Nairobi Hosts First Physical Boot Camp
LEAP Africa has concluded the fifth cohort of its Leadership Accelerator Programme (LAP) for Young African Women, marking the programme’s first physical boot camp, held in Nairobi, Kenya. The initiative aims to bridge the leadership gap among African women by equipping them with skills, networks, and confidence to drive change across the continent.
The programme attracted significant interest, with more than 4,500 women from 48 African countries and 12 non-African countries registering for the cohort. Over 1,500 participants successfully completed the free online learning phase, and from that group, 31 outstanding young women were selected to attend the immersive boot camp in Nairobi. The selected participants came from Nigeria, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda, Mauritius, Kenya, Zambia, Cameroon, Namibia, Sierra Leone, and Malawi.
Programme Objectives and Leadership Vision
Kehinde Ayeni, executive director of LEAP Africa, said the programme was created to address the leadership gap among African women. She stated, “The Leadership Accelerator Programme was created to intentionally bridge the leadership gap among African women. We believe that investing in young women today is investing in Africa’s future.” Ayeni also highlighted that through the programme, LEAP Africa is developing leadership skills and building a community of women equipped to influence policies, transform institutions, strengthen communities, and lead with courage, competence, and integrity.
Ayeni emphasised that young African women hold the key to the continent’s leadership future, stressing the need for sustained investment in their development and empowerment. She noted that investing in young women would ultimately strengthen Africa’s leadership capacity and shape the continent’s future.
Amabelle Nwakanma, director of programmes and partnerships at LEAP Africa, said the decision to host the first physical boot camp in Nairobi demonstrated the organisation’s commitment to building a pan-African leadership movement. Nwakanma stated that the fifth cohort speaks to what is possible when intentionally investing in young African women, noting that every cohort reinforces that Africa is rich with brilliant women who need the right opportunities, networks, and support systems to thrive.
Boot Camp Content and Participant Experience
The boot camp featured keynote sessions, panel discussions, experiential learning, peer collaboration, and case study presentations facilitated by speakers, industry experts, and women leaders from across Africa. Participants explored leadership topics including transformational leadership, the failure advantage, personal branding, executive presence, financial intelligence, and male allyship.
One participant said the programme broadened her understanding of leadership and reinforced the importance of service, collaboration, and creating opportunities for others. “The Leadership Accelerator Programme has expanded my perspective on leadership and reminded me that leadership is about service, collaboration, and creating opportunities for others. Beyond the sessions, the relationships I have built here will remain one of the most valuable parts of this experience,” she said.
LEAP Africa said it would continue to strengthen Africa’s leadership pipeline by equipping young women with the tools, confidence, and networks needed to address complex challenges, influence decision-making, and contribute to sustainable development across the continent.