Olympian Simidele Adeagbo Selected for Inaugural Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa Program
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA [July 11, 2018] – Trailblazing Olympian Simidele Adeagbo is creating the future in Africa, announcing today her selection for the inaugural Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa Program. This one-year leadership development and civic engagement program will train, support, and connect 200 promising young leaders across Africa working in government, civil society, and the private sector. The Foundation announced in April that it had received nearly 10,000 applications for 200 slots.
Adeagbo, also a business leader at Nike Inc. and sport and social justice advocate, applied for the program seeking to continue to break down barriers and drive positive change in her community, country and continent. She recently rolled out a signature leadership and sports master class for girls in Nigeria. Adeagbo conceptualized the master class through her first-hand experience of the power of sport as a unifying and transformative force to inspire youth, build communities and create social change. Her model is grounded in providing girls with access to quality development programs and positive role models to inspire them. She plans on scaling and amplifying the effect on the continent through partnerships with grassroots organizations that are driving innovative solutions to make an impact in girls’ lives.
Ultimately, Adeagbo is focused on unlocking the power and potential of Africa’s youth, empowering women and leveraging sports as a game changer for societal transformation. Through the Obama Leaders: Africa Program, she hopes to be equipped with the skills needed to create change and make a significant impact.
“I’m excited to be a member of the first class of the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa Program. I’ll be learning from and working with an impressive group of young people from across Africa to create local and global change. I’m looking forward to moving the world forward through creating the future that I want to see,” said Adeagbo.
As announced today by the Obama Foundation, Leaders in the Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa Program will come together in Johannesburg, South Africa in a five-day convening that runs from July 14 through July 18 and include plenary sessions, problem-solving workshops, and skill building trainings that will help young emerging leaders drive positive change throughout Africa. The convening will also include a town hall meeting with President Obama where he will hear about their experiences and the work they’re doing. Following the South Africa convening, Leaders will remain connected to the Foundation and one another via an online platform where they will engage in topical discussions, access leadership and training resources, and participate in trainings and webinars led by experts and industry leaders.
