Two Fellows of Africa Leadership Initiative — West Africa (ALIWA), Dr. Patrick Awuah and Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah have received recognition — one as a "Genius Fellow", an honour reserved for only 20 people around the world and the other as Nigeria's new Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments.

Dr. Awuah, founder and President of Ashesi University at Berekuso in the Eastern Region of Ghana, received the award from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in the United States. The MacArthur fellowship is a highly prestigious award, which selects and celebrates "talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction."

Dr. Enelamah has recently been sworn into President Muhamadu Buhari's cabinet. Until his appointment, he was the CEO and co­founder of African Capital Alliance, an investment and advisory firm based in Lagos Nigeria

ALIWA is a network of leaders from business, government, academia and civil society who share a commitment to ethical and enlightened leadership. ALIWA seeks to build a new generation of values-based leaders across professional and occupational fields in West Africa.

Patrick and Okechuku epitomize the dynamism and drive of an evolving generation of effective leaders who progress from success to significance, ALIWA's Ghana co-directors Esi Ansah and Kwaku Sakyi-Addo concurred.

ALIWA is part of the Aspen Institute's Global Leadership Network which consists of similar leadership initiatives in other parts of Africa, the Middle-East, Asia and the Americas. Fellowship is by an international nomination and a rigorous vetting process.

Other ALIWA Fellows include Dr. Omobola Johnson, Nigeria's Minister of Communication under Former President Goodluck Jonathan; Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, Senior HR executive of MTN Nigeria; entrepreneur Mrs. Grace Amey-Obeng; Mr. Kofi Dadzie, CEO of Rancard Solutions; Mr. Ashok Mohinani, CEO of Poly Group; Ms. Hannah Tetteh and Mrs. Nana Oye Lithur, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Gender respectively; Mrs. Essie Annor-Sackey, co-founder of Legacy Girls Academy; Mr. Kekeli Gadzekpo, CEO of Enterprise Group; Mr. Frank Adu, CEO of CAL Bank; Mr. Kwasi Twum, CEO of Multimedia Group; Mr. Samuel Attah-Mensah of Citi FM; Ms. Estelle Akrofio-Sowah, Head of Google Ghana; former deputy Attorney-General, Mrs. Gloria Akuffo, Mr. Albert Ocran and President of the National Council of Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. AigbojeAig-Imoukhuede to name a few.

ALIWA was initiated in 2001 by Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta.