Two Nigerian economists and an Ivorian have emerged winners of the Mo Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships, which will place them in executive offices of pan-African economic institutions for a year-long period, a statement from the Mo Ibrahim Foundation has confirmed.

Nigeria’s Charlotte Ashamu, a former Senior Associate at African-focused financial and investment group, Whitaker, and an advisory officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will now work for a year at the African Development Bank (AFDB).

Weyinmi Omamuli, the second Nigerian winner, will serve in the office of International Trade Centre (ITC). An economist focused on emerging markets, she was previously a Vice President – Senior Analyst at Moody’s Investor Service, managing the firm’s portfolio of African countries including her home country, Nigeria, Zambia and Kenya.

The final winner, Ivorian Carl Manlam, health-inclined facilitor who was a key figure in the negotiating the advancement of public health financing and development in political and economic institutions including West African countries like Benin, Senegal and Guinea Bissau, as well as for the Abidjan Lagos Corridor Organisation, will now serve at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

The fellowships programme was launched in 2010 by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, a philanthropic project by African billionaire Mo Ibrahim. It is designed to identify and provide support for potential African leaders.