Funmi Iyanda, Folashade Laoye and Ory Okolloh join the Forum of Young Global Leaders – Class of 2011

Funmi Iyanda

Nigerian blogger, journalist and columnist, Funmi Iyanda, has been honoured by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. Also on the list of the 2011 honorees are Nigeria’s Folashade Laoye, Group Managing Director of Hygeia Group, and Ory Okolloh, Kenyan activist, lawyer, and blogger, who is currently Google’s current Policy Manager for Africa. At the event held in South Africa from March 4th to March 6th, 2011, other notable mentions were CNN International’s Hala Gorani, and Deloitte’s David Hill.

The Forum of Young Global Leaders is a unique, multistakeholder community of more than 700 exceptional young leaders who share a commitment to shaping the global future. The Young Global Leaders represent the future of leadership, coming from all regions of the world and representing business, government, civil society, arts & culture, academia and media, as well as social enterpreneurs.

Nominated under 40, these young leaders are proposed through a qualified nomination process and assessed according to rigorous selection criteria which create a diverse and truly representative body, while accepting only the very best leaders who have already demonstrated their commitment to serving the society at large.

Thousands of candidates nominated each year, between 100 and 200 extraordinary individuals are honoured each year with the title “Young Global Leader” at which time they are invited to become Active Members and sign the YGL Charter of rights and responsibilities.

The YGL class of 2011 is composed of 190 Young Global Leaders from 65 countries and all stakeholders of society (business, civil society, social entrepreneurs, politics and government, arts and culture, and opinion and media). The new class represents all regions: East Asia (50), South Asia (18), Europe (42), Middle East and North Africa (13), sub-Saharan Africa (14), North America (36) and Latin America (17). This year’s selection has more gender parity than ever, with 44% women on the list.

Here’s a list of the Young Global Leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu (Ethiopia)
Co-Founder and Managing Director, SoleRebels

Dagmawi Woubshet (Ethiopia)
Assistant Professor, Cornell University

Ory Okolloh (Kenya)
Founder, Ushahidi, South Africa

Funmi Iyanda (Nigeria)
Broadcaster, Journalist, Columnist and Blogger

Folashade Laoye (Nigeria)
Group Managing Director, Hygeia Group

Magatte Wade (Senegal)
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, The Tiossano Tribe

Avril Halstead (South Africa)
Chief Director, Sectoral Oversight,
National Treasury of South Africa

Vuyo D. Kahla (South Africa)
Group Executive, Advisory and Assurance
Sasol Limited

Basetsana Kumalo (South Africa)
President, Business Women’s Association of South Africa

Zibusiso Mkhwanazi (South Africa)
Executive Chairman, Krazyboyz Digital
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About the Forum of Young Global Leaders
Established in 2004 by Professor Klaus Schwab, the Forum of Young Global Leaders is a unique, multi-stakeholder community of the world’s most extraordinary young leaders who dedicate a part of their time to jointly address global challenges and who are committed to devote part of their knowledge and energy to collectively work towards a better future. Together, the Young Global Leaders work to discover innovative solutions to today’s most pressing problems through various initiatives and workstreams, as well as catalysing the next generation of leaders.
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About the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. Incorporated as a not-for-profit foundation in 1971, and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is tied to no political, partisan or national interests