The picture of the week

2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship, Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Sarah Kuponiyi - A Well-Informed Adolescent Initiative, Lagos, Nigeria

2024-07-10

The 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship, 1 of 56 Young impact leaders selected from Nigeria from over 56,000 applicant across Africa, 9000 applicants from Nigeria and over 200 interviewed.

It’s also an interesting year as the program marks its 10th Anniversary legacy cohort.

It’s amazing start so far and I am loving every bits of it meeting other Africans and American hosts.

During the Mandela Washington Fellowship, we had the honor of meeting Mississippi Senators, including the esteemed Senator Hillman Frazier. Senator Frazier, one of the longest-serving senators, shared his inspiring journey and the incredible work he’s done in Africa through his legislative strengthening project.

He walked us through Mississippi’s history, highlighting the significant progress from having no black representation in the Senate to over 50 men and women today. This change underscores the power of people advocating for change and the crucial role of strong institutions in achieving such milestones.

I had the opportunity to discuss his project in Africa and the critical role of strong institutions. We talked about the challenges in Nigeria, where the 35% affirmative action for women is still a struggle despite legal battles. Senator Frazier emphasized the need for constitutional amendments, legislative training, tenure elongation for lawmakers, an independent judiciary, and a robust legislative arm to effectively check the executive.

We also had the pleasure of being introduced to Senator John Horhn, adding to our enriching experience.

This fellowship continues to provide invaluable insights and connections, driving our commitment to positive change!