61 Girls from 8 African countries undergo leadership training
Sixty-One young girls from eight African countries have graduated from a regional leadership camp designed to nurture the next generation of female leaders on the continent.
The participants, drawn from Eswatini, Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia, had intensive training in leadership, entrepreneurship and problem-solving.
The week-long programme, dubbed LEAD Camp 2026, organised by Junior Achievement Africa in partnership with Delta Air Lines, saw the participants being inducted into the 10 Million African Girls (10MAG) community — a long-term mentorship and opportunity platform aimed at grooming future leaders.
The camp, held in Accra from March 2 to 8, 2026, in commemoration of International Women's Day, formed part of a long-term plan to build a pipeline of confident young African women capable of leading businesses, shaping policy and driving social change across the continent.
Future leaders
The President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Junior Achievement Africa, Simi Nwogugu, said the programme was created to strengthen the leadership capacity of girls who had already shown promise through JA’s entrepreneurship programmes.
She explained that the camp began more than two decades ago in Nigeria but had since expanded across the continent with the support of Delta Air Lines.
“Our motivation is to develop Africa’s future leaders because we believe that with more capable young girls and women in leadership, Africa will achieve its full potential,” she said.
Ms Nwogugu added that the 10MAG initiative aimed to cultivate leadership among outstanding girls over the next two to three decades so that by 2050, many of them would be occupying key leadership roles across Africa.
“By 2050, these girls will be leading in their communities, their nations and across the continent, helping to build the Africa we all dream about,” she said.
Women underrepresented
The General Sales Agent (GSA) General Manager for Ghana at Delta Air Lines, Eloina Baddoo, said the airline supported the initiative as part of its broader commitment to community development in the regions where it operated.
She said women remained underrepresented in many professional fields, particularly in science and technology sectors.
“Even in the aviation industry, about five per cent or less of pilots are women, which shows how underrepresented women are in major technological roles,” she said.
Ms Baddoo explained that, beyond financial support, staff of the airline also volunteered their time and leveraged professional networks to support the leadership programme.
She added that after graduation, the girls would continue to receive mentorship and opportunities through the 10MAG network to ensure the skills acquired translated into real leadership outcomes.
Potentials
The CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ghana, Doris Kafui Afanyedey, urged the participants to recognise their potential and take up leadership roles in their communities.
“Leadership is not always about titles. It begins with the moment someone decides they want to make the world a better place,” she said.
She encouraged the graduates to believe in themselves, adding that their voices and ideas could drive change.
“Never underestimate the power of your voice. Every great movement begins with someone brave enough to start,” she said.
