Applications are now open for LEAP Africa’s 2024 Social Innovators Programme. Founded in 2004, LEAP Africa recognized that despite frequent negative portrayals of youth in both local and international media, the positive impacts of young Nigerians on national development were largely overlooked.
This insight led to the creation of the Annual Nigerian Youth Leadership Awards (ANYLA), which took place each year in Lagos, Nigeria, to honor young leaders contributing to societal change.
After a decade, it became clear that while interest in social innovation among Nigerian youth had grown, there was a notable deficiency in the crucial skills and support needed to launch effective, sustainable initiatives. To address this, in 2013, the program evolved into the Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA), a year-long fellowship designed to fill this gap and foster impactful social transformation.
The Social Innovators Programme Details
The Social Innovators Programme celebrates and supports young changemakers by equipping them with the essential skills and resources needed to establish sustainable social enterprises.
Eligibility Requirements
Citizenship/Residency:
- You must be either a citizen or a permanent resident of an African nation.
Geographic Focus:
- Your social venture must be based within a local community in an African nation.
Leadership Experience:
- You should have founded or co-founded a social venture that has been operational and impactful for at least one year.
Age:
- You must be between 18 and 35 years old as of the time of application.
Language Proficiency:
- You must be proficient in English (both spoken and written), as all program applications and communications will be conducted in English.
Program Commitment:
- You must be available to fully participate in the program.
Program Overview
The Social Innovators Programme is designed to enhance the capacity, connections, and credibility of social innovators. This is achieved through various components including:
- A 5-day in-person workshop focused on enterprise sustainability.
- Virtual coaching and networking calls.
- Immersive one-on-one mentoring sessions.
- Monthly virtual webinar sessions and site visits.
Attendance at all sessions is mandatory. Requests for exemptions must be submitted in advance to the SIP team. Full participation is required for graduation from the fellowship.
For More Information:
- Visit the Official Webpage of LEAP Africa’s Social Innovators Programme (SIPA).
