AFRICA STUDENT LEADERS AWARDS & ACADEMY

Nobody does student leadership like ASLA!

Africa Student Leaders Awards & Academy

The leading student leadership center of excellence in Africa, dedicated to cultivating Transformational, proactive, productive, and progressive leaders who will drive sustainable development, champion social justice, and inspire positive civic change across the continent.

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ASLA Awards

Recognition that celebrates student leadership excellence

ASLA Awards recognizes outstanding student leaders whose service, courage, vision, and public impact are shaping institutions and communities across Africa.

The awards platform honours leadership achievement, visibility, and contribution while inspiring a new generation to serve with excellence and integrity.

Format: Annual in-person award ceremony.

ASLA Leadership Academy

Leadership formation that equips promising African changemakers

The ASLA Leadership Academy is designed to equip promising leaders with a holistic mindset, skillset, and toolset to grow in integrity, vision, resilience, empathy, and accountability.

It prepares young leaders to create meaningful impact across Africa through immersive learning, mentorship, and applied leadership development.

Format: Bi-annual virtual training with a three-day in-person residential bootcamp and certification.

Our vision

Vision for the Awards

Celebrating student leadership that moves Africa forward

To become the continent’s leading recognition platform for student leaders whose ethical leadership, public service, innovation, and courage are creating measurable impact in Africa.

Vision for the Academy

Building Africa’s next generation of values-driven leaders

To nurture a pipeline of proactive, productive, and progressive leaders across Africa who will advance sustainable development, champion justice, and transform communities with courage and competence.

About ASLA

Equipping young African leaders for transformational leadership

Both the Awards and Leadership Academy are designed to shape student leaders through values-based development, practical learning, mentorship, and community-centered engagement.

Both the Awards and Leadership Academy shape student leaders through values-based development, practical learning, mentorship, and community-centered engagement.
The Leadership Academy equips promising leaders with a holistic mindset, skillset, and toolset to grow in integrity, vision, resilience, empathy, and accountability.
ASLA develops leaders who are prepared to create meaningful impact across Africa through ethical and people-centred leadership.
ASLA also hosts an annual high-level summit that brings together student leaders, policy makers, and diplomats to address themed leadership topics and celebrate annual milestones.

Chapter 01

ASLA – East Africa

Open exclusively for student leaders in institutions of higher education in East Africa.

Chapter 02

ASLA – West Africa

Open exclusively for student leaders in institutions of higher education in Western Africa.

Chapter 03

ASLA – South Africa

Open exclusively for student leaders in institutions of higher education in Southern Africa.

Chapter 04

ASLA – Africa

Open exclusively for student leaders in institutions of higher education across Africa.

Annual ASLA Summit

ASLA holds an annual high-level summit that brings together student leaders, policy makers, and diplomats to address themed leadership topics and celebrate annual milestones.

Fellow’s voices

Stories of recognition, growth, and impact

Voices of ASLA Awards Winners

“This award is more than recognition — it’s a call to keep building bridges of hope and leadership across Africa.”

Aleesha Adatia — Makerere University, Uganda | Winner of East Africa Excellence Award (Julius Nyerere Award)

“Winning reminds me that youth voices can shape nations when courage meets opportunity.”

Precisou Waweru — AMREF International University, Kenya | Winner, Servant Leadership Award (Prof. Wangari Maathai Award)

“ASLA has shown the world that excellence and impact are born from passion, resilience, and service.”

Sultan Khalifa — Kenya Coast National Polytechnic | Winner of the East Africa President Award (Paul Kagame Award)

“I am thankful to ASLA for creating a platform where student leaders can be recognized and celebrated, providing visibility for our contributions.”

Adrien Manishimwe — University of Rwanda | Winner of the East Africa Volunteer of the Year Award (Aguer Ariik Award)

Voices of ASLA Leadership Academy Fellows

“I am now equipped and empowered to ethically and boldly face the world of leadership beyond my campus tenure. Such a timely academy.”

Chol John Deng — University of Juba, South Sudan

“The Academy gave me the tools to turn vision into action — and action into lasting change.”

Jack Nginga — Kenya Water Institute (KEWI)

“Here, I discovered that leadership is not about titles, but about lifting others to rise with you.”

Kilala Osee — Pedagogical Institute of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

“ASLA taught me that every young leader carries the power to transform communities, one step at a time.”

Suhayr Mohamed — University of Mogadishu, Somalia

Program details

Participation model, duration, and process

Duration & intake

The Leadership Academy is a 3-month immersive leadership experience.

The Academy runs bi-annually with two intakes each year.

Participation model

The Leadership Academy combines virtual training with a three-day in-person residential bootcamp.

The bootcamp includes certification and applied leadership experience.

Application & nomination

Participants self-nominate for ASLA opportunities.

The Awards ceremony is held annually as an in-person celebration of student leadership achievement.

Join the movement

Recognition. Formation. Impact.

ASLA exists to celebrate, equip, and elevate student leaders across Africa through awards, academy training, mentorship, and a leadership culture rooted in service and transformation.

Nominate, Apply or Partner

Our partners

ONE Campaign

International Republican Institute

Public Service Governance

People Prosper International