The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, through its Centre for Pan-African and Peace Studies (CePAPS), has launched the African Leadership Legacy Project (AFRILEAP). The initiative is a pan-African research and leadership development programme designed to measure leadership impact, strengthen institutional continuity and promote accountable governance across the continent.
Dakuku Peterside, a leadership and public policy expert and former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has been appointed Director of the project. Dr Bosco Chukwudumebi Okolo-Obi, Centre Leader of CePAPS, will serve as Programme Manager.
“AFRILEAP asks every leader one fundamental