Ambassador Entwistle and the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellows gather for a group photo on the lawn of the U.S. Embassy.(Photo: Olaoluwa Aworinde/U.S. Embassy)

One hundred young Nigerians have been selected for entrepreneurship and leadership training in the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship in the United States (US), according to United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle.

He spoke in Abuja during a reception organised by the U.S. Embassy for the participants who were selected from six geo-political zones in the country and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the envoy, the participants would participate in an intensive, six-week programme on academic excellence and leadership on business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, public management, and renewable energy at U.S. colleges and universities.

“The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship programme of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and a key component of President Barack Obama’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa.
“YALI is an integral part of President Obama’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa.

“The White House developed this initiative in recognition of the critical and increasing role that young Africans are playing in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa,” he said.

The envoy congratulated the new fellows on their competitive selection amongst 10,000 Nigerian applicants and tens of thousands of others throughout Africa.
“Our goal is to select a diverse group, both geographically and socio-economically, representing all segments of Nigeria.
“You represent the best of Nigeria’s youth and the future of the country.

“Your selection says a lot about who you are as young leaders and the level of impact you are having on your communities as entrepreneurs, civic leaders, public servants, and champions of renewable energy,” he said.

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He said that 86 Nigerians have participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship since 2014.

He urged the participants to share what they learn with members of their communities upon returns.

“We hope that you will leverage the U.S. and African connections you have established to their maximum potential,” he said.

Below is the list of fellows

S/N First Name Last Name State Of Origin Track Fellowship Institution
1. Adams Adeiza Kogi Business & Entrepreneurship Northwestern University
2. Adamu Ishiyaku Gombe Civic Leadership Indiana University Bloomington
3. Adaora Uche-Ugwonna Enugu State Business & Entrepreneurship University of Iowa
4. Adebola Williams Lagos Business & Entrepreneurship Clark Atlanta University
5. Adebukola Shonibare Osun Civic Leadership Presidential Precinct
6. Adedayo Adeniyi Osun Civic Leadership Kansas State University
7. Adeniyi Adedokun Oyo State Public Management Bridgewater State University
8. Ahmed Ogunlaja Ogun Civic Leadership University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
9. Andidiong Okon AkwaIbom Business & Entrepreneurship Virginia Commonwealth University
10. Anita Tele-Oduloye Delta Business & Entrepreneurship Clark Atlanta University
11. Anthonia Abayomi-Ojo Osun Civic Leadership Duquesne University
12. Apolmida Tsammani Bauchi Public Management University of Wisconsin-Madison
13. Arinze Ekwem Anambra Business & Entrepreneurship Rutgers University
14. Ayodele Odeogbola Ogun State Public Management Bridgewater State University
15. Babafemi Adebola Ekiti Public Management University of Wisconsin-Madison
16. Balarabe Ismail Kano Public Management Ohio State University
17. Ballason Gloria Kaduna Business & Entrepreneurship Bridgewater State University
18. Charity Isa Borno State Civic Leadership Purdue University
19. Charity Isa Borno State Public Management Purdue University
20. Chidinma Mbanasor Abia Civic Leadership Wagner College
21. Chinelo Uchendu Anambra Civic Leadership University of California, Berkeley
22. Chinenye Ezeakor Enugu Civic Leadership Arizona State University
23. Chukwudi Anyanaso Imo State Public Management Appalachian State University
24. Chukwuemeka Ubaka Imo Public Management Ohio State University
25. Cosmos Anweh Benue Business & Entrepreneurship Ohio State University
26. Danladi Saleh Idrisa Borno Public Management Virginia Commonwealth University
27. Dauda Sanusi Ogun Civic Leadership Purdue University
28. Ebunoluwa Farinde Lagos Business & Entrepreneurship Dartmouth College
29. Edemawan Ossai Cross River Civic Leadership Arizona State University
30. Egbuna Obianuju   Maureen Anambra Public Management Cambridge College
31. Ehigie Imarhiagbe Edo State Public Management Ohio State University
32. Emana Imona Cross River Business & Entrepreneurship University of Maine
33. Emeka Ossai Delta Business & Entrepreneurship University of Texas at Austin
34. Emmanuel Obioha Imo Civic Leadership Drake University In Des Moines, Iowa
35. Ese Ovabor Edo Energy Duquesne University
36. Fadekunayo Adeniyi Lagos Public Management University of California, Davis
37. Fatima Mohammed Yobe Energy University of Illinois
38. Fatima Oyiza Ademoh Kogi Public Management University of California, Davis
39. Feyisara Ogunranti Oyo State Public Management University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
40. Folahanmi Aina Oyo Business & Entrepreneurship Syracuse University
41. Gbenga Oni Ekiti Public Management Lincoln University (Missouri )
42. Grace Ihejiamaizu Abia Civic Leadership Kansas State University
43. Hadiza Kasimu Plateau Civic Leadership Presidential Precinct
44. Hauwa Liman Katsina Business & Entrepreneurship University of Texas at Austin
45. Hussaini Saraki Bauchi Civic Leadership University of Delaware
46. Ibrahim Sawab Borno Civic Leadership Wagner College
47. Ibrahim Audu Salisu Yobe Business & Entrepreneurship Duquesne University
48. Ifeoluwa Oluwole Ondo State Business & Entrepreneurship Dartmouth College
49. Immanuel Charles Akhimien Edo Civic Leadership University of Notre Dame
50. Ishaku Haruna Gombe State Civic Leadership Kansas State University
51. Jamila Bashir Kano Civic Leadership Virginia Tech
52. Jocelyne Agbo Enugu State Business & Entrepreneurship University of Wisconsin-Stout
53. John Paul Usman Kogi Civic Leadership Virginia Tech
54. Jude [email protected] Delta State Civic Leadership Howard University
55. Juliana Owolabi Osun State Business & Entrepreneurship Indiana University Bloomington
56. Kenneth Ati Benue Business & Entrepreneurship Appalachian State University
57. Kyela Gadi Kaduna Civic Leadership University of Maine
58. Lukman Lawal Zamfara Public Management University of Iowa
59. Maalum Nadine North West Province Business & Entrepreneurship University of Notre Dame
60. Matilda Kerry Delta State Business & Entrepreneurship Georgia State University
61. Miriam Odabe Ebonyi Public Management University of Texas at Austin
62. Mohammed Kabir Ibrahim Adamawa Business & Entrepreneurship University of Minnesota
63. Mojisola Ojebode Osun Public Management University of Wisconsin
64. Mubarak Tiamiyu Oyo Business & Entrepreneurship Arizona State University
65. Muhammad Abdullahi Bauchi Business & Entrepreneurship Rutgers University
66. Muhibbat Abdullahi Bauchi Business & Entrepreneurship Purdue University
67. Nana Samuel Borno State Business & Entrepreneurship Lincoln University (Missouri )
68. Nari Welye Adamawa Public Management Syracuse University
69. Nkechi Okwuone Delta State Public Management Arizona State University
70. Nneoma Albert-Benson Imo State Business & Entrepreneurship Arizona State University
71. Obiefule Iroabueke Abia State Public Management Georgia State University
72. Obinna Ebirim Imo Civic Leadership University of Wisconsin-Madison
73. Olajide KabirOluwatosin Kwara Business & Entrepreneurship University of Nevada, Reno
74. Olakunle Owoeye Ekiti Public Management University of California, Davis
75. Olanrewaju Suleiman Kwara State Public Management Drake University
76. Olorunfunmi Adebajo Ogun Energy Rutgers University
77. OlufuntoOpeoluwa T Akinterinwa Ondo State Business & Entrepreneurship Howard University
78. Olumide Mukaila Lawal Lagos Civic Leadership Virginia Commonwealth University
79. Oluwabusola Majekodunmi Lagos Public Management University of Minnesota
80. Oluwaseun Olaseinde Ondo State Public Management University of Maine
81. Oluwaseun Sangoleye Oyo Public Management Clark Atlanta University
82. Oluwatobi Popoola Oyo Business & Entrepreneurship Howard University
83. Oluwatobiloba Ajayi Osun Public Management Presidential Precinct
84. Omolara Rasheed Ogun Public Management Cambridge College
85. Orondaam Otto Rivers State Civic Leadership Portland State University
86. Sylvester Sede Bayelsa Business & Entrepreneurship Indiana University Bloomington
87. Temitope Oluwaseun Okupe Ogun-State Civic Leadership University Of California, Berkeley
88. Tessie-Nkechi Udegboka Anambra Civic Leadership Northwestern University
89. Thaddeus Akpa Kogi Civic Leadership University of Minnesota
90. Theophilus Odaudu Kogi Public Management Syracuse University
91. Titilope Babafunso Osun Public Management Georgia State University
92. Tochukwu Ikpegbu Abia Business & Entrepreneurship University of Iowa
93. Tolulope Sangosanya Ogun State Civic Leadership Portland State University
94. Toochukwu Emerem  Imo Business & Entrepreneurship Virginia Commonwealth University
95. Tukur Garba Gada Sokoto Public Management University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
96. Uchenna Igbokwe Anambra Public Management Florida International University
97. Vanessa Willie Edo State Business & Entrepreneurship University of Illinois
98. Veronica Bakam Kaduna Civic Leadership Clark Atlanta University
99. Vweta Chadwick Delta Business & Entrepreneurship University of Delaware
100. Wasiu Peter Oladipupo Ogun State Business & Entrepreneurship Purdue University