Drake University 2016 Mandela Washington Fellows

Aurelie Yapi

Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire

Passionate about research, strategy and finance, Aurelie Yapi is a hard-working, goal-oriented person, who currently works as a business development and investment banking analyst in a corporate finance boutique in Côte d'Ivoire. She holds a master’s degree in Insurance with honors from the Institut National Polytechnique Houphouët Boigny (INP-HB) in Côte d’Ivoire and is also enrolled as a Level II candidate in the CFA program. Her desire to work in a challenging environment led her to enter the investment industry, where for over four years, she has taken an active part in the structuring of capital-raising operations for private and public companies, the analysis of financial markets and setting up and evaluating business plans. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, she plans to continue her work as a financial and strategic adviser. A former Ivorian national long jump champion, Aurelie is also engaged in gospel choirs and social action committees.

Boas Fernando

Luanda, Angola

Boas Fernando has about five years of experience in the nonprofit sector and another four years in the private sector. At the moment, Boas works for BP Angola as a human resource international mobility and immigrations advisor, in which role he provides advice on business leadership and ensures conformity of Angolan immigration laws and regulations. Boas is currently at the end of his master’s degree in International Management with the University of Liverpool, specializing in oil and gas. After the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Boas plans to launch a business consultancy and information archiving venture, which will mostly focus on encouraging digital archiving. This venture is aimed at making a strong contribution to sustainable development through environmental conservation as there will be a reduction in the need for tree- and grass-based paper-making.

Bonga Dlamini

Manzini, Swaziland

Bonga Dlamini is the founder and director of Expressions Architects, an architectural firm based in Manzini, Swaziland. He has over nine years’ experience in the architectural industry, three years of which has been at Expressions Architects. In addition to being a designer, he is also responsible for managing and sourcing projects as well as the daily operations of the firm. Bonga holds a bachelor of technology degree in Architectural Technology from the Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, he intends to continue building his firm and focusing on designing sustainable and energy-efficient buildings and manufacturing prefabricated houses that are cost effective.

Mimshach Obioha

Abuja, Nigeria

Emmanuel Mimshach Obioha has over 10 years of experience in various fields in the youth development sectors. Currently the CEO of Klifage Global Resources Ltd, Mimshach develops and executes various youth- and community-development initiatives that economically empower youths. He creates sustainable community development models for youths and communities in the region. He also works as the program coordinator for Ventures Platform, a new technology business incubator that provides seed funding, co-working spaces, shared services, and business mentoring to startup businesses. Mimshach holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Lagos. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Mimshach plans to continue his work in community and youth development, with a focus on economically empowering youths and building sustainable community development projects.

Eva Nguema Ayaga

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Evangelina Nguema Ayaga has over five years of experience in the community development sector, in the creation of small and medium enterprises in particular. Currently, Evangelina is CEO for the Malabo H2O Lavandería-Autoservicio SL, where she focuses on improving the quality of life of the poorest people in Equatorial Guinea and Africa by providing a laundry service. She also volunteers in a project called 'Mujer Ideal', which aims to empower women. Evangelina holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the Carlos Rafael Rodriguez University in Cienfuegos, Cuba. She focused on health and safety in a poultry company through the management of human capital. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Evangelina plans to continue expanding her company in Equatorial Guinea and the African continent.

Masta Kemsolbaye

N'djamena, Chad

Evarist Kemsolbaye has over three years of experience in the oil and gas industry, dealing with operations and engineering. Currently, he works for a leading oilfield services company as a completions and workover engineer, where he focuses on delivering job programs and procedures as well as following technical field executions. Prior to this position, Evarist was an equipment engineer for a road construction company in Libreville, Gabon. He is also engaged in his local community in the field of youth employment and child schooling. Evarist holds a master's degree in Industrial Engineering from the Catholic University of Central Africa, with a focus on industrial process and maintenance. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Evarist plans to continue demonstrating leadership in his workplace and to further increase his social impact by helping to create positive change in his community and country.

Gina Leboungou Nzengue

Libreville, Gabon

In 2010, Gina Nzengue co-founded the first Gabonese job board, www.jobgabon.com. In 2012, this work was recognized by the President of the Gabonese Republic President with a National Order of Merit. She has four years’ experience working at a radio station, where she sold advertising and worked on finding new customers and contracts, and organizing their communication strategies. In 2015, she created her own advertising company named Think'Pub. Gina holds a professional license in Human Ressources Management, and a degree in Marketing. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Gina plans to continue her work of transforming Think'Pub into the first Gabonese adverting company. The YALI is essential to the realization of this dream because by taking part this project, she will benefit from the expertise which will help her to strategically develop her business. She aims to encourage entrepreneurship and empowerment of girls, whose potential is still ignored.

