Event:Africa Wiki Women Leadership and Mentorship Graduation: Celebrating Impact and Future Leaders

The Africa Wiki Women Community proudly celebrates the successful completion of its Cohort 1, otherwise known as the Pioneer Fellow, from October 2024 to March 2025. Over the six months, they have undergone a transformative journey that nurtured them as emerging female leaders within the Wikimedia movement across Africa.

This inaugural cohort brought together eight exceptional fellows from Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, selected from a competitive pool of 68 applications received across the continent. Following a rigorous review and selection process in August to September 2024. After the meritorious selection, they embarked on a mentorship-driven experience designed to enhance their leadership capacity, project management skills, and community engagement within the Wikimedia ecosystem.

Throughout the programme, fellows were paired with distinguished mentors such as Ruby D-Brown, Pellagia Njau, Oby Ezeilo, and Bukola James who provided guidance, insights, and inspiration to help them design and implement impactful Wikimedia initiatives.

Therefore, the Africa Wiki Women Leadership and Mentorship Programme continues to stand as a catalyst for empowering African women to lead, collaborate, and create lasting impact through open knowledge. The 2024 Cohort marks not only a milestone in their personal leadership journeys but also a significant step toward bridging the gender gap on Wikimedia platforms.