MBA student participates in President Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School final-year MBA student, Thabang Moleko, recently returned from a six-week academic and leadership programme in the United States of America as part of President Barack Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI).

Over 50 000 individuals’ applied and only 500 applicants were chosen from diverse fields ranging from: Public administration, business, entrepreneurship and civic leadership. Named the Mandela Washington Fellowship, in honour of late President Nelson Mandela, the Initiative endeavours to bring “500 of Africa’s most dynamic young leaders, ages 25-35, to the United States for six weeks of leadership training, networking, and mentoring at twenty top U.S. universities in three areas: business and entrepreneurship, civic engagement and public administration”.

We asked Thabang to describe his experience in his own words:
“Applicants had to write an essay on their [leadership capabilities to date], what initiatives they’ve been part of, and lastly [to identify] the biggest challenge in their particular country. Semi-finalists thereafter underwent gruelling interviews at respective embassies as part of the screening process. A total of 46 South Africans were chosen.

The chosen participants undertook a six week academic course at one of 20 predetermined universities. I was posted at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, to study Public Management with 24 other Africans from 18 Sub-Saharan countries. I was privileged to interact and engage in rigorous debate on policy issues with my fellow delegates that included: medical doctors, lawyers, economists, and civil servants. The coursework was centred on policy, planning, infrastructure, social justice, and environmental equity with a strong emphasis on leadership.

Like South Africa, the United States of America is an amazing country marred by the existence of vast inequality. It has world-class technology and public infrastructure; yet its race relations leave much to be desired. For example, areas like West Baltimore (predominately African American) are as economically depressed as Alexandria (predominately black). We saw that the South African post-apartheid experience commands great respect in how we solved some of our race relations problems.

Morgan State University (MSU), where I was hosted, is a historically black university. I believe it has distinct similarities with our black universities in South Africa. There is a constant fight for limited resources due to historical racial prejudice. Nonetheless, there is a noble fight to educate previously disadvantaged communities. The US offers insightful lessons on how to deal with vestiges of the past. The definitive lesson is to move on with meaningful structures and endeavour to conduct your core business better than anyone else [in your particular field of expertise].

Outside of the academic realm, we got the opportunity to engage with high-level US government officials from Federal, State and Local Government. We had a notable meeting with Congressman Elijah Cummings, Maryland’s 7th District Representative. The Congressman indicated that we ought to have purpose and passion in our lives, which I firmly agree with. We met with the Mayor’s Office of the City of Baltimore through the City Council President, Bernard Young. Local government is an important component of the US democratic system with key responsibilities. I believe we can learn important lessons from them as they place a great emphasis on infrastructure development and accountability. The Governor’s Office of Maryland hosted us along with the Secretary of State, John P. McDonough; Secretary of Treasury, Eloise Foster; and Secretary of Juvenile Services, Sam J. Abed. A recurring theme in their address to us was the need to run a tight and prudent budget to keep a state running.

One of the highlights of my trip, outside the enthralling insightful dialogues we engaged in, was the visit to the White House. We were treated to an exclusive tour of the White House and basked in all its history and splendour. The working visit took us to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building located next to the West Wing of the White House. We engaged with the black congressional caucus and the National Security Council team on issues such as universal healthcare and African regional security.

President Obama hosted the Young African Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. with all 500 fellows in attendance. He personally hosted an unscripted and unrehearsed ‘town hall session’ where we had a chance to engage him on any question. He charted his vision for Africa; an equal global counterpart. He was clear that his investment in the youth was a deliberate engagement as 70% of Africa’s population was under 35. He emphasised that an investment in the youth was an investment in a prosperous and peaceful future.

I call on all of my classmates and other NMMU students to join the YALI network as it’s clear that a committed youth can change the world…that the committed youth is none other than the young person reading this article.”

For more information on the Fellowship and the Initiative visit: https://youngafricanleaders.state.gov/