipment is within reach for all.

Fuelled by the conviction that access to basic needs is a human right, Mahara mobilised classmates to support families affected by disasters in Malawi. Together, they raised K650,000 (US$650) and collected toys, bedding, and clothing for the Malawi Red Cross Society. Yet the path was not without challenges—limited funds made it impossible to travel to cyclone-affected areas and engage directly with victims. Undeterred, Mahara worked with his school to channel donations through the Red Cross and continued rallying support, even though relying on student and teacher contributions placed limits on what could be raised. His determination stands as a powerful example of community-led impact.

Determined to improve daily life for blind individuals, Fatmaelzahraa created tools for colour recognition, time awareness, and obstacle detection—earning a semi-finalist spot at the ISEIC competition and advancing to the second stage at Intel ISEF. With a passion for education, she also developed a handheld device to make learning Braille easier, winning first place nationally and fourth regionally in the Sheika Fadia competition. Now delving into AI and machine learning, Fatmaelzahraa is committed to expanding her innovations and continuing to build meaningful solutions for the blind community.

While a second year student at ALA, Abdulrasaq ‘Dulra’ Amolegbe ’20 from Nigeria founded Dot, a fintech startup company that offers a cashless transaction platform specifically designed for immigrant students in Africa. Dot collaborates with a network of financial and technology partners to provide a digital wallet, a virtual Mastercard, and seamless peer-to-peer transfers, eliminating the need for in-country bank accounts or credit/debit cards.

During his freshmen year at Lehigh University, Dulra became the first freshman in the university’s history to receive not just one, but two of the college’s most prestigious awards for entrepreneurship.

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame as a Hesburgh-Yusko Scholar, Geraldine taught EL at ALA in 2017-2018, and then transitioned to teaching at LEAF Academy, a partner school in Slovakia. Most recently, Geraldine returned home to Zimbabwe, where she taught Reasoning and Research Methods at USAP Community School. While at Stanford, Geraldine will be doing a PhD in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education, with the hopes of returning home to help shape educational interventions across the continent.

Ubong graduated from Kenyon College in 2023 and received two of the college’s top awards for her remarkable impact as Student Council President.  Her passion lies in improving healthcare access and educating others on disease prevention in marginalized and under-resourced communities via public health research, innovative biotechnological tools, and culture-informed approaches. After Kenyon, she is planning to work in the biotechnology field and later continue her studies through an MPH/Ph.D degree program.

Eddy Oketch has been a lifelong activist with a deep commitment to the people of Kenya. While at ALA, he built a peacebuilding movement that engaged over 10,000 Kenyan youth.

He is now the youngest member of Kenya’s Senate. Eddy is committed to peacebuilding, economic opportunity, and climate resilience. Eddy is supported by fellow ALA alumnus John Sankara ’09 (Kenya) who is serving as his Chief of Staff.

Fatima Al Ansar is a women’s rights advocate and consultant on peace and security in the Sahel Region. In 2018 she was named the Head of Mission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Mali – making her the youngest Malian diplomat at the age of 26. She is also the founder of Tilwalte Girls Peace Network, a program that empowers girls to be peace ambassadors through entrepreneurship, leadership, and peace-building training.

Netflix launched ‘African Folktales, Reimagined’ in conjunction with UNESCO to identify and support up-and-coming filmmakers from across sub-Saharan Africa.

Mohamed won for his short film entitled The Enmity Djinn, and will receive $25,000 plus a $75,000 production budget to create a short film that showcases the continent’s rich cultural heritage.