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Catalyst for transformation and impact.

Africa is rising from within.

Africa is the second largest continent with young population, the gateway to endless possibilities. Investing in the continent is about unlocking the potentials of one quarter of the world's population.

Our vision inspires us.
Our mission drives us.
Our purpose guides us to spark change.

African ChangeMakers is a trusted, intergenerational changemaking institution. We identify Africans and Africans in the Diasporas. We develop them. We connect them. We create pathways to opportunity. And we keep African leadership and institutional memory alive, so what one generation learns is not lost to the next.

Our story

Not a giant history essay. Three chapters.

2017 to 2026

The Foundation

What African ChangeMakers built: Fellows, Mentees,Mentors, Women, Magazine,Conference, Awards and a network across Africa and the diaspora.

2027 and beyond

The Reinvention

Why African ChangeMakers is changing: a world shaped by AI & SI, and a continent that needs Africans who can build, not only understand.

2030 to 2040

The Future

What African ChangeMakers is preparing people for: An Africa where its people are equipped and connected to shape the decade.

Our purpose

Identify

We identify potential.

Develop

We develop capability.

Connect

We connect people.

Activate

We activate solutions.

Continue

We create continuity.

Our vision

A continent where Africans are equipped and connected to create sustainable solutions to the challenges and opportunities shaping Africa and the world.

Our mission

To develop Africans through capability development, mentorship, real-world problem solving, AI-enabled learning, networks and opportunities.

Our slogan: African ChangeMakers, YES WE CAN.
Our Mantra: Our vision inspires us. Our mission drives us. Our purpose guides us to spark change.

What we stand for

DiversityInclusionCollaborationKnowledge sharingIntegrityAfrican contextHuman dignityResponsible innovationImpact

One movement. Four platforms.

African ChangeMakers is the mission and identity. The sister platforms give it capability, economic power and expertise, and AI makes all of it work harder.

African ChangeMakers

The movement

Mission, identity, Fellowship, alumni, opportunities, impact and Africa + AI thought leadership.

Learn by BwB

Build capability

Structured learning, courses and certificates. What do you need to learn?

Growth by BwB

Build economic power

Business community, tools, implementation and growth pathways. What do you need to build?

Business Without Boundaries

Build the business

Strategy, advisory and market expansion. What problem needs expert help?

Our timeline

2017 to 2018

First Fellowship

African ChangeMakers begins. The first Fellows join a new idea: African changemakers who learn from each other.

2018

Network expansion

Fellows and mentors connect across borders. The first mentorship program runs.

2019

Mentorship and community

The ACLeads conference ACiMeetUps brings the community together in person.

2020

Digital transformation

We won the #EQUALSinTech Award, Leadership in SME category, for empowering Africans through digital technology.

2021 to 2026

Expansion and learning

#WOMENtoringGIRLS, #MENtoringBOYS, #ACiAwards,African ChangeMakers Magazine, the women network and more programs reach further across the continent and the diaspora.

2027

ACi 2.0

The reinvention: African Changemaker Operating System, an AI-native Fellowship and real-world challenges.

2030+

African changemaker ecosystem

A living network of fellows, mentors, partners and institutions building Africa's next chapter.

Our Impact

Ongoing capacity development of Africans.

2017Year ACi was founded
2020Registered in Nigeria as a Corporate Trustee (CAC)
1 to 7Fellowship cohorts on record, 2018 to 2026
54Countries with Fellows on record

Catalyst for transformation and impact.

[2,000]Fellows who completed a cohort
[5,000]Alumni Combined Programs
[35]Mentors
[1000]Mentees
[1,000 ]Women and girls reached
[10,000]People reached throughout ACi programs
[50,000]All Social Media Platforms

Our journey in pictures.

African ChangeMakers Fellows across Africa and the diasporas.

CAMEROON
GHANA
ETHIOPIA
TOGO
RWANDA
KENYA
LIBERIA
MAURITUS
NIGERIA
UGANDA
SOMALIA
NIGERIA

Recognised & Committed.

WINNER

#EQUALSinTech Awards

Leadership in SME category, for empowering through digital technology.

The network in pictures

Alumni, members, mentees, mentors across africa & the diasporas. Meet-ups, Conferences, Awards and the People who make them.

UGANDA
SUDAN
NIGERIA
SOUTH AFRICA
KENYA
ETHIOPIA
CAMEROON
SUDAN
MAURITIUS
GHANA
CAMEROON
TOGO

Meet The Founder

Olutope Olatilewa E. (Lady Topsie)
Founder · Visionary · Business Strategist

"Africa is rising from within."

A visionary entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience and expertise, who helps organisations and people turn ideas into reality. She champions entrepreneurship, leadership development, social innovation, youth policy, AfCFTA and African Union agenda education for youth, women and girls across 54 African countries and the diaspora.

  • Vital Voices Fellow
  • Ashoka Changemakers Scholar
  • Lead City Voices Awardee
  • West Africa Ampioneer for Ampion Venture
  • Awards: AFLI (Project Pakati), #EQUALSinTech (Leadership in SME), WeForGood (100 African Women Creating a Better Africa), 50 Africans Yous Should Know.

In her own words

Why I created ACi

“I started African ChangeMakers in 2017 because I kept meeting capable young Africans who were not short of ideas. They were short of a path: someone to guide them, a room to learn in, a network that would answer their messages. Talent was everywhere. Doors were not. I wanted to build the door, and keep it open for the next person.” -Lady Topsie

What I learned building across Africa

“Africa is not one story. What works in Lagos cannot simply be copied to Kigali. It has to be rebuilt with local people. What travels across borders is trust, patience and people who show up. I have also learned that the talent that moves things forward is rarely famous, and it does not wait for permission.” - Lady Topsie

What I believe Africa needs next

“We need people who can do more than see the problem. People who read a situation clearly, make a decision, build something and bring others with them. Africa does not need another generation trained only to look for opportunities. It needs people ready to create them, and to build institutions that outlast them.” - Lady Topsie

Why AI changes how we develop people

“AI now does in seconds what used to take a team a week. So the real value of a person moves to judgement: knowing which problem matters, what to trust, and when a human must decide. I do not want to teach people to chase tools. I want them to think with AI, build with it, and keep their own judgement in charge.” Lady Topsie

Meet the team

African ChangeMakers across the continent.

Akindele Goerge
Advisory Council - USA
Folashade Omotayo
Advisory Council - Nigeria
Michael Egbetokun
Operations - Nigeria/USA
Olajumoke Adu
Women Coordinator - Nigeria
Atinuke Aina
Coordinator - Nigeria
Smith Nwokocha
Alumni Engagement - Nigeria
Selina Aboyinga
Women Engagement - Ghana
Abdulbasith Sijuade Akinyemi-Eshilokun
Men Engagement - Nigeria
Promise Ekewuba
Men Coordinator - Nigeria
Yusuf Zubairu
Alumni Engagement - Nigeria
Lovelyn Akujobi
Alumni Engagement - Nigeria
Anyim Joshua Aondonkula
Alumni Engagement - Nigeria

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Your ideas matter.
Your action matters.

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