Immanuel Hango

Walvis Bay, Namibia

Immanuel Pamwenatse Hango is a 31-year-old registered professional engineer. He has eight years' experience in the civil engineering industry, including working in the construction of Namibia’s only water desalination plant, engineering consulting and in the ports and maritime environment. He now works at the Namibian Ports Authority as an engineer. Immanuel is also a social entrepreneur and is currently pursuing his MBA in Entrepreneurship through Steinbeis University, Berlin. In 2015, through his company, Profile Namibia Chemicals, he identified a solution producing chlorine for water purification as a means to fight cholera. He has since patented the innovation, which involves electrolyzing salt using abundant solar energy. The idea was selected as a semi-finalist in the Technology Idea (Tech-I) 2015 competition by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. During the Fellowship, he expects to network and form partnerships to help implement a chloro-alkali project in Namibia.

Jeff Arhin

Accra, Ghana

Jeffrey Arhin is a dental surgeon, public-health practitioner, and social entrepreneur who is determined to make a lasting impact on oral health delivery in Ghana. After serving a year as peacekeeping officer in Cote D’Ivoire (UNOCI), he established Oracare Dental Center, a community dental practice focused on preventive dental care. Jeffry has over seven years of experience spanning clinical practice, oral health research and advocacy, dental-auxiliary training activities, and oral health promotion. He is also a local collaborator with Dentaid. A graduate of the University of Ghana’s School of Medicine and Dentistry and School of Public Health, Jeffrey is currently a fellow of the NIH/Forgarty Center Cardio Institute, a collaboration between New York University and the University of Ghana to train the next generation of African researchers in noncommunicable disease epidemiology. His goal after the Mandela Washington Fellowship is to expand his practice to several underserved communities across Ghana.

Khady Nakoulima

Dakar, Senegal

Khady Nakoulima runs Nest For All, a company she started with her brother, Ousseynou, in 2009, soon after graduating from Mines-Paristech, an engineering school in France. Growing up in a family of doctors, they were both concerned about the poor conditions for women at birth. Inspired by the social impact of hospital chains in India, they decided to start Nest for All, a network of clinics providing quality health care services for women and children at a reasonable cost. They were later joined by a team of Senegalese doctors, investors, and partners who invest in small and medium African enterprises. Together, they set up two Nest centers: an outpatient clinic that is open 24/7, and a 13-bed maternity hospital that provides delivery services, surgery, and hospitalization. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Khady plans to continue growing Nest for All by addressing the needs of African women in health care.

MN Pemba Boussougou

Libreville, Gabon

Marie-Noelline Boussougou has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an Entrepreneurship option from the Institut Superieur de Technologie of Gabon. She defines herself as a social entrepreneur. She has one year of experience as the general manager of her startup, La Maison de L'Orthopedie, which specializes in the distribution of orthopedic aids for mobility and comfort. Born with a deformity of the lower limbs, she is fighting to popularize these products in her country. She advocates for dignity and respect for the physically challenged. Marie-Noelline is fluent in corporate communications and strategy development. When she returns home from the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Marie-Noelline will continue to fight for the well-being of people with disabilities.

Ndolenodji Hyacinthe

Ndjamena, Chad

Hyacinthe Ndolenodji has three years’ experience in architectural design and construction. Having worked for several construction companies as a consulting architect, he is currently the general manager of Green Concept, a consulting firm specializing in sustainable architectural design, environment and energy projects, which he founded in 2015. Hyacinthe conducts research on energy efficiency in buildings and promotes energy saving for low- and middle-income groups in his community. He is also an entrepreneur and is currently managing small businesses to support his work. Hyacinthe holds a BTech (Hons) degree in Architecture from Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, he will continue working in his firm. He also plans to promote the use of solar energy in rural areas by distributing solar lamp kits to rural communities, thus encouraging clean lighting systems in households.

Lanre Suleiman

Ilorin, Nigeria

Lanre Suleiman is a creative, vibrant entrepreneur. He is the founder of Ilorin Recycling Enterprise, a company providing a locally adapted, commercially driven waste-management solution that creates jobs and reduces poverty. He is also a teacher, a volunteer, and a community organizer. Lanre is graduate with a BSc (Hons) in Plant Biology from the University of Ilorin, where he focused and wrote papers on environmental impact assessment and solid-waste management. He plans to leverage on the experience gained from the Mandela Washington Fellowship to turn his enterprise into a profit-generating business that provides solutions in community waste management and recycling. His vision is to generate maximum social and environmental impact by improving waste management systems in Nigeria, and thereby promote employment, income generation, and poverty alleviation.

