Category philanthropy
Success Story from Nigeria: Billionaire Tony Elumelu Gives Back through Investment in Young African Entrepreneurs
BONUS POST: In honor of all of the members of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP) and all those active in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), for which Mr. Elumelu serves as an adviser. Tony Onyemaechi Elumelu was born to a middle-class family in March 1963 in Jos, Nigeria. He has four siblings. Mr. […]
Success Story from Sudan: Dr. Mo Ibrahim Supports Good Governance and Emerging Leaders
BONUS POST Celebrating those supporting excellent leaders Mohamed “Mo” Ibrahim was born in 1946 in Sudan. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Alexandria University in Egypt, a Master’s Degree in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from the University of Bradford in the UK, and a PhD in Mobile Communications from the University […]
Success Story from Nigeria: Dr. Toyin Falola Promotes African Studies
Toyin Omoyeni Falola was born 1953 in Ibadan, Nigeria. In the 1960s, he dropped out of high school to join a peasant rebellion that protested high taxation and the ill treatment of farmers. During and after the rebellion, young Toyin kept wondering why it was that some, including his own grandfather, had to lose their […]
Success Story from Rwanda: Peace Ruzage Assists Vulnerable Women
Peace Ruzage was born in Rwanda in 1954. With her family, she fled to Kenya, where she was a refugee for more than 44 years. In 1994, she returned to Rwanda to assist her country in the aftermath of the genocide. She settled in Gisozi, a suburb of Kigali, where she opened up her […]
Success Story from Zimbabwe: Strive Masiyiwa Supports Education
Strive Masiyiwa was born in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, in 1961. He attended primary school in Zambia, completed his secondary education in Scotland, and obtained a degree in electrical engineering in Wales. In 1984 he returned to Zimbabwe and set up an electrical engineering business, which by 1989 was quite large and successful. With the […]
Success Story from Nigeria: Toyin Ojora Saraki’s Wellbeing Foundation
Toyin Ojora Saraki was born in 1964 to the Ojora Royal Family in Lagos. After completing her elementary school education in Nigeria she completed law degrees at the University of London. While in the U.K., she devoted much of her time to taking care of the sick, the aged, those with disabilities, and less privileged […]
Success Story from Tanzania: Reginald Mengi Supports Corporate Responsibility
Reginald Abraham Mengi was born into a family of modest means in northern Tanzania, but with some struggle he was able to obtain a good education in the UK. Upon his return to Tanzania in 1971, he secured a position with the accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand. He stayed with the firm, which became […]
Success Story from Côte d’Ivoire: Didier Drogba’s Hospitals
Didier Drogba was born in Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire in 1978. He left the country at the age of five and moved to France to live with an uncle, Michel Goba, who was a professional footballer (soccer player). After touring with his uncle for three years, Drogba returned to Côte d’Ivoire to live with his […]
Success Story from Cameroon: Samuel Eto’o Gives Children a Chance
By guest blogger Justine Maisha Davis* Samuel Eto’o is the most decorated African football player of all time, winning the African Player of the Year award four times. Born in Cameroon, to a middle class family, he was trained at the Kadji Sports Academy in Douala before beginning training at the Real Madrid youth academy in […]
Success Story from Nigeria: Nwankwo Kanu’s Heart Foundation
Nwankwo Kanu was born in Owerri in southeastern Nigeria in 1976. By the age of 15 he was playing professional football (soccer). From 1994 to 2000, he played for the national team and served as its Captain. Kanu became legendary for his soccer skills. He won an Olympic gold medal in Atlanta in 1996, has […]
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