One Million Leaders Africa Project

The third quarter of 2025 was a period of electrifying growth, validating the OMLA model for driving scalable change at every level. This timeframe marked a pivotal transition for the 4th Fellowship Cohort, as Fellows moved from intensive training and mentorship into the crucial phase of execution and fundraising, which culminated in the highly successful OMLA Deal Room.

This Deal Room saw the mobilization of the biggest, boldest plans the world has ever seen from our Fellows, all focused on creating massive global impact. This success is a powerful validation of the entire OMLA model and the intense preparation completed during the quarter. As Fellow Polyne Nafula (Kenya) remarked, “OMLA has empowered me to turn my vision into action, and I am deeply grateful for its lasting impact on my journey.”

The OMLA Fellowship 2025 officially concluded with a momentous virtual Graduation Ceremony on Friday, October 10, 2025. This event honored 60 Graduating Fellows and their 74 dedicated team members (OMLA Champions), celebrating the resilience and dedication demonstrated throughout the program. We proudly recognized their formal transition from program participants to members of our influential Alumni Community, and we look forward to tracking their continuing, scalable impact across the continent.

Concurrent to the Fellowship milestones, the third quarter witnessed a period of crucial activity at the grassroots level with the execution of the annual OMLA Bootcamp. We took decisive action to address the critical skills gap in underserved communities across Ondo State, successfully mobilizing and training an impressive cohort of 91 motivated teenagers (56 females, 35 male) from distant and often marginalized areas.

The August flagship event provided vital, hands-on instruction led by experts in high-demand areas, including basic ICT, Baking and Confectionery, and Craft Making, alongside foundational leadership training on Goal Setting and Goal Mapping. This intensive approach resulted in tangible outcomes: participants proudly showcased final projects, such as a fully developed Chicken Row game, a variety of market-ready baked goods, and beautifully crocheted items.

The impact of this grassroots program is officially validated. Survey results confirmed an outstanding achievement: 100% of all participants acquired new skills in their chosen area. Furthermore, a remarkable 98.7% of these young leaders now feel confidently equipped to generate a sustainable source of income. This near-perfect metric confirms the program’s power in driving economic self-reliance.

We extend our sincere thanks to our committed partners for their ongoing belief in this work; together, we are actively fueling the future of African leadership at every level.