Wofai Samuel moderates YALI RLC 2023 West Africa Homecoming in Ghana

The West African Regional Leadership Centre of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), organised the homecoming in-person event for 2023 in Accra, Ghana.

Themed, ‘Empowering Young Leaders: Unleashing Youth Potential to Explore and Actualize’, it had in attendance the Acting Mission Director, the United States Agency for International Development, (USAID), Gregory Howell; YALI West Africa Alumni and Publicity Secretary, United States Government Exchange Alumni Association, Wofai Samuel; Project Director, YALI RLC West Africa, Dr. Esi Sey; YALI Regional Coordinator United States Agency for International Development, Dr. Tina Adusah, Deputy Rector, GIMPA; Giulia Piccioni, Project Development and Donor Liaison Officer, IOM, Ghana; Pamela Morris, Alternate Agreement Officer’s Representative for YALI, USAID West Africa, Corporate Affairs and Institutional Advancement Manager YALI West Africa, James Anquandah; Presidents of YALI RLC across West Africa, amongst varied sections of Alumni Members.

The moderator, Samuel, stated that, ‘’President Barack Obama launched the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) in 2010 as a signature initiative that supports young African leaders who continue to work to spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance and enhance peace and security across the continent.
Through YALI, the US has invested in an emerging generation of African leaders by committing significant financial resources to enhance leadership skills, bolster entrepreneurship and connect young African leaders with one another in the private, civic, and public sectors.”

At the gathering were over 300 fellows, all drawn from nine countries in the sub-region, spread across the world and impacting business, communities, and countries, including Ghana, Liberia, Togo, Benin Republic, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

Acting Mission Director, USAID, Gregory Howell, praised attendees for their initiatives, interventions, and impact in their spheres of influence. He invited the alumni to step fully into the center’s increasing strategic focus on the alumni portfolio and the opportunities this offered for support to their efforts at community engagement and cascading of the training they received under the Emerging Leaders Program. He further encouraged all alumni to collaborate with each other for greater impact.
Speaking further about the forum, Wofai said, “I am honoured to be selected as a moderator for this event, positioned for the next leaders who will decide the future of our great region. As a leader passionate about Africa, I stay true to showcasing the best of my people and the stories my continent and region has to offer. Thank you to the American people, specifically the Department of State, USAID, and the Centre in Ghana, who over the years have funded and guided us to be excellent in all we do. The commendation from the USAID’s Mission Director, Gregory Howell, In His words ‘what an excellent presentation’, after He was introduced on stage by me is one of my many highlights from this engagement.”

The event culminated with the award of community engagement funds, chapter matching grants as well as other attractions.

Samuel has facilitated the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Training Program on Business Fundamentals, organised by AWE Uganda, The U.S. Mission in Uganda and Ace Health Foundation in Washington DC with over 40 Female entrepreneurs in attendance. She facilitates trainings for American Spaces in Nigeria through it’s MOOC, organised by the American Centre with over 60 participants and her sessions are dubbed as some of the most educative, interactive and enlightening.

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the United States Consulate General in Lagos, through it’s American Center, invited Wofai as a Guest on the “Conversation with an Alum” program, where she spoke extensively on strengthening Democracy with Communications. The session had over 40 participants in attendance. Samuel is tagged by Ace Health Foundation in Washington D.C., as an Ace Global Leader of Excellence. Professionally, she is the current Acting-Director General of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC).