First-Time Fellowship Institute at AAMU Empowers Entrepreneurs

Alabama A&M University has joined a group of U.S. institutions selected to host the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, welcoming 25 of Africa’s most dynamic and promising business professionals to its campus for the summer.

The six-week Leadership in Business Institute launched June 18, marking AAMU’s debut as a Fellowship host site. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), launched in 2014 to support emerging African leaders through academic, professional, and cultural exchange in the United States.

“This is a transformational opportunity – not only for the Fellows, but also for Alabama A&M,” said Sonya Merritt, Director of Experiential Learning Opportunities in the College of Business and Public Affairs (COBPA). “Some of them are already business owners or leaders in their fields. We’ve tailored a program to support their individual goals by connecting them with coaches and industry experts aligned with their interests.”

Throughout the program, Fellows are engaging in intensive training on entrepreneurship, marketing, technology, and financial strategy – along with real-world site visits to local organizations. Each week focuses on a different aspect of business development, encouraging both practical skills and cross-cultural dialogue.

The diverse 2025 cohort hails from 18 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, including Zambia, Mauritius, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Liberia, Benin, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Mali, Djibouti, Uganda, Comoros, Malawi, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Mauritania. The group includes founders of tech startups, business incubator leaders, and professionals working in sectors ranging from agriculture and food security to artificial intelligence, education, and environmental sustainability.

Fellows in Focus

Among the cohort is Sheila Chanda Bwali, a tech entrepreneur from Zambia and founder and CEO of Findit Technology Limited, a company specializing in web and app development.

“I’m looking forward to learning how businesses are run in the U.S. and tapping into that knowledge to take back home,” said Bwali. “It’s my first time in the United States and I’m so excited to be here. If anyone needs a website, I’m your plug!”

Another standout is Antish Kumar Aubeelock of Mauritius, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean.

“I’m a program officer at a business incubator supporting social and environmental impact startups,” said Aubeelock. “It took me 30 hours to get here, but it’s worth every second. I invite everyone to visit Mauritius and sip pineapple juice by the beach!”

Fellows were selected through a rigorous, merit-based process and represent the next generation of African changemakers. All participants are college graduates between the ages of 25 and 35, with a track record of leadership and impact in their home communities.

AAMU is also partnering with Global Ties Alabama, led by CEO Jacquelyn Shipe, to facilitate cultural exchange and deepen local engagement.

“These young professionals bring so much expertise and energy,” said Merritt. “And just as they’re learning from us, we’re learning from them.”

The Fellowship continues through July 26, with opportunities for the campus and Huntsville communities to interact with the Fellows through business roundtables, cultural showcases, and professional networking events.

For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship and to learn more about this year’s cohort, visit https://www.mandelawashingtonfellowship.org/2025/04/17/u-s-educational-institutions-to-host-mandela-washington-fellows-2025/