The Dangote Fellowship sponsored World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Young Global Leaders has released the names of the 121 laureates of the Class of 2016 of the Forum for Young Global Leaders (YGL) comprising government leaders, scientists, emerging entrepreneurs, government leaders, social activists and artists.

Three Nigerians are among the fresh list of Leaders, aged under 40, who are pushing boundaries and rethinking the world around them. Taken together, they represent the very best of this generation as they share a commitment to working with their peers to achieve results of genuine global significance.

The three Nigerians selected to join the prestigious YGL group are Ada Osakwe, Chief Executive of Agrolay Ventures; Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, Chief Executive Officer of the Private Sector Health Alliance, and Yomi Awobokun, Chief Executive Officer of Oando Downstream.

Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, learned about the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGLs) during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2011 in Davos, Switzerland, and observed the tremendous potential of this unique World Economic Forum community to develop the next generation of African leaders from all parts of society.

As part of his philanthropic activities, therefore, Dangote set up a fellowship programme to guarantee the full engagement of young African leaders from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as non-business entities into the Forum’s Young Global Leaders Community. The Dangote fellowship covers the cost of the participation at World Economic Forum and YGL-led events.

“Dangote is pleased that 11 YGLs were selected from sub-Saharan Africa, and particularly that 3 Nigerians were among this group,” he stated, adding: “I have personally interacted with the three Nigerians selected as Young Global Leaders this year and am pleased that they will be joining a global community where they will contribute their knowledge and skills to promote Africa’s agenda.”

YGL efforts to date have led to initiatives and businesses aimed at tackling global water shortages, the working conditions of factories in poor countries, a waste-free world, poor health and education for schoolchildren and spinal injuries.

Current and former YGLs head governments and Fortune 500 companies, win Nobel Prizes and Academy Awards, become UN Goodwill Ambassadors and Social Entrepreneurs. The new YGLs will be asked to work with one another over the next five years resolving some of the world’s toughest challenges.

•Photo shows Aliko Dangote.