I believe that access to quality education can transform lives and I work with a community of entrepreneurs to make that happen.

Twenty percent of the young leaders at ALA are brought to our attention by community members who nominate them. You may know a young leader at secondary school or equivalent who has shown leadership potential in your community. We accept nominations for high school students with potential from as young as 13 years old.
Develop – Participate in developing Africa’s next generation of transformational leaders
Discover – Help a student discover a life-changing opportunity that they weren’t aware of before
Reward – Reward students for incredible achievements, commitment to service, passion for Africa, and leadership potential
We want to find students aged 13-18 who meet and exceed the high standards of excellence we require in our application process. Click here to learn more about our admission criteria. You don’t have to wait until the nominee is in the age range to be accepted to send us a nomination.
We use your information to connect the student directly to ALA’s application resources
Nominations help us find the best and brightest young leaders on the African continent
Fill out the nomination form below and we’ll follow up with you and the student
If you are a parent or a prospective applicant, you do not need to fill the nomination form. You may simply proceed to submit an application.
We comb Africa for youth who show the spark of initiative; who see what can be and strive to make it so.
Young leaders complete an intensive program of intellectual growth and hands-on leadership development.
Young leaders are guided by a powerful network along their path to create transformative change in Africa.
I believe that access to quality education can transform lives and I work with a community of entrepreneurs to make that happen.
One of the things that I learnt at ALA is how to be a pioneer. Don’t be afraid of big ideas that scare you.
I am glad that I made the decision to send my daughter to ALA . She is more articulate, expressive and certain about her purpose in life.
When I joined ALA, my passion for finance and business was fostered. I currently work as an investment specialist, focussed on African investment initiatives that will change the continent.
If am happy to see who he has become, and I hope other parents will consider ALA for their child. I can assure them that they will not make a mistake. The transformation in my son is that he now knows who he wants to be.
I look forward to going out into the world and applying the skills and competencies that I have acquired at ALA so as to inspire other and make the change that I seek in the world.
Every student is unique but she/he needs to be nurtured further in order to bloom and ALA is the place that provides the necessary space and opportunities to bring out this uniqueness of its students. Here, no one is a competitor to anyone but rather, only a complement for each other. The student only competes with herself/himself to reach greater heights. How ALA transforms young promising minds within 2 years (filled with challenges, opportunities, diversity, care and fun) into future passionate leaders, can only be experienced and cherished over a lifetime by a parent.
I came to ALA intending to stay for a year, learn some new skills and see another part of the African continent. I’ve now spent 7 years at ALA (over two stints) and I’m not done learning. The daily motivation of coming to work as part of an intentional community is deeply enriching. As is the reward of being challenged by students and peers who are thoughtful, committed and driven. I am also grateful for the many opportunities to laugh.
In 2009, a friend casually mentioned a certain African Leadership Academy during our morning work out. The following year, I went to Johannesburg to see this too-good-to-be-true Academy. Fast-forward 10 years after that visit, all my children have graduated from ALA! I don’t know of any better transformational experience my wife and I could have offered our children!
One of my greatest achievements to date was to be appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations to serve as 1 of 17 advocates for the sustainable development goals where I will solve some of the toughest issues facing humanity. If I didn’t go to ALA I would not be where I am today. It changed the trajectory of my life.