Peter Nyamai

Nairobi, Kenya

Peter Mumo Nyamai is an innovative business developer. He has over three years’ experience in developing sustainable and affordable solutions to the challenges facing Kenyan farmers, particularly in water management and the safe and effective use of pesticides and fertilizers. Peter previously worked as technical manager for a leading pesticides and fertilizer development and distribution company, where he acquired significant skills in business development, leadership, and management. Peter is the founder of Expressions Global Group Ltd, where he is currently the projects and product development manager. Peter holds an honors degree in Chemical and Process Engineering from Moi University in Kenya. Upon completion of the Mandela-Washington Fellowship, Peter plans to continue expanding the capacity and presence of his enterprise to reach more consumers and develop a larger product portfolio.

Rosalia Neshuku

Swakopmund, Namibia

Rosalia Neshuku is an environmental health practitioner working at the Swakopmund Municipality. She has four years of experience in environmental health and environmental management. Rosalia holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health Sciences and a postgraduate diploma in Environmental Management. She carries out measures to protect public and environmental health and implements strategies to minimize health and safety hazards. She is very passionate about helping people by promoting education, self-development, and self-reliance, especially amongst the youth. She aspires to be a specialist in environmental pollution control and a mentor to young people, assisting them to realize their potential. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Rosalia intends to carry out projects that promote and protect public health and the environment in Swakopmund as well as in other communities across Namibia. She is determined to contribute to the eradication of poverty in her country.

Selam Robi

Ethiopia

Selamawit Wondimu has over six years of experience in urban planning. Currently, Selamawit is a senior analyst at the Ethiopian Industrial Park Development Corporation, which is driving the country’s large-scale industrialization initiative. She works closely on a daily basis with her counterparts on the development of guidelines and standards for industrial-park developments, supporting capacity building, and supporting the operations of the parks. She owns and runs a maker space in Addis, where she provides cutting and engraving services for young entrepreneurs and makers. Selamawit holds a Master of Science degree in Human Settlements from the University of Leuven, Belgium, where she focused on spatial planning and networked governance and how it can enhance coordination in regional and urban development in Ethiopia. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Selamawit plans to continue to expand her business while supporting the country’s industrialization and studying its impact on Ethiopian cities.

Sicelo Dube

Zimbabwe

Sicelo Dube is a passionate scientist and entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in the field of business. She is currently the founding director of LEC Suppliers Pvt Ltd (trading as LEC Biotec), a leading supplier of science education and research equipment, chemicals, and consumables. Sicelo is also a senior lab technician and part-time Science teacher at Hellenic International Academy, where she actively contributes to science education in the country. She is actively involved in advocating for the adoption of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Through LEC Biotec, she conducts technical training and development workshops for lab technicians throughout Zimbabwe. Sicelo holds a BSc in Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, an MSc in Biotechnology and is currently studying for her MBA. Upon completion of the Nelson Mandela Fellowship, Sicelo plans to start a science institute that will be open to passionate scientists of all age groups.

Sitraka Tafangy

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Despite her job as air traffic controller, Sitraka Tafangy’s positive and energetic attitude spurred her on to study Medicine. She has graduated as a general practitioner and become an aviation medical examiner. Active and creative, Tafangy founded her private health clinic in 2014 with 10 female employees.As the head manager, she demonstrates a high level of leadership and uses her communication skills to work cooperatively with many partners. In her community, Tafangy is described as ‘the friend to all’ and ‘the minister of the population’. Devoted to her social commitments, she manages ‘Health Center for All’, which aims to provide regular free medication, and free medical consultations and screenings to poor people without medical insurance. Tafangy’s main goal, upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, is to start an Aeromedical Center of Expertise with female staff and hence launch a revenue-generating business for social advocacy.

Stephanie Epiliki

Douala, Cameroon

Stephanie Chrisna Mikeh Epiliki has two years of experience in marketing, business management, and agriculture. Currently, Stephanie is the founder and CEO of Mikabs Trading Co Ltd, which does printing services and the production of paper bags. Stephanie is responsible for all day-to-day management and decisions, and the implementation of the company's long- and short-term plans. She also cultivates food crops like yams, maize and egusi in the rural areas of Cameroon. Stephanie does community service from time to time by visiting orphanages, where she spends time with the children. Stephanie studied Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Buea, and is a certified public secretary from Fomic Business School, Buea. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Stephanie plans to expand her company, especially in the paper-bags department and in agriculture, and to create more job opportunities.

