The 2013 Fellows of the Moremi Initiative Leadership and Empowerment Development (MILEAD) Program will converge in Accra, Ghana later this month to kick-start a three-week intensive training program. The Program is a long-term leadership development program designed to identify, develop and promote emerging young African women leaders to attain and thrive in leadership in their community and Africa as a whole. Ghana’s Mawuenana Ami Yomkepe, Founder and CEO of Afro Mod Trends, is among 28 young African women selected for this year’s MILEAD Fellows Program. The Fellows are women who have shown the promise, courage and commitment to lead and shape the future of Africa. They were chosen through a highly competitive selection process and criteria based on their outstanding leadership promise, community service accomplishments, and commitment to the advancement of women in Africa. A statement issued by Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa noted that Ms. Ami Yomkepe was selected for her outstanding achievements as an architect and a budding entrepreneur with a vision for societal change through fashion as a medium for impacting lives. The MILEAD Program equips Fellows with the world class knowledge, skills, values and networks they need to succeed as 21st century women leaders. Fellows will be empowered to cross-examine concepts of leadership in a broad African context, cultivate the skills and experiences necessary to occupy and excel in leadership positions, and gain knowledge on cutting-edge issues critical to African women and their communities. In addition to knowledge building lectures, skills-training workshops, teambuilding activities, role plays and other interactive activities, Fellows will be mentored by experienced and accomplished women leaders who are committed to supporting and nurturing the next generation of African women leaders. Ms. Ami Yomkepe has expressed gratitude to MILEAD for recognizing her efforts. Moved by a “deep passion for entrepreneurship and job creation”, Ms Yomekpe said she made a bold move and launched her clothing line, Afro Mod Trends in September 2011 and has grown it into a recognized brand with clients all over the world. Not only has Ami turned her passion into profit but she is also committed to helping many others to unlock their full potential. Afro Mod Trends in partnership with Utopia-Wishlist – a volunteer organization focused on improving the education of poor and less fortunate children in society – is currently on a project dubbed “Reading Club” at Omanjor D/A basic school at Ofankor, a suburb of Accra. The project aims to improve on the students’ written and spoken English by piquing their interest in reading, providing them with the required resources and organizing assisted reading sessions with members of the organization. “From every purchase of a product from the clothing line, a contribution is made for the purchase of a book to support the Reading Club project”, said Ms. Ami Yomkepe. The MILEAD Leadership Institute will be hosted by the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon from July 12 to August 2, 2013.