Accra: The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has announced three African professionals for this year's mentoring programmes at leading multilateral institutions.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Foundation has selected Ghana's Bradley Kwaku Poku-Amankwah, an energy professional, to join the African Development Bank (AfDB). Meanwhile, Khdeija Sidi Boubacar of Mauritania will join the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and Tapiwa Ronald Cheuka of Zimbabwe will join the International Trade Centre (ITC).
The statement from the Foundation indicated that the fellows will 'gain both technical and leadership skills while contributing directly to research and policy design' during their 12-month programmes. A notable feature of the programme is the opportunity for the fellows to receive direct mentorship from the heads of the host organisations. Since 2012, 40 Fellows, including this year's cohort, from across Africa have participated in the programme.
Upon completion of their placements, the Fellows will become members of the Foundation's Now Generation Network (NGN), a coalition of young and mid-career Africans from all 54 African countries, committed to advancing the continent's development agenda. Bradley Kwaku Poku-Amankwah has an impressive background, having led Ghana's Energy Transition and Investment Plan with SEforALL and serving as Senior Technical Assistant to the Minister for Energy. His academic credentials include institutions like Oxford, the London School of Economics, and St Andrews University. He was recognized with the Rising Star Award at the 2023 Ghana Energy Awards and is acknowledged among the UK's most influential young Black leaders.
Khdeija Sidi Boubacar, a peace and development expert, brings over a decade of experience in conflict prevention, social cohesion, and youth empowerment. Her experience spans the United Nations, government, and diplomatic sectors, including her role as National Peace and Development Analyst in the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Mauritania. As a Chevening and Mandela Washington Fellow, she holds advanced degrees in management and international exchanges, deeply committed to fostering sustainable development and peace-building in Mauritania and beyond.
Tapiwa Ronald Cheuka is a senior expert in trade and economic development, focusing on digital trade and modernising trade-in-services frameworks. He has collaborated with the African Union Commission, UNECA, and UNCTAD. Known for translating complex diagnostics into actionable opportunities, he advances investment and development through innovative trade policies.