Tebogo Nhlatho

Maun, Botswana

Tebogo Nhlatho is an entrepreneur in the health sector. A qualified physiotherapist with 10 years’ experience, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy from the University of the Western Cape, a certificate in Accounting from the University of Cape Town, and a certificate in Ergonomics Auditing. Tebogo started Ngami Physiotherapy Clinic seven years ago, where she worked as technician and managing director. Together with her husband, Dr Max Nhlatho, she founded a medical day-care center, The Doctor’s Inn. It includes an outpatient department, accident and emergency department, a day surgery, radiology department, physiotherapy, dental, pharmacy, and occupational health departments. The center serves the community of Maun, as well as tourists. Her main focus is the operational running of the center. After completing the Fellowship, Tebogo plans to continue her MBA with Walden University, equipping herself with the knowledge and skills to be the successful businesswoman she aspires to be.

Hamidou Barry

Conakry, Guinea

Hamidou Barry has six years of experience in Africa and Australia in business improvement, including project management. He is a certified Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma, and currently works for Rio Tinto Simandou in Guinea. His main responsibilities are to deeply implement Lean methodology, thus reducing cost, eliminating waste, and implementing continuous improvement through strong business transformation. This experience will help in the achievement of his entrepreneurial goals. Hamidou also plays a key role in his local community, where he is committed to quality education, socio-economic development, afforestation, crime reduction, and the discouragement of narcotics use in his sub-prefecture of Daralabe. Hamidou holds an Industrial Engineering diploma from Morocco. Upon completion of the Fellowship, he plans to continue improving the living conditions of his local community and beyond, and to build a food-processing industry, thus contributing to food self-sufficiency and reducing unemployment in his country.

Tidiane Ball

Bamako, Mali

Tidiane Ball is a medical doctor and medical IT professional. In 2009 he founded Malisanté (www.malisante.net), Mali's medical information website and health professionals directory. He is also the co-founder of DoniLab, a co-working space and social innovation center in Mali. At DoniLab he helps young people to innovate and undertake daring projects. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Tidiane plans to continue working to inspire young people because he believes that the employment challenge will only be solved through self-employment.

Vel Dube

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Velile Dube is an avid marketing practitioner with a passion for relationship building. He is employed as the regional marketing manager of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, where he is responsible for lobbying and facilitating to create a favorable environment for business development in Zimbabwe. Velile went to Rhodes Estate Prep School and Plumtree High School, Zimbabwe. He majored in Marketing at the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). He aspires to be a chartered marketer and doctor in Philosophy of Marketing. A renowned speaker, trainer, and presenter, he is a member of Toastmasters International, Junior Chamber International (JCI), Customer Care Association of Zimbabwe (CCAZ), Zimbabwe Institute of Management (ZIM), and Marketers Association of Zimbabwe (MAZ). He has a passion for children and upon return from YALI, he aims to spearhead foreign direct investments for Zimbabwe through synergies and partnerships.

Gloria Njiu

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Gloria Njiu is a young commercial leader with more than five years’ experience in the telecommunications, and information and communication technology industries. Currently, she is a strategic solutions manager for Vodacom (M-Commerce). With her broad experience in mobile money (M-Pesa), IT, and sales and product development, she has a passion for developing financial inclusion in Tanzania. Gloria is an entrepreneur in network marketing for Forever Living products and is currently an Eagle Organization Ltd manager. She focuses on empowerment for community women and youth and giving back through the business. Gloria holds a BTech in Information Technology from Anna University, India. She looks forward to gaining practical management and leadership skills so that, after completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, she can professionalize network marketing. Her aim is to create a sustainable youth-empowerment platform through an educational institution, which will be focused on training and developing dynamic entrepreneurial leaders. Gloria Njiu is a young commercial leader with more than five years’ experience in the telecommunications, and information and communication technology industries. Currently, she is a strategic solutions manager for Vodacom (M-Commerce). With her broad experience in mobile money (M-Pesa), IT, and sales and product development, she has a passion for developing financial inclusion in Tanzania. Gloria is an entrepreneur in network marketing for Forever Living products and is currently an Eagle Organization Ltd manager. She focuses on empowerment for community women and youth and giving back through the business. Gloria holds a BTech in Information Technology from Anna University, India. She looks forward to gaining practical management and leadership skills so that, after completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship, she can professionalize network marketing. Her aim is to create a sustainable youth-empowerment platform through an educational institution, which will be focused on training and developing dynamic entrepreneurial leaders.