Team

A small team is responsible for creating, managing, coordinating and developing the African Leadership Institute’s programmes and alumni network, as well as conducting its daily business affairs. It is also responsible for appointing and directing Regional Representatives, the core faculty, and the strategic institutional partnerships.

Lai Yahaya (CEO)

He is a lawyer and political economist and has spent the last two decades working as a senior policy advisor to governments, development finance institutions, and major international corporations in Sub-Saharan Africa. He received his BA(Hons) and MA from Balliol College, Oxford University and MSc in Business Economics. He is Yale World Fellow, an AFLI Board member and a 2009 Archbishop Tutu Fellow.

Peter Wilson (Co-Founder & Director of Programmes)

Peter Wilson is the Co-Founder of the African Leadership Institute, an AFLI Board Member and the Director of Programmes. He runs his own Management Consulting company, PRB Consulting, advising global corporations and African governments on strategic development. He is a Rhodes Scholar.

Niven Postma (Programme Director, Tutu Leadership Programme)

Niven Postma is a 2007 Tutu Fellow and a globally-respected advisor and consultant on leadership and organisational behaviour, based in Johannesburg, but delivering her services across Africa, the UK and USA with world renowned institutions. Niven works as a strategy, leadership and culture consultant and facilitator for clients across the globe. She is also the author of the office politics book, If you don't do politics, politics will do you.  

Femi Johnson (Tutu Fellowship and Calestous Juma Leadership Programme Manager )

Femi Johnson believes that innovation, technology and strategic partnerships leveraged by entrepreneurs are the fastest way to build economic prosperity in Africa. He is a programme manager, leadership coach, and learning expert. He has spent the last decade designing global programmes for international development organisations such as the World Bank and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

 Norman Smit (Communications and IT)

South African-born Norman Smit is CEO of Coherent Marketing.  A former journalist and producer, he helped start up South Africa's first independent prime-time national TV news broadcast, eNews, and produced it for two years. He has worked extensively in economic and workforce development communications and been published by the US Reserve bank in this field. Clients have ranged from small businesses and nonprofits to the Canadian government.

Jolomi Akperi (Programme Assistant)
Jolomi Akperi is a Graduate Trainee at AFLI as a Programme Assistant. She supports program implementation, stakeholder engagement, and strategic initiatives. With a background in business development and operations, she brings valuable experience in driving growth, managing partnerships, and coordinating impactful projects. Jolomi holds a BSc in Computer Science from Babcock University and has complemented her technical background with expertise in progect management, data analytics, and communications.

Hector Adesanya (Programme Assistant)
Boluwatito Hector Adesanya is a Graduate Trainee in IT and Operations Support at the African Leadership Institute (AfLI). He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and has previous experience at Egbin Power Plc. With a strong foundation in IT operations and software development, he is passionate about leveraging technology for efficiency and innovation.