20 rising African innovators join forces with AWS on the future of sustainable farming and healthcare

Business A.M

Twenty young innovators from eleven African countries have been selected by the African Leadership University (ALU) to travel to its Silicon Valley hub in the US as part of the ALU Global Leadership Programme. This programme is focused on experiential learning and aims to immerse ALU students in the hub of technological innovation, giving them the skills to tackle Africa’s most pressing challenges and seize its greatest opportunities. This is a one-of-a-kind initiative that offers ALU students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the world’s leading tech ecosystem.

As part of the month-long ALU Global Leadership Programme, the twenty innovators lived on the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, California, at the centre of Silicon Valley. The students visited tech giants including Amazon Web Services, Google, and Netflix, and participated in a series of educational activities and workshops with academics and innovators from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. They gained first-hand experience of the technology ecosystem through this unique immersion in one of the world’s most technologically advanced hubs.

The ALU Global Leadership Programme is committed to strengthening connections between different African countries, as well as the diversity of the ALU community. The twenty students who participated came from eleven African countries, including Cameroon, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They received support and one-on-one advice from industry mentors and student buddies at Stanford University, and had the opportunity to network with US entrepreneurs.

The students visited Amazon Web Services (AWS) for a full day, where they were greeted by Lorraine Bassett, industry leader for Partner Solutions, and Vineet Daniels, senior Programme manager and head of operations for Partner Solutions.

They also met with Elizabeth Fastiggi, head of Worldwide Business Development and Agriculture, and Venkat Maroju, CEO of SourceTrace. The students discussed how innovative and sustainable technologies can address food insecurity, boost employment opportunities, and support the sustainable development of Africa’s growing population, exploring ways in which technological solutions can have a positive impact on Africa.

Veda Sunassee, CEO of ALU, said, the global  leadership program stands apart as a truly hands-on learning experience.

“By immersing themselves in the ecosystem of Silicon Valley, and connecting first-hand with some of the world’s most pioneering companies, like Amazon Web Services, our students will be uniquely positioned to continue their entrepreneurial journey,” he said.

 According to Sunassee, Africa’s young people have incredible potential, and ALU is dedicated to giving them the tools and opportunities they need to develop the necessary leadership skills and make the most of Africa’s potential.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Carnegie Foundation, and excited to welcome the support of the Master Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and Omidyar Network. I hope more American leaders can partner with us to help skill up the next generation of African changemakers,” he added.

The students also met with Amanda Goltz, US healthcare lead for worldwide public sector healthcare venture capital and startups, and Christopher Johnson, director of partner relations at Aegix AIM. Johnson shared his knowledge of sustainable solutions that can address poverty in underserved regions.

Lorraine Bassett, Partner Solutions Factory, industry leader at AWS, expressed  pleasure hosting the students at the headquarters.

“My colleagues and I were very impressed with the innovation, ambition, and entrepreneurial spirit that the students showed during the workshops – from their curiosity around how we develop products, to leading their own insightful discussions on the future of technological innovation. ALU’s model, based on experiential and mission-oriented learning, is something that higher education institutions in the US can really learn from,” Bassett said.

 Following the success of last year’s Global Leadership Program, ALU has partnered with the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the Master Foundation, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and the Omidyar Network to host the second cohort of students at the AWS Silicon Valley hub.