Prof. Nhlanhla Thwala, Vice-Chancellor of the Africa Leadership University (ALU), has officially taken over as Chair of the Executive Steering Committee (ESC) of the Africa Health Collaborative, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.

He succeeds Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, whose tenure ended on October 25.

During his acceptance speech at the close of the 2nd convening of the Africa Health Collaborative in Kumasi, Ghana, Prof. Thwala outlined three key areas of focus: research, pillar support, and student support.

"We’ve built this for two years; we want continuity, not discontinuity. I’m coming to implement collective decision-making. Everything we do must be evidence-based," he stated, emphasizing the importance of research-driven approaches. "We are determined to support our pillars—entrepreneurship, employment, and ecosystem. We need to see results in terms of our impact because if we don’t produce results, we can’t secure future funding."

Prof. Thwala also stressed the need for collaboration and mentorship in shaping the next generation of leaders. "If you’re developing the next generation of leaders, you have to give them responsibility but also support. We can achieve greatness only if we collaborate. If we work alone, we will lose," he remarked.

Profile of Prof. Nhlanhla Thwala

Prof. Nhlanhla Thwala's distinguished career in education began in 1986 as a high school teacher in Eswatini. He holds a BA in History and English, a Diploma in Education, an MA in Linguistics from Syracuse University (1990), and a PhD in Formal Linguistics from the University of California, Los Angeles (1994).

He has held several prominent academic and leadership roles, including Visiting Scholar and Coordinator of the African Language Program at Indiana University, Bloomington, and multiple positions at Wits University, Johannesburg, where he was the founding Head of the School of Literature, Language and Media and Director of the Wits Language School. He also served as Managing Director of CTI Education Group and Academic Director of Pearson Institute of Higher Education.

With over 34 years of experience, Prof. Thwala brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role as Chair of the Africa Health Collaborative ESC.