Kimathi Kuenyehia Philanthropies and the Moremi Initiative for Women’s Leadership in Africa have announced the winners of the 2023/2024 Kimathi Kuenyehia-MiLEAD Reading Prize.
The annual reading challenge is designed to cultivate a lifelong love for books and a pursuit of knowledge and excellence among young female leaders. It was open to all MiLEAD Fellows across Africa and the diaspora, requiring participants to read one book per week for 25 weeks. Winners received cash prizes totaling $2,200.
Launched in 2015, this year’s edition also required participants to submit weekly reports every Sunday, with a preference for books authored by women or women in leadership.
Following a rigorous evaluation process, the committee announced the following winners:
1. Suad Jama Abdullahi (2023 MiLEAD Fellow, Somalia) – 1st Prize: $1,000
2. Doris George Kiwelu (2023 MiLEAD Fellow, Tanzania) – 2nd Prize: $700
3. Ravelojoana Diavolana (2023 MiLEAD Fellow, Madagascar) – 3rd Prize: $500
Co-founder of the Moremi Initiative, Mawuli Drake, emphasized the role of continuous growth in effective leadership.
”No leader, even as exceptional as our Fellows, can be so perfect as to not require improvement. That is why we are excited about the partnership with Kimathi Kuenyehia Philanthropies—motivating, instilling, and rewarding reading as a habit for the leaders we develop.”
Kimathi Kuenyehia Snr., an avid reader and committed supporter of the prize, stressed the importance of self-discipline and consistency.
”The competition requires discipline and consistency—two key attributes of transformational leaders. Our goal is to instill in these young women leaders the invaluable lessons of reading, learning, and pursuit of excellence.”
First prize winner Suad Jama Abdullahi shared her excitement:
”Receiving this prize is incredibly special to me. Books have always been more than just words on a page—they’ve been a source of comfort, inspiration and growth. Winning this award feels like a celebration of that journey. I hope it inspires others to find their own path in the stories they read and to never underestimate the power of knowledge and perseverance.”
The Moremi Initiative is a United Nations-accredited organization dedicated to advancing women’s leadership and social justice by engaging, inspiring, and equipping young women and girls to become Africa’s next generation of leaders.
Kimathi Kuenyehia Philanthropies supports young entrepreneurs and talented individuals—especially women—through mentorship, education, reading, and financial aid.
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Story by Vannessa Nyasi Mensah|univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Michelle Lartey
