Young Global Leaders Network holds Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), granted in 2025. This status allows us to bring youth voices from Africa, Asia and Europe into key UN forums and nominate delegates to sessions such as the Commission on the Status of Women, strengthening our credibility and opening global engagement opportunities for our members
The Young Global Leaders Network (YGLN) is an international youth leadership organisation empowering young people across Africa, Asia and Europe to lead in public life, business and civil society. From Ghana, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sierra Leone, DR Congo and Ethiopia to more than 25 other countries, we connect ambitious young leaders to mentoring, skills development, career growth and global opportunities, including policy engagement, international programmes and networks that turn bold ideas into visible impact.
The Young Global Leaders Network upholds the principles of the United Nations, African Union and the eight (8) Africa Regional Economic Communities (ECOWAS, AMU, CEN-SAD, COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, IGAD and SADC).
Across Africa, too many young people face unemployment, limited opportunities and little access to mentors or decision makers. The Young Global Leaders Network exists to change that story. We promote entrepreneurship, leadership and civic engagement so that young people, especially young women, can move from the margins into real positions of influence. Through practical programmes, networks and advocacy, we help young Africans create jobs, serve their communities and shape the future of their countries.
Behind every NexGen Masterclass and initiative is a small team of committed professionals and volunteers. They design the content, manage delivery, support participants and keep our community engaged online.
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Catch up on our latest YGLN Masterclasses, recorded with young leaders, founders and policy makers from across Africa and the diaspora.
Experience the energy of the Young African Leaders Summit again. These highlight reels capture powerful moments from our gatherings in Accra, where presidents, ministers, CEOs and young changemakers come together to debate Africa’s future. Watch how young leaders connect, learn and commit to action on governance, entrepreneurship and social impact.
Young African Leaders Summit 2019
Former President John Dramani Mahama, senior leaders and hundreds of young delegates explore youth leadership, jobs and governance in Africa. A landmark moment in putting young voices at the centre of national conversations.
Young African Leaders Summit 2021
A new cohort of young leaders returns to Accra to tackle post-pandemic recovery, innovation and accountable leadership. Hear honest conversations, see the networks in action and feel the momentum of a growing movement.
Structured six-month cohorts with clear outcomes.
Leadership, financial literacy and venture support.
Training, volunteering and project work.
Employment via Afric Youth in Agriculture and partners.
Kickstart Innovation Hub support from idea to scale.
“YGLN have been a blessing to me in terms of public speaking, entrepreneurship training, workshop, and politics networking with successful and experienced people that have made an impact in my life and have help me as an individual and am glad to say it has also help me to put impact on other people especially being a leader and being the voice of the people l represent. I have also been able to develop my skills in Entrepreneurship as well and l have produced my own product which l can now call myself an entrepreneur l am glad to say YGLN is truly shaping lives and empowering the youth as well.
I advise that everyone especially the Non-Members to join YGLN to come and learn from successful and experienced people that can make an impact and develop you and change you forever join us and you will never regret”.
Thank you
“It was my very first and exiting experience to be part of Young African Leaders Summit 2021 that was held in Accra Ghana November 2021. We just started a journalism platform that is spearheaded by young African journalists from the Global South, and this was a great platform to network and expand our territories. During the summit, we managed to interview Derrick Baah, a live painter from Ghana who fascinated the audience with his ‘magical’ paint of Nelson Mandela done within minutes. His interview in Ghana at the summit helped us gain more followers and exposure on our social media platforms. We are geared towards telling positive African stories that promote social change and there couldn’t have been a better place to find likeminded youth to help amplify our voices about the beauty of Africa and the talented young people. United we can!
The summit helped us to recruit even more young journalists who now contribute positive stories from their respective countries to our platform; Vice Versa Global! Looking forward to more productive summits.
The summit is so interesting that we want the organizers to increase the days of the summit’’.
“It was my very first and exiting experience to be part of Young African Leaders Summit 2021 that was held in Accra Ghana November 2021. We just started a journalism platform that is spearheaded by young African journalists from the Global South, and this was a great platform to network and expand our territories. During the summit, we managed to interview Derrick Baah, a live painter from Ghana who fascinated the audience with his ‘magical’ paint of Nelson Mandela done within minutes. His interview in Ghana at the summit helped us gain more followers and exposure on our social media platforms. We are geared towards telling positive African stories that promote social change and there couldn’t have been a better place to find likeminded youth to help amplify our voices about the beauty of Africa and the talented young people. United we can!
The summit helped us to recruit even more young journalists who now contribute positive stories from their respective countries to our platform; Vice Versa Global! Looking forward to more productive summits.
The summit is so interesting that we want the organizers to increase the days of the summit’’.
“I benefited from the engagements and networking sessions held at the Young African Leaders Summit 2021.
I helped me in shaping my thoughts towards networking and about entrepreneurship. It also helped me to think in different directions and created direct positive aspirations in me.
Furthermore, I learnt a lot from the themes of the summit and colleagues participated on the summit “
I advise that everyone especially the Non-Members to join YGLN to come and learn from successful and experienced people that can make an impact and develop you and change you forever join us and you will never regret”.
“I benefited from the engagements and networking sessions held at the Young African Leaders Summit 2021.
I helped me in shaping my thoughts towards networking and about entrepreneurship. It also helped me to think in different directions and created direct positive aspirations in me.
Furthermore, I learnt a lot from the themes of the summit and colleagues participated on the summit “
I advise that everyone especially the Non-Members to join YGLN to come and learn from successful and experienced people that can make an impact and develop you and change you forever join us and you will never regret”.
“The Young African Leaders Summit 2021 was a great experience for me in Accra. This was an opportunity to meet and connect as well as network with Africa’s greatest minds in business, politics, and many other sectors. This has empowered me and capacitated me in all the work I do in the organization I lead. Meeting the Former President of Ghana, His Excellency Mr John Kufuor was the major highlight.
Young Global Leaders Network is a powerful platform for young people. All the mentorship programs are life changing. I wish that the network will reach all the parts of Africa and unite young people”.
“The Young African Leaders Summit 2021 was a great experience for me in Accra. This was an opportunity to meet and connect as well as network with Africa’s greatest minds in business, politics, and many other sectors. This has empowered me and capacitated me in all the work I do in the organization I lead. Meeting the Former President of Ghana, His Excellency Mr John Kufuor was the major highlight.
Young Global Leaders Network is a powerful platform for young people. All the mentorship programs are life changing. I wish that the network will reach all the parts of Africa and unite young people”.
“I was privileged to attend the YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS SUMMIT 2021 held in Ghana. I was totally impressed by the possibility of gathering leaders from more than 28 African countries, a mini–African Union General Assembly. Pulling ideas from all these leaders formed a relay, in changing the African narrative. From that event when I look at myself and my company now, I don’t see just myself instead I see Africa, I see people with cultural diversity but still in great unity. If you asked me where I want to be in 2022 again, I will boldly tell you Young African Leaders Summit 2022 is the place”.
“I was privileged to attend the YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS SUMMIT 2021 held in Ghana. I was totally impressed by the possibility of gathering leaders from more than 28 African countries, a mini–African Union General Assembly. Pulling ideas from all these leaders formed a relay, in changing the African narrative. From that event when I look at myself and my company now, I don’t see just myself instead I see Africa, I see people with cultural diversity but still in great unity. If you asked me where I want to be in 2022 again, I will boldly tell you Young African Leaders Summit 2022 is the place”.
“YGLN is a stage set for young and aspiring leaders to mount and fly. At the last summit I attended in Accra, I was opportune to learn from other leaders from other countries. I got a lot of motivation from the strides other young African women are making and that gave me inspiration to do more and better. Networking was top notch and awesome. YGLN is a stage set for young leaders for Global Impact.
Life is a learning process. We all unlearn and relearn to get better. I believe YGLN will do even better in years to come”.
“YGLN is a stage set for young and aspiring leaders to mount and fly. At the last summit I attended in Accra, I was opportune to learn from other leaders from other countries. I got a lot of motivation from the strides other young African women are making and that gave me inspiration to do more and better. Networking was top notch and awesome. YGLN is a stage set for young leaders for Global Impact.
Life is a learning process. We all unlearn and relearn to get better. I believe YGLN will do even better in years to come”.
“YGLN is a stage set for young and aspiring leaders to mount and fly. At the last summit I attended in Accra, I was opportune to learn from other leaders from other countries. I got a lot of motivation from the strides other young African women are making and that gave me inspiration to do more and better. Networking was top notch and awesome. YGLN is a stage set for young leaders for Global Impact.
Life is a learning process. We all unlearn and relearn to get better. I believe YGLN will do even better in years to come”.
“YGLN is a stage set for young and aspiring leaders to mount and fly. At the last summit I attended in Accra, I was opportune to learn from other leaders from other countries. I got a lot of motivation from the strides other young African women are making and that gave me inspiration to do more and better. Networking was top notch and awesome. YGLN is a stage set for young leaders for Global Impact.
Life is a learning process. We all unlearn and relearn to get better. I believe YGLN will do even better in years to come”.
“I attended the Young African Leaders Summit 2021 in Accra, Ghana and I was impressed and impacted.
As an individual I was able to explore several opportunities such as networking, learning new things, speaker’s engagement which inspired me, mentorship sessions, etc.
The Summit also created a platform for inclusivity”.
“I attended the Young African Leaders Summit 2021 in Accra, Ghana and I was impressed and impacted.
As an individual I was able to explore several opportunities such as networking, learning new things, speaker’s engagement which inspired me, mentorship sessions, etc.
The Summit also created a platform for inclusivity”.
In February 2026, the Young Global Leaders Network proudly recognised Maya Fakhfakh as our Can-Do Woman of the Month. As the Founder of MednTech, Maya is advancing cervical cancer screening across underserved African communities through research-driven and AI-powered innovation. Her work focuses on early detection, strengthening local healthcare systems, and
Runa Khan, Building Systems That Serve the Forgotten Leadership is not always loud. Sometimes it is patient, practical, and rooted in service. Runa Khan’s journey is a strong example of leadership that prioritises lasting change over visibility. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Friendship, a Bangladesh-based social purpose
YALS Young Leader of the Month February 2026: MacDonald Maduabuchi In February 2026, the Young African Leaders Summit, an initiative of Young Global Leaders Network proudly recognised MacDonald Maduabuchi of Nigeria as our YALS Young Leader of the Month. MacDonald, a Medical Laboratory Scientist and public health advocate, earned this
YGLN partners with Globara UK to open study and short-course pathways in the UK The Young Global Leaders Network has entered into a strategic partnership with Globara UK to give our members structured access to short courses, an international conference and an executive summer school in the United Kingdom.
The Young Global Leaders Network now holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a recognition granted in 2025. This status allows YGLN to bring youth perspectives from Africa, Asia and Europe into key UN processes. The Network can nominate delegates to sessions such as
Membership opening soon: join the Young Global Leaders Network We’re opening membership soon. If you’re 18 to 45 and serious about leadership, enterprise and public service, this is your moment. Check the site regularly for the launch date and secure your place in the first intake. What you get as
“YGLN have been a blessing to me in terms of public speaking, entrepreneurship training, workshop, and politics networking with successful and experienced people that have made an impact in my life and have help me as an individual and am glad to say it has also help me to put impact on other people especially being a leader and being the voice of the people l represent. I have also been able to develop my skills in Entrepreneurship as well and l have produced my own product which l can now call myself an entrepreneur l am glad to say YGLN is truly shaping lives and empowering the youth as well.
I advise that everyone especially the Non-Members to join YGLN to come and learn from successful and experienced people that can make an impact and develop you and change you forever join us and you will never regret”.
Thank you
“It was my very first and exiting experience to be part of Young African Leaders Summit 2021 that was held in Accra Ghana November 2021. We just started a journalism platform that is spearheaded by young African journalists from the Global South, and this was a great platform to network and expand our territories. During the summit, we managed to interview Derrick Baah, a live painter from Ghana who fascinated the audience with his ‘magical’ paint of Nelson Mandela done within minutes. His interview in Ghana at the summit helped us gain more followers and exposure on our social media platforms. We are geared towards telling positive African stories that promote social change and there couldn’t have been a better place to find likeminded youth to help amplify our voices about the beauty of Africa and the talented young people. United we can!
The summit helped us to recruit even more young journalists who now contribute positive stories from their respective countries to our platform; Vice Versa Global! Looking forward to more productive summits.
The summit is so interesting that we want the organizers to increase the days of the summit’’.
“It was my very first and exiting experience to be part of Young African Leaders Summit 2021 that was held in Accra Ghana November 2021. We just started a journalism platform that is spearheaded by young African journalists from the Global South, and this was a great platform to network and expand our territories. During the summit, we managed to interview Derrick Baah, a live painter from Ghana who fascinated the audience with his ‘magical’ paint of Nelson Mandela done within minutes. His interview in Ghana at the summit helped us gain more followers and exposure on our social media platforms. We are geared towards telling positive African stories that promote social change and there couldn’t have been a better place to find likeminded youth to help amplify our voices about the beauty of Africa and the talented young people. United we can!
The summit helped us to recruit even more young journalists who now contribute positive stories from their respective countries to our platform; Vice Versa Global! Looking forward to more productive summits.
The summit is so interesting that we want the organizers to increase the days of the summit’’.
“I benefited from the engagements and networking sessions held at the Young African Leaders Summit 2021.
I helped me in shaping my thoughts towards networking and about entrepreneurship. It also helped me to think in different directions and created direct positive aspirations in me.
Furthermore, I learnt a lot from the themes of the summit and colleagues participated on the summit “
I advise that everyone especially the Non-Members to join YGLN to come and learn from successful and experienced people that can make an impact and develop you and change you forever join us and you will never regret”.
“I benefited from the engagements and networking sessions held at the Young African Leaders Summit 2021.
I helped me in shaping my thoughts towards networking and about entrepreneurship. It also helped me to think in different directions and created direct positive aspirations in me.
Furthermore, I learnt a lot from the themes of the summit and colleagues participated on the summit “
I advise that everyone especially the Non-Members to join YGLN to come and learn from successful and experienced people that can make an impact and develop you and change you forever join us and you will never regret”.
“The Young African Leaders Summit 2021 was a great experience for me in Accra. This was an opportunity to meet and connect as well as network with Africa’s greatest minds in business, politics, and many other sectors. This has empowered me and capacitated me in all the work I do in the organization I lead. Meeting the Former President of Ghana, His Excellency Mr John Kufuor was the major highlight.
Young Global Leaders Network is a powerful platform for young people. All the mentorship programs are life changing. I wish that the network will reach all the parts of Africa and unite young people”.
“The Young African Leaders Summit 2021 was a great experience for me in Accra. This was an opportunity to meet and connect as well as network with Africa’s greatest minds in business, politics, and many other sectors. This has empowered me and capacitated me in all the work I do in the organization I lead. Meeting the Former President of Ghana, His Excellency Mr John Kufuor was the major highlight.
Young Global Leaders Network is a powerful platform for young people. All the mentorship programs are life changing. I wish that the network will reach all the parts of Africa and unite young people”.
“I was privileged to attend the YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS SUMMIT 2021 held in Ghana. I was totally impressed by the possibility of gathering leaders from more than 28 African countries, a mini–African Union General Assembly. Pulling ideas from all these leaders formed a relay, in changing the African narrative. From that event when I look at myself and my company now, I don’t see just myself instead I see Africa, I see people with cultural diversity but still in great unity. If you asked me where I want to be in 2022 again, I will boldly tell you Young African Leaders Summit 2022 is the place”.
“I was privileged to attend the YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS SUMMIT 2021 held in Ghana. I was totally impressed by the possibility of gathering leaders from more than 28 African countries, a mini–African Union General Assembly. Pulling ideas from all these leaders formed a relay, in changing the African narrative. From that event when I look at myself and my company now, I don’t see just myself instead I see Africa, I see people with cultural diversity but still in great unity. If you asked me where I want to be in 2022 again, I will boldly tell you Young African Leaders Summit 2022 is the place”.
“YGLN is a stage set for young and aspiring leaders to mount and fly. At the last summit I attended in Accra, I was opportune to learn from other leaders from other countries. I got a lot of motivation from the strides other young African women are making and that gave me inspiration to do more and better. Networking was top notch and awesome. YGLN is a stage set for young leaders for Global Impact.
Life is a learning process. We all unlearn and relearn to get better. I believe YGLN will do even better in years to come”.
“YGLN is a stage set for young and aspiring leaders to mount and fly. At the last summit I attended in Accra, I was opportune to learn from other leaders from other countries. I got a lot of motivation from the strides other young African women are making and that gave me inspiration to do more and better. Networking was top notch and awesome. YGLN is a stage set for young leaders for Global Impact.
Life is a learning process. We all unlearn and relearn to get better. I believe YGLN will do even better in years to come”.
“YGLN is a stage set for young and aspiring leaders to mount and fly. At the last summit I attended in Accra, I was opportune to learn from other leaders from other countries. I got a lot of motivation from the strides other young African women are making and that gave me inspiration to do more and better. Networking was top notch and awesome. YGLN is a stage set for young leaders for Global Impact.
Life is a learning process. We all unlearn and relearn to get better. I believe YGLN will do even better in years to come”.
“YGLN is a stage set for young and aspiring leaders to mount and fly. At the last summit I attended in Accra, I was opportune to learn from other leaders from other countries. I got a lot of motivation from the strides other young African women are making and that gave me inspiration to do more and better. Networking was top notch and awesome. YGLN is a stage set for young leaders for Global Impact.
Life is a learning process. We all unlearn and relearn to get better. I believe YGLN will do even better in years to come”.
“I attended the Young African Leaders Summit 2021 in Accra, Ghana and I was impressed and impacted.
As an individual I was able to explore several opportunities such as networking, learning new things, speaker’s engagement which inspired me, mentorship sessions, etc.
The Summit also created a platform for inclusivity”.
“I attended the Young African Leaders Summit 2021 in Accra, Ghana and I was impressed and impacted.
As an individual I was able to explore several opportunities such as networking, learning new things, speaker’s engagement which inspired me, mentorship sessions, etc.
The Summit also created a platform for inclusivity”.
Emmanuel Addo is a Ghanaian-born leadership strategist, youth development advocate, and the visionary founder of the Young Global Leaders Network. A former student activist at the University of Ghana, he holds an MBA from Anglia Ruskin University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Management from the UK, and is completing a Doctor of Business Administration at Manipal GlobalNxt University in Malaysia.
Currently a Manager at one of the UK’s leading universities, Emmanuel also holds certificates from the University of Oxford and the Malta Leadership Institute. Under his leadership, YGLN has grown to over 10,000 members across Africa, with registered branches in nine countries and presence in 15 others. He is also the founder and Chief Convener of the Young African Leaders Summit, and has supported over 370 young entrepreneurs and mentored more than 2,000 African youths.
Emmanuel’s work continues to impact policy, leadership, and entrepreneurship across Africa and beyond.
