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African Leaders

Political leaders are usually the most knowledgeable people because of the high level of responsibilities they possess. Here are 10 notable African leaders who studied abroad:

1. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf:  Sirleaf was the first elected female Head of State in Africa, serving as President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018.

Sirleaf received an associate degree in accounting from Madison Business College, a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Economics Institute, and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

2. Dr. Akinwumi “Akin” Adesina: Dr. Adesina is the President of the African Development Bank and a Nigerian economist.

He was previously the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Nigeria.

Dr. Adesina earned a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in 1985 and a Ph.D.  in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in 1988, where he was awarded the Outstanding Ph.D. thesis prize for that year.

3. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian-American economist, global development specialist, environmental sustainability campaigner, human welfare champion, and sustainable finance maven.

Okonjo-Iweala has been the Director-General of the World Trade Organization since March 2021. In 1976, she graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with an AB in Economics.

She then graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a master’s degree in city planning in 1978 and a Ph.D. in regional economics and development in 1981.

4. Kofi Atta Annan: Kofi Atta Annan: Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the United Nations’ seventh Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the United Nations shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.

Annan earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Macalester College, a master’s degree in international relations from the Graduate Institute Geneva, and a master’s degree in management from MIT.

5. Sahle-Work Zewde: Sahle-Work is Ethiopia’s current President and the country’s first female leader. She studied natural sciences at the University of Montpellier in France.

6. Chile Eboe-Osuji: Nigerian-born Eboe-Osuji is the former President of the International Criminal Court.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in Nigeria, he went on to receive his Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands (with a thesis in international criminal law); Master of Laws (LLM) degree from McGill University, Canada, where he also did his Canadian law degree accreditation studies.

7. Ameenah Gurib: Dr. Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-Fakim is a Mauritian politician who served as the sixth president of Mauritius from 2015 to 2018.

She graduated from the University of Surrey in 1983 with a BSc degree in chemistry.

She also obtained her PhD degree in organic chemistry at Exeter University.

8. Joyce Banda: Former Malawian President (from 7 April 2012 to 31 May 2014) took office as President following the sudden death of President Bingu wa Mutharika.

She earned a Cambridge School Certificate, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from Columbus University.

9. Catherine Samba-Panza: Panza is a Central African lawyer and politician who served as interim President of the Central African Republic from 2014 to 2016.

She studied corporate law in Bangui and was trained in law at Panthéon-Assas University, in Paris, France.

10. Bola Ahmed Tinubu: Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the current President of Nigeria. He studied business administration at Chicago State University and graduated in 1979.

The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetoku, has set up an ad hoc committee to review firearms licensing and regulations by the Nigeria Police Force in line with the Firearms Act and other extant laws for public safety and general security in the country.

Also, the acting IGP has charged State Commissioners of Police and supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Commands, and tactical squads to commence a total clampdown on the illegal fabrication, sale, possession, and use of prohibited firearms.

He urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities related to firearms to the nearest police divisions or via the various NPF social media platforms for prompt response.

Egbetokun, who announced the establishment of the firearms review committee in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Monday, said the committee’s mandate encompass a thorough assessment of current firearms licensing procedures and regulations, with the aim of enhancing their effectiveness, transparency, and accountability.

He promised that the police will engage with relevant stakeholders, including legal experts, civil society organizations, and experts in the field, to ensure a holistic and well-informed review.

The IGP warned individuals involved in the wrongful possession of arms and light weapons, reiterating that illegal proliferation of firearms and light weapons poses a significant threat to the peace and stability of the nation.

He said the force is determined to combat the illegal fabrication, sales, possession and use of arms emphasizing that possessing firearms without the appropriate licenses and permits is not only a violation of the law but also a grave danger to society.