LEAP Africa Expands Governance Board With Industry Veterans to Scale Continental Youth Programs

LEAP Africa has formally expanded its institutional leadership by appointing six accomplished professionals to its Board of Directors. The strategic move is designed to strengthen corporate governance, improve strategic oversight, and accelerate the delivery of pan-African development programmes focused on entrepreneurship and employability. Operating under the leadership of Board Chair Clare Omatseye and Executive Director Kehinde Ayeni, the non-profit aims to position itself for sustained institutional growth across its continental footprint.

The newly appointed directors bring extensive expertise across telecommunications, finance, investment, technology, philanthropy, and international development. The roster includes Toyin Akinniyi of Luminate, Bella Disu of Globacom, Ifeoma Finnih of Chapel Hill Denham, Remilekun Soyannwo of the Shell Pension Fund, Sobel Ngom of Tostan International, and Victor Onyenkpa, former Chief Operating Officer of KPMG Africa. These individuals join an established board that features leaders from diverse commercial and policy backgrounds, including JNC International, KPMG One Africa, Afrinolly Limited, Flour Mills, Audaza Inc., Agora Policy, Wild Fusion, and MSD for Mothers.

Board Chair Clare Omatseye emphasised that robust governance remains central to delivering measurable and lasting impact as the organisation evolves. The specific backgrounds of the new appointees directly target institutional needs. Victor Onyenkpa brings decades of experience in risk management and finance following his tenure at KPMG and his role on the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. Bella Disu contributes two decades of telecommunications and digital transformation experience, while Sobel Ngom introduces a Francophone West African perspective alongside expertise in community-led development and impact measurement.

Executive Director Kehinde Ayeni described the appointments as a critical milestone for an organisation experiencing rapid growth. LEAP Africa, which stands for Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability, and Professionalism, runs interventions spanning education, entrepreneurship, employability, active citizenship, and health and wellbeing. The organisation reports having reached more than 12 million indirect beneficiaries across Nigeria and 48 other African countries, highlighting the operational scale that necessitated this governance reinforcement.

Why This Matters

Strengthening institutional governance within major non-profit organisations directly influences their capacity to absorb capital, manage complex stakeholder relationships, and execute large-scale programmes across diverse regulatory environments. By integrating leaders from major corporate entities, investment firms, and international philanthropic organisations, LEAP Africa bridges the gap between traditional social development and rigorous corporate accountability. This alignment is vital for attracting institutional investors and corporate partners who demand high standards of transparency and operational resilience.

The inclusion of cross-sector expertise also enhances the institution's capacity to navigate complex policy landscapes and demographic pressures related to youth unemployment. As development institutions face increasing pressure to deliver practical skills and economic pathways for young populations, governance structures that reflect deep commercial and financial acumen enable more effective scaling. Furthermore, regional representation, such as incorporating Francophone West African leadership, ensures that programme delivery remains attuned to localized socio-economic contexts and regulatory frameworks across different African markets.

Opportunities

• Corporate Partners: Engage with LEAP Africa's expanded board to co-create targeted employability and entrepreneurship initiatives aligned with industry talent requirements.
• Impact Investors: Collaborate with institutional leadership to fund scalable youth development models backed by rigorous governance and impact measurement frameworks.
• Development Finance Institutions: Partner with the organisation to leverage its established continental network reaching millions of beneficiaries for large-scale economic empowerment projects.

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