Elevate Africa Fellows

Natalie Sifuma is a development strategist inspiring social development in Africa. She is the Founder of Sisters in Climate, a PanAfrican community advancing knowledge and collaborations on climate for sustainable futures. Natalie began her career as a writer and knowledge architect at Paukwa House, where she built a digital repository of +1,200 positive Kenyan stories designed to counter media stories while encouraging a sense of pride and belonging among Kenyans. She then served as the Head of Communications for the SHE Changes Climate advocacy campaign, steering the campaign’s footprint into Africa and attracting over 10,000 supporters on the continent.

Joseph Ogwal is the Founder and CEO of Agro Supply, a company dedicated to providing innovative agricultural solutions and resources to farmers. With his background in agronomy and a commitment to sustainable farming, Joseph has been instrumental in bridging technology and agriculture. Under his leadership, Agro Supply has established itself as a trusted partner for farmers by offering high-quality inputs and contemporary techniques to enhance productivity and sustainability. He is dedicated to empowering local communities through education and support, ensuring that agriculture remains pivotal to economic development. Joseph actively encourages collaboration and innovation in the agricultural field, aiming to drive positive change and resilience in farming practices. Since Joseph took over, Agro Supply has grown from assisting 100 farmers in 2018 to supporting over 30,000 smallholder farmers, 43% of whom are women. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences and a diploma in Business Sustainability from Sweden.

Selam Teklehaimanot is a dynamic entrepreneur and COO of Tewos Technology Solutions, driving digital transformation in Africa ʼ s transportation sector. With over a decade in telecom and tech, she builds scalable solutions to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability in Ethiopia's mobility ecosystem. Passionate about innovation and empowerment, Selam fosters sustainable impact and economic opportunities across the continent. Committed to positioning African technology as a global leader, she inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs and change-makers to shape a brighter future.

Yayra Portia Klu is a dynamic community leader and political youth activist committed to transforming lives across Ghana. As the founder of Uriel Impact Generation, she has empowered over 3,000 young volunteers to serve in the areas of education and health initiatives, leading impactful outreach programs and collaborating with national leaders. Passionate about advancing women's leadership and youth involvement in governance, Yayra has earned accolades such as Youth Leader of the Year and has actively contributed to international dialogues on women’s issues as the envoy of women in governance under Eve International. With a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Governance, Yayra leverages her robust background to drive sustainable change in her community and beyond.

Dr. Tosan Mogbeyiteren is a medical doctor and technology innovator with 20 years of experience leading multidisciplinary teams in low-resource contexts. As Founder and Program Director of Black Swan Tech Ltd, he develops high-impact software solutions deployed by governments and international partners. His award-winning company has received recognition from USAID, Gavi, and the Jack Ma Foundation. A guest lecturer at the University of Turin and Acumen Fellow, Dr. Mogbeyiteren combines healthcare expertise with technological innovation to address complex development challenges. He leads interventions with country-level impact while mentoring the next generation of tech innovators.

Nicolette Ndigwe is a producer, and writer-director, born in eastern Nigeria and raised across five Nigerian cities by politician parents; giving her a unique insight into Nigeria’s socio-cultural dynamic. After graduating magna cum laude from the university with a communications degree, Nicolette founded a media company - IVEDIA HUB INTEGRATED, under which she has created, produced, and written several projects. She also serves as the managing director of a digital marketing company, IHI Digital, which has run several campaigns and strategic branding projects for top Nigerian brands like Sterling Bank, Guinness, Ford Foundation, and MACMME, to mention a few. She also founded a tourism company, NaijaTrotter which is focused on giving the best curated experience of Naija cities to foreign visitors.

Bola Edwards is a vibrant media producer, the CEO and co-founder of Proud African Roots, a content-producing and development company for children, teenagers, their schools and families. She has played both leading and supporting roles in theatre, television, radio and animation productions. She has produced work for and with corporate organizations including MNET Africa. As the creator and actor behind the sensational grandmother character Grandma Wura and the character’s impact across Africa, she uses the creative Arts and entertainment as tools for education and capacity-building programs for children and teenagers. She is an edtech fellow of MasterCard Foundation Fellowship, an alumnus of the US fellowship African Women Entrepreneurs ( AWE ), China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and The Enterprise Development Centre of Pan Atlantic University (EDC). Bola believes she has a big role to play in the realization of the “New Nigeria” dream and a “New Africa.

Maya is a medical graduate and public health researcher hailing from Tunisia and based in Canada. She is the founder of MednTech, a nonprofit leading AI-driven initiatives to improve women’s health, particularly in underserved African communities. Her work integrates clinical knowledge, research, and technology to tackle health disparities, with a focus on improving women's health. Currently, she is a Global Health Research Awardee at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and collaborates with healthcare professionals and researchers to drive sustainable health solutions across Africa.

Vuyelwa Nyakaza is an Economic Development Strategist, a seasoned Branding Expert, and a Public Speaker who is passionate about Africa's well-being and destiny. She’s the founder and Managing Director of Sukume Consulting which works to develop African economies, businesses, and brands for global competitiveness and socio-economic transformation. Combining her backgrounds in Branding, Anthropology, and Business, Vuyelwa uses identity to anchor African places/ nations, organisations, and individuals to achieve purpose-driven growth. As a thought leader and advocate of the Made-by-African concept, Vuyelwa addresses platforms to promote homegrown African SMEs. She delivers projects that build their awareness and provide market access for them.

Taman MHOUMADI is a French & Comorian climate transition speaker and CEO of African Loop Consulting, a firm specializing in climate strategy for organizations and in climate-focused art production. Based in Senegal, she has over six years of experience leading climate action projects between Europe and Africa, working across public policy, private sector strategies, and art productions. Beyond her climate expertise, Taman is also a singer and comedian performing under the name Tamaa, blending music, theater, poetry, and dance."

Accomplished biotech executive and venture strategist with a decade of experience leading life sciences companies to exit, acquisition, and scaling growth. Has mentored 100+ synthe1c biology startups from UCL, Cambridge, Oxford, and Imperial, guiding them to secure over £10M+ in investment while driving fundraising, market expansion, and commercial strategy. Deeply committed to global health equity, leveraging biotech innovation, investment, and technology to improve healthcare access in Africa. Worked with Summa Equity, EQT Ventures, and McKinsey to scale biotech firms, optimize market access, and drive las1ng impact. Excited to apply this experience to transform healthcare ini1a1ves through the WeElevate Fellowship.

Elina Amadhila is a senior lecturer and researcher in the Faculty of Commerce, Management & Law (Department of Enterprise Development and Management) at the University of Namibia where she has been a faculty member since 2018. Elina completed her PhD at Stellenbosch University Business School, and her MA and undergraduate studies at the University of Namibia. Her research interests lie in the area of development finance, with a focus on the link between agricultural finance and social protection where she has published several papers. Her latest on this topic is a book chapter in a book titled: Rethinking the Land and Agrarian Questions in Africa published by the Africa Century Editions (ACE) Press. She has collaborated actively with researchers in several other disciplines of education, disability studies and tourism. Her latest publication is a book she co-edited on teaching and learning with Digital technologies on Higher Education Institutions in Africa: case studies from a Pandemic context. Elina is also a research fellow in the summer program of the Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies and a member of the Global Young Academy, an international society of young scientists, aiming to give a voice to young scientists across the globe.

Daniel, 32, is a Malawian development practitioner with over 10 years of experience in social programming and communication. Beginning his career as a journalist, he transitioned to leading impactful development projects. In 2023, he spearheaded the establishment of Malawi's first six Community Foundations and contributed to the growth of community philanthropy in Southern Africa. His contributions earned him a place in the Digital Skills Development Programme for African youth by UNITAR; and later awarded a scholarship by the University of East Anglia to study Master’s in Development. A strategic and ambitious leader, Daniel is dedicated to fostering a self-reliant Africa.

Nimah N’zani Kassim is a dynamic advocate for gender equality, human rights, and inclusive development, dedicated to empowering marginalized communities across Africa. As the founder of the Hijabi Mentorship Program, she has mentored over 7,000 girls, fostering leadership and advocacy for gender equity. With over a decade of experience in strategic communications and policy advocacy, Nimah has worked with leading organizations, amplifying voices and shaping narratives that drive impact. Her work spans Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Tanzania, influencing policies and grassroots initiatives. She is committed to leveraging communication and leadership to elevate Africa’s development and governance transformation.

Ackson Kondwani Mwenda an Aerospace engineer who graduated from Ukraine at National Aerospace University in 2015. I am an Aerospace Engineer at Elementus Africa a company providing Security and Technology solutions in Angola. I am a Zambian citizen.

As professor in the Agriculture faculty, Cairo University, I pioneered Plant Protection research by developing new biological aspects. My novel concepts have been widely adopted in articles across Egypt. I developed academic courses to tackle environmental challenges. I set-up a scientific research laboratory at Cairo and Heliopolis University to study pest threats in the agro-ecosystem. In 2018, I joined Organic Agriculture Faculty, Heliopolis University to teach organic agriculture, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I participated in funded agricultural projects aimed to develop capacity-building programs & extension. As department head and Vice Dean at HU, I focused on development and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration.

Grace Nelson is a strategic professional with a decade of combined experience in Pharmacy, Public Health, Regulatory Affairs, and Private Sector Development. She is adept at policy advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to drive healthcare transformation. Passionate about research-based policy change and evidence-based decision-making, she believes strategic partnerships and innovative access strategies are key to improving global health. Beyond her technical expertise, she is dedicated to leadership and mentorship, actively contributing to professional organizations like the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGh) to advance professional development. As an Elevate Africa Fellow, she looks forward to collaborating with change-makers to shape Africa’s future.