African Leadership University

Higher Education for a higher purpose: We believe that young people hold the potential to become the ethical, entrepreneurial leaders our continent and planet need.

Our role is to unlock that potential through a one-of-a-kind learning experience that gives students the foundation for a lifetime of leading positive change. ALU approaches education through “Missions, not Majors”: with a keen focus on the Global Challenges – especially health-related Missions (in the entrepreneurial and ecosystems). Guided by learning coaches, visiting faculty, experts in residence and mentors, students undertake an immersive learning journey close to the problems they will need to solve as leaders and the communities they will serve. Learners get to identify a mission based on challenges or opportunities they have identified (or have lived with), and, they are given the foundational skills to lead themselves through (for example) an in-depth exploration of Values, Vision and Virtue. Through international internships and networking opportunities, learners also have access to significant resources (across the African Leadership Group and its partners) to research, prototype, conduct market assessment and scale their solutions in and outside of their communities. Over 41 nationalities are currently represented in ALU – on our main campus, and multiple hubs spread across different parts of the world and growing. We run undergraduate programs in Software Engineering and Entrepreneurial Leadership, an Executive MBA and other leadership programs. ALU, Doing Hard Things!

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Photo of Kwame Norvixoxo

Lecturer, Design, Teaching, Evaluating Research

African Leadership University

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Director, ALX Ventures

African Leadership University

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, PhD

Vice – Chancellor of Africa Leadership University

African Leadership University

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Centre for Reimagined Africa (CRA)

African Leadership University

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Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health Scholarship

How to Apply: Step OneProspective applicants must first consult the admission requirements for the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program of study. The link above will guide you in exploring this program.If you meet the academic requirements of this program, please follow through to step two. Step TwoReview the recording of the scholarship information session […]

Innovative Solutions for Healthcare Challenges: Youth-Driven Ventures Transforming Access to Medical Services in Africa

The University of Toronto is pleased to invite you to attend the session of the Health in Africa Series, entitled “Innovative Solutions for Healthcare Challenges: Youth Driven Ventures Transforming Access to Medical Services in Africa”. This session will feature Pauline Gethi, founder of DoctorsLive, and Nomboh Evans Kunchu, founder of Moto, who will share their entrepreneurial journeys and showcase youth-led Health Entrepreneurship Ventures.

Celebrating International Women’s Day

For International Women’s Day, women Scholars from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology University (KNUST) celebrate the incredible women diligently working within the Health Collaborative to impact lives.

Health in Africa Series – Stinking Toilets, Civilized Users: Towards a Function-Based Indicator of Progress on Sanitation in Informal Settlements

The University of Toronto is pleased to invite you to attend the session of the Health in Africa Series, entitled “Stinking Toilets, Civilized Users: Towards a Function-Based Indicator of Progress on Sanitation in Informal Settlements”, presented by Kwame Norvixoxo, a Faculty member, Chair of the Research and Ethics Committee and Project Manager for the African Leadership University Health Collaborative project.

Health in Africa Series: Gold or Health? Ghana’s Environment Under Seige

The University of Toronto is pleased to invite you to attend the session of the Health in Africa Series, entitled “Gold or Health? Ghana’s environment under siege”, presented by Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo, a Public Health Physician, Consultant Research Scientist, and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.

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Diana Kaliza

Master Scholar

African Leadership University

Being a Mastercard Scholar has provided me with a profound educational opportunity, equipping me to address the healthcare challenges confronting Africa, particularly in Rwanda.

With firsthand experience of the continent’s healthcare system, I am uniquely positioned to contribute meaningfully. I recognize the importance of collaboration in effecting change, and I’m committed to working with fellow scholars, professionals, and organizations to improve healthcare across Africa. Moreover, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to give back to my community by addressing healthcare disparities and promoting equitable access to healthcare.

In essence, this scholarship has empowered me to be a force for positive change in the African healthcare system, enabling me to make a lasting impact on the well-being of individuals throughout the continent.

Profile Type
Scholar
Countries
Canada
Rwanda
Programs
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Mastercard Foundation Masters Scholar program
Social and Behavioural Health Sciences
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Kwame Norvixoxo

Lecturer, Design, Teaching, Evaluating Research

African Leadership University

Kwame Norvixoxo is currently a Lecturer (designing, teaching and evaluating Research) at the African Leadership University, as well as the Director and Senior Consultant for Knorx Consulting Services.

His other roles in African Leadership University (ALU) include, Capstone Manager for the Global Challenges Faculty, Research Committee Chair for ALU, Head of Ethics and Research Faculty Lead.

Email Address
knorvixoxo@alueducation.com
Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Rwanda
Profile

Chris Suzdak

Director, ALX Ventures

African Leadership University

Chris Suzdak is based in Mauritius and serves as the Director of ALX Ventures, which develops, connects and funds early-stage tech entrepreneurs emerging from the African Leadership Group ecosystem.

Chris also leads The FutureList, a global platform and community that spotlights tech innovators and connects them with investors, talent and partners. He previously started and scaled up teams in the fintech, agtech and edtech sectors across Africa. He’s passionate about finding and supporting the next big thing.

Email Address
csuzdak@sandtech.com
Country
Rwanda
Governance
HEMP Pillar Advisory Commitee
Profile

Nhlanhla Thwala, PhD

Vice - Chancellor of Africa Leadership University

African Leadership University

Dr. Nhlanhla Thwala started his career in 1986 as a high school teacher in his native Eswatini after completing a BA in History and English, and a Diploma in Education.

In 1990, he completed an MA in Linguistics at Syracuse University. In 1994, he completed a PhD in formal Linguistics from the University of California in Los Angeles.

His post-PhD career started in Indiana University, Bloomington where he was a Visiting Scholar and Coordinator of the African Language Program from 1996 to June 1998. He then spent 16 years at Wits University, Johannesburg from June 1998 to May 2014 in various capacities including serving as the founding Head of the School of Literature, Language and Media (2001-2003), Director of the Wits Language School (2007-2014), Researcher at SOAS while on Sabbatical at Wits (2004-2006). In 2014, he left Wits and first joined Advtech (one the largest JSE listed private education companies in South Africa) as Head of the Institute of Independent Education (IIE). He then joined Pearson South Africa as Managing Director of CTI Education Group (a higher education company acquired by Pearson in 2013) from September 2014. In that time, he also served as the Academic Director of Pearson Institute of Higher Education from 2016 until his departure in September 2020 this year.

Nhlanhla’s education professional career spans 34 years. After starting as a Higher School teacher, in June 1996, he returned to the University of Swaziland in January 1997 as a Teaching Assistant in the English Department until June 1988.

During his graduate studies, he worked as a teaching assistant at Syracuse University and UCLA. He also had Summer Teaching roles at Yale University (1993), Boston University (1994), and Ohio State University (1996). In 1998, he started at Wits as Lecturer and rose to Senior Lecturer in 1999 before his appointment as Head of the School of Literature Language and Media in 2001.

Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Rwanda
Governance
Executive Steering Committee