ALI West Africa Restates Commitment To Leadership Development

In its ongoing effort to drive leadership transformation, the Africa Leadership Initiative West Africa (ALIWA) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening institutions, improving governance, and driving social progress across West Africa.

In line with this purpose, the Fellowship recently launched its National Leadership Dialogue, a forum designed to bring leaders together to tackle pressing societal and institutional challenges through constructive dialogue and shared learning.

Founded over 20 years ago, ALIWA is a regional leadership development organisation affiliated with the Aspen Institute, USA, and is established through a collaboration between Databank Foundation (Ghana) and LEAP Africa (Nigeria).

The organisation is guided by the vision of creating a ‘Good Society’ – a just, equitable, and sustainable society where opportunities are accessible to all, and is committed to developing the next generation of community-spirited leaders in Africa who move from success to significance while being equipped to meet the challenges of 21st-century leadership.

ALIWA brings together high-achieving, cross-sector leaders from Business and Finance, Public Service and Policy, Technology and Entrepreneurship, and Civil Society and Media across four West African nations, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Fellows are senior leaders dedicated to ethical decision-making, long-term societal impact, and the transformation of institutions. As a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), ALIWA connects its Fellows to a global community of over 4,000 high-integrity, entrepreneurial leaders from diverse backgrounds, including business, government, and civil society, spanning more than 60 countries.

The president of ALIWA, Nigeria Chapter, Mr Soji Apampa, emphasised that dialogue and values-based leadership are critical to addressing Africa’s most complex challenges.

“We believe that societies progress when leaders choose dialogue over conflict, values over power, and service over self-interest. ALIWA is building a community of leaders who understand that leadership does not require a title or position. Still, a commitment to act in the public interest and to help build systems that work for the greater good.”

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, the executive director of ALIWA, Mrs Ayo Maji said, “ALIWA is about moving leaders from success to significance. We are challenging a generation of leaders to look beyond personal achievement and ask a deeper question, what responsibility do I carry to my society? Our fellowship is designed to shape leaders who are grounded in values, committed to ethical decision-making, and prepared to use their influence to strengthen institutions and improve lives.”

A key feature of ALIWA’s approach is the emphasis on ventures and initiatives led by Fellows. These ventures, whether social enterprises, policy interventions, or civic initiatives, are designed to translate leadership learning into tangible societal impact. By creating programs, institutions, and initiatives that address community needs, Fellows extend the reach of ALIWA’s principles beyond individual development, fostering innovation, accountability, and sustainable solutions that strengthen institutions and improve the lives of communities across West Africa.