Pan African Youth Leadership Foundation

08/06/2026

Denílson Patrick dos Santos Monteiro joins the 2026 League of Excellence!

Denílson Patrick dos Santos Monteiro is a Cape Verdean jurist, youth leader, and human rights defender with strong experience in governance, youth diplomacy, civic participation, and international cooperation. He currently serves as President of the National Organization of Young Human Rights Ambassadors (ONJEDH) and also as President of the Board of Directors of the Cape Verdean Federation of Community Associations. He previously served as National Coordinator for Cape Verde of the Youth Coalition of African Portuguese-Speaking Countries (PALOP) for the 2023–2025 term.

He is the first Young Human Rights Ambassador of Cape Verde, appointed by the National Commission for Human Rights and Citizenship. In this role, he has played a significant part in promoting human rights, peace, security, and sustainable development through the leadership and coordination of national, sub-regional, and international initiatives.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Governance and Administration. He also works as a Law lecturer and has professional experience in public administration and the social sector. In addition, he is an international conference speaker, actively participating in international forums, conferences, and summits on youth, democratic governance, human rights, citizenship, and leadership, representing Cape Verde and African youth in spaces of political and institutional dialogue.

His professional trajectory is guided by a strong commitment to democratic values, multilateralism, social inclusion, and the strengthening of youth participation in building just, peaceful, and sustainable societies.

07/06/2026

Bukola Oyedokun joins the 2026 League of Excellence!

Bukola Oyedokun is a corporate commercial strategist and award-winning brand leader specializing in premium market positioning, high-velocity product launches, and sustainable digital transformations.

Currently serving as the Category Development Manager for Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages, Bukola has spearheaded cross-functional teams to engineer high-complexity campaign ex*****ons, significantly expanding market share and driving sustainable portfolio growth across highly competitive fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) landscapes.

A passionate advocate for forward-thinking market solutions, she has partnered with her teams to
champion impactful sustainability initiatives, including rPET integration across major consumer
touchpoints. Her collaborative leadership, commercial acumen, and commitment to excellence
earned her and the team the prestigious 2025 Leadership Award for exceptional brand performance, a milestone she proudly attributes to collective team ex*****on.

Bukola holds a BA (Hons) in English & Literary Studies from the University of Lagos and completed advanced French language studies at the Université de Lomé, Togo. Recognized as a dynamic voice in the contemporary African corporate ecosystem, she masterfully bridges the gap between structured corporate excellence and agile entrepreneurial innovation, empowering the next generation of African business leaders to scale through value-driven brand equity.

04/06/2026

Kaisha M. Faiza joins the 2026 League of Excellence!

Kaisha M. Faiza is a Kenyan business leader and the Founder & Creative Director of Idaro Skincare — a premium beauty brand redefining African luxury through refined, handcrafted formulations rooted in nature and elevated through intentional design.

What began as a deeply personal mission to restore her daughter’s skin has evolved into a fast- rising brand now stocked across leading pharmacies and wellness spaces, with a growing

footprint across Africa and international markets. Through Idaro, Kaisha is not simply building a skincare line — she is shaping a new narrative: that African beauty can be luxurious, globally competitive, and uncompromising in quality.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Entrepreneurship, bringing both strategic discipline and visionary leadership to the brand’s growth, positioning, and expansion.

Beyond business, Kaisha is the Founder of the Kaisha Foundation — an impact-driven initiative committed to uplifting communities and creating meaningful change. Through its school lunch program, the foundation provides meals to children in schools, supporting their well-being, dignity, and ability to learn and thrive.

Her work and influence have earned her recognition across platforms, including a feature in Empire Magazine as one of the most visionary leaders redefining African luxury beauty.

Kaisha represents a new generation of African leadership bold yet refined, purpose-driven yet
commercially astute building brands that carry both legacy and global relevance.

03/06/2026

Michelle Ntalami joins the 2026 League of Excellence!

Michelle Ntalami is a faith-based beauty entrepreneur. She is the founder of Marini Naturals, one of Africa’s leading organic bodycare brands, which she built from the ground up into an internationally recognized name now selling in over 13 countries worldwide.

With over 15 years in entrepreneurship, her journey has seen her consult for multinationals, speak on global stages and win several feted awards. She has received honors such as being named among Africa’s Top 100 Women, Top 40 Under 40, and AABLA, with features in CNBC, CNN, BBC and several others.

Today, through her beauty products, creativity and influence, Michelle is devoted to restoring God’s original design for women’s beauty across the world. That is, “Fearfully and wonderfully made.”

03/06/2026

Marina Terry joins the 2026 League of Excellence!

Marina Terry is a distinguished journalist, news anchor, producer, and media professional with Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire, one of Sierra Leone’s leading media institutions. She is recognized for her credible, impactful, and people-centered journalism that informs, educates, and influences public discourse across national and regional platforms.

Within AYV, Marina plays a dynamic role across news anchoring, reporting, production, and editorial development. She is widely respected for her commanding on-screen presence, clarity of delivery, and her ability to translate complex national and global issues into accessible, engaging narratives. Her work is grounded in strong journalistic ethics, balanced reporting, and a consistent commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices while promoting accountability and transparency.

Beyond broadcasting, she contributes extensively behind the scenes as a producer and script editor, strengthening editorial quality, storytelling structure, and overall production excellence. Her expertise in digital media strategy has also supported the expansion of AYV’s digital footprint, ensuring content reaches and resonates with wider, more diverse audiences.

Marina Terry is also the Founder of EmpowerHer SL, a youth-focused initiative dedicated to advancing women’s empowerment and community transformation, while actively championing advocacy against drug abuse and its impact on young people.
Her leadership and impact have earned her regional recognition, including being named among the African 100 League of Exceptional Young Africans by PAYLEF, affirming her influence as a rising continental voice in media and youth leadership.

Through her professional and advocacy work, Marina continues to embody excellence, integrity, and purpose-driven leadership, contributing to shaping informed societies and advancing meaningful change in Sierra Leone and beyond.

01/06/2026

Jacqueline Lawrence joins the 2026 League of Excellence!

Jacqueline Lawrence is an award-winning African media entrepreneur, development communicator, and changemaker from Tanzania who has dedicated her career to using media as a tool for social and economic transformation. As the Executive Director of Highlands FM, Southern Tanzania’s first female-owned radio station, she has spent over 15 years connecting underserved communities to information, opportunities, and solutions through innovative radio and digital platforms.

Passionate about amplifying African voices, Jacqueline believes that information is one of the continent’s most powerful development tools. Her mission is simple: to ensure that no African community is left behind because of a lack of access to information, opportunity, or representation

01/06/2026

Victoria A. Ajayi joins the 2026 League of Excellence!

Victoria is a seasoned business executive and currently the Group Managing Director/CEO at TVC Communications. A media conglomerate which captures an audience of approx. 30 million people daily. She has extensive governance and boardroom experience as she currently serves as Chairman of Audit Committee of A.C.C.A. She also Chairs the Audit & Risk Committee of a financial institution amongst other board roles.

Victoria is an Investor, a Board Advisor, a Mentor to many rising female leaders, a keen AI Proponent that spearheaded the deployment of AI News Anchors which delivers news in four indigenous
Nigerian languages (first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa), and the Author of the timeless book, The Precision-Led Woman-A definitive guide to landing leadership positions.

She has been recognised as one of the Top 100 Career Women in Nigeria, and one of the 65 Women Making Impact in Nigeria. She is a member of the Institute of Directors and The Society for Corporate Governance, Nigeria. She is also an alumnus of; Executive Programmes at Cambridge Judge Business School & Harvard Business School.

01/06/2026

Debbie Izamoje Okolie joins the 2026 League of Excellence!

Debbie Izamoje Okolie, FNIMN, is the Chief Executive Officer of Brila Media Group, a pioneer and leader in Africa’s sports media industry. With a visionary approach, she transformed Brila FM into Brila Media—an integrated multimedia group redefining sports
broadcasting and digital storytelling across Africa. She holds degrees from the University of Sheffield and University College London (UCL), with executive certifications from Harvard University, MIT, and Lagos Business School.

Her leadership and innovation have earned widespread recognition. She won the 2024 Future Award for Intrapreneurship and previously earned international acclaim as COO of the Year (Sports Media) by C-Suite Insider, UK, before becoming CEO of Brila Media. She is also the youngest woman in sports to be recognized as a Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (FNIMN).

In 2025, Debbie received the Lord’s Achievers Award in Media & Journalism, was nominated among the 50 Most Influential African Women in Sports by Sports Africa (Kenya), and listed among the 100 Reputable Women of African Descent by Africa Scorecard, highlighting her growing influence across the continent.

Beyond media, Debbie is deeply committed to women’s empowerment through sports. Her initiative, Football for Girls Africa (FGA), helps young girls explore diverse careers in football by promoting inclusivity. She also contributes to the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Task Force, advancing the role of women in sports leadership after previously working on its rebrand and the Aisha Buhari Tournament.

30/05/2026

Dr Khensani Mashila joins the 2026 League of Excellence!

Dr. Khensani Mashila holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA).

She is the Founder and Owner of Dr K Medical and Aesthetics Hub, where she integrates clinical expertise with a holistic approach to patient care and wellness delivery.

22/05/2026