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Abdulfatah Abdullahi, 15 others, receive Mandela Washington Fellowship

May 13, 2022

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Abdulfatah Abdullahi and 15 other Nigerians have been selected for the 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF).

Also, 16 alumni from the 2021 MWF cohort were selected by the U.S. Mission Nigeria to participate in this year’s Alumni Enrichment Institute.

This was disclosed on Thursday on the official website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria.

The programme launched in 2014, was designed to train young African leaders who have distinguished themselves in their area of disciplines in promoting innovation and positive impact in their countries.

This summer, the Fellows will travel to the United States to participate in six-week Leadership Institutes studying Business, Civic Engagement, or Public Management at U.S. colleges and universities. At the conclusion of the Leadership Institutes, the Fellows will attend the annual Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, where Fellows, U.S. government officials, and representatives from businesses and organizations with interest in Africa engage in high-level sessions and workshops.

After completing the Leadership Institutes and Summit, Fellows are eligible to participate in several MWF alumni opportunities, such as the Alumni Enrichment Institute, that build the on skills and connections developed during their summer exchange program.

Since 2014, over 5,000 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the MWF with 456 Fellows hailing from Nigeria. Thus far, Nigeria remains the largest contributor of Fellows each year.

Commenting on the significance of the MWF, Ambassador Leonard stated, “The United States is dedicated to investing in the next generation of young Nigerian leaders reinforcing the strong partnership between both nations. The vision, courage, and drive to innovate of Mandela Washington Fellows will help shape the future of Nigeria for many generations to come.”

U.S. Mission Nigeria congratulates the following recipients of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and participants of the Alumni Enrichment Institute for 2022.