HOMBAKAZI MERCY NQANDEKA (South Africa)
I am Hombakazi Mercy Nqandeka from Eastern Cape, South Africa. I’m an agriculturalist by profession with a double master’s degree from National University of Ireland and SupAgro in France. I’m also an author of a book titled The Dissonant Rainbow. Currently self-employed. I have been part of the PLO Lumumba Foundation since 2017. I’m grateful and proud of being one of the young Africans who have been trained to be the sources of solutions to the African problems as Prof Lumumba always encourages us. Africa needs deliberate and driven young people who are not attracted by bling and shining lights from outside Africa. Africa needs young people who will create the Bling and bring the lights home. PLO Foundation has consistently lived up to this creed, and has shown that it is possible for Africans to achieve greatly if we truly make it our fundamental clarion call to do so.
FABIUS MULONGO WANJALA (Kenya)
I joined the PLO Africa Mentorship program with the hope of learning the leadership dynamics of the continent of Africa through interaction of great minds around Africa in respect to the potential of our continent. I have learned so much from this mentorship program especially the need for unity and need to have leaders of integrity in Africa. It is through this initiative that I realized the significance of unity and that the continent of Africa cannot be changed through social media platforms but instead we all need to roll our sleeves and do that which is right and good for the benefit of all Africans. Things like xenophobia, which have turned brothers against brothers have derailed us for far too long. It is encouraging that through PLO Foundation’s mentorship program, the need to work together as brothers or else we perish together as fools has been given much emphasis.
STEVEN CHAMBOTE LUWIZHI (Malawi)
Through the PLO-AMP, I have undergone a major mind shift in how I think about Africa. The programme has been very consistent in underscoring the root causes of the issues that Africans face on a day to day basis. I have had a whole complete view of the immigration issues in Africa, the trade within Africa, and the diplomatic relations among the people and nations of Africa. This has made me realize that no one can arise from elsewhere outside Africa to work towards its benefit. African, themselves, in their own way, MUST do it. In the series of talk that he delivers across Africa, I have learnt on the new possibilities, and gained much verve that I cannot wait for anyone to do something I want to happen to our people, I must start by doing myself and it shall be amplified with time. Indeed, I am greatly indebted.
DUMINGA KAKUHU NDALA (Namibia)
I am passionate about governance and serving the African child. Through the PLO-AMP I got a great opportunity to execute my goal and to maximize my potential in that avenue. By joining the program, I have had the privilege of exploiting of a diverse network, and develop new skills which have been very essential in my advocacy for the rights of the African child. I have also been able to speak at various forums, where I have sought and drawn support for my causes. The program has also taught me that the state of African-ness is not about being inclined to African cultural practices and beliefs but is about going to the arena of action and ploughing back in the African continent to better the lives of the African people. PLO-AMP encourages, and is inculcating the culture of participating in political discourse, leadership and fight against all colonial social disparities.
ALAIN KABEYA (South Africa)
I am the founder and chief executive officer of Home for Africa (pty) LTD. Though I live in South Africa, I am from Democratic Republic of Congo, by far the richest country in mineral deposits but among the poorest. Though the inspiration of the PLO-AMP I founded the Tribal Freedom Fighter, an NPO that promotes African Unity and prosperity. It has presence in about 10 countries in Africa. PLO, and his foundation have been critical in the growth of this organization, and has delivered many lectures in support of our course. Through such efforts, I have sunk deeper in belief that we cannot seek solutions tailored for economies and societies alien to Africa, in solving African challenges. This is an idea that TFF has been at the forefront in promoting, particularly among the Youth, who have to carry it along with them in the revolutionary efforts to transform Africa’s future.
BILL MOMANYI MOGAKA (Kenya)
When I joined PLO-AMP, there is one thing that pricked my conscience about our reality as Africans. I learned from the PLO Africa Mentorship Programme that the African story was told in five minutes by her colonizers. This very short story has had a major impact on the life of the African people, and it has brainwashed so much that we thought only those who decided our current fate can only solve it. However, history postulates that such cannot happen. The oppressed must stand up and decide their fate for their own good. Nobody works for another since human beings, naturally, are selfish in intention. Instead of dying in pursuit of the European, American, and lately the Arabian dream, we should all focus all that energy in our own land, and make the realities we are chasing available right here at home since east or west, home is the best.
BUYUNGO BRYAN (Uganda)
I am the C.E.O of United Africa an organization that innovates products for community entrepreneurship and development. As a Researcher and businessman whose dream is to see people of African descent progress economically through entrepreneurship and practical, relevant education, PLO AMP has helped me know what to do for a greater, more fulfilling business sense. I have focused on businesses and ideas that are meant to directly impact positively on the African people. Much as profits are good, a positive impact on people, especially those who deserve most, is fulfilling, almost for a lifetime. I decided to walk this path, whose path I intend widen by use of the upcoming PLO AFRICA TV. Through this platform, we will be able to talk about our issues, tell our stories, explain our solutions, and inspire hope to millions of people who strive daily to realize a better life for themselves and their children.
ISAAC MULENGA Jr (Zambia)
Being a Mentee at the PLO Africa Mentorship Programme has over the years enabled me to look and see Africa from a very different perspective. Indeed, mentorship is the last and the important stage of leadership. Prof. Lumumba and his entire team at the PLO Lumumba Foundation has done this and are doing it so well by passing the baton of servant leadership to young Africans. Cognizant that servant leadership is the mother’s milk of sustainable leadership, it could not have been better that we have a true African leading in the initiative. I can’t thank the PLO Lumumba foundation more for the support they have given me over the years and to my fellow young Africans across Africa and the diaspora. When people understand where they are meant to be, they will feel the impetus to find the way there faster. That is what I must thank PLO-AMP for.
ARIAL BUZERA (DRC)
As a lecturer or agriculture, I had long wondered why we have all these wonderful ideas on paper and in textbooks, but could not make them a reality in real life. After interaction with the Prof. PLO, and through the PLO-AMP, I have directed much focus on postharvest management of legumes, roots and tubers as my contribution towards food security, especially for the poorest people in Africa. With other young and vibrant Africans scientists, I am now working tirelessly to ensure food security and food safety in Africa. I joined the PLO Africa mentorship program in 2017, and had the privilege to participate to the 1st youth conference gathering young people from all around Africa, and focused on the role of young people in positive transformational leadership (Agenda 2063 and Beyond). The PLO Africa mentorship program has greatly assisted me see the contribution I can make towards a better Africa.
PRIDE LOMBE ‘MUSA” (Zambia)
My reason for joining PLO-AMP is to learn more from Prof. PLO Lumumba; he understands the common problem Africa is facing today. Through lessons learn from the program, I am encouraging young people of this great continent to get focused and make current regimes to be accountable to the masses they preside over. The crux in Africa’s development is that Africa should unite and use the available resources to its advantage. PLO-AMP had demonstrated that Africa can achieve what other continents are achieving if Africans decolonize their minds.
It is my hope and prayer that through this rare great son of Africa (PLO Lumumba) we can have an opportunity to come together and actualize the information he shares to have the Africa we all desire to live in.
Drawing from his inspiration, I am working towards a corrupt and greedy free Africa at my own capacity, and roping in others.
MAJOK MAKUR MALAAK (South Sudan)
After the PLO_AMP, Majok Makur Malaak founded South Sudan Integrity Foundation (SSIF) and took the coordination roles at Africa Youth Leadership Forum (AYLF) and Africa Revolution Movement (ARM). He is also the country representative of STATES 55 AFRICA. Through his work, Majok focuses on peace-building in South Sudan, mentorship and Leadership Training programs across the country under PLO Africa Mentorship. Currently working as an Assistant Lecturer at Upper Nile University and an Assistant Inspector for external trade and bilateral trade in the Ministry of Trade, Industry and East Africa community Affairs-South Sudan, Majok is using every available opportunity to encourage peaceful relations and silencing of guns in South Sudan. He has been recognized by a number of organizations for his peace-building efforts and use of his position as a lecturer to encourage young South Sudanese to seek education, and use it to grow their personal lives, and the young country.
LENG’ERDED JOHN ERISEN (Kenya)
Mr Erisen is the Chief Operations Officer and the founder of Empower Pastoralists Organization of Kenya (EPOK). After his mentorship at the PLO-AMP, he has used his organization to advocate against marginalization of pastoralists by calling for policy changes and devising creative interventions to liberate into their constraints of vulnerabilities. He also represents the Samburu County Adolescent and Young People in the National Aids Control Council (NACC). He was inspired by the PLO Africa mentorship program to sensitize pastoralists to hold the government accountable and shift the mindset of political tyranny of manipulation to responsive systems to people’s needs. In the current world of rapid social evolution, a fairly resource- equity society is necessary and should be built on accountable systems, maintained by conscious citizens and transitioned to younger generations. This is what contributes to our success to build a great Africa, and I am focused on playing my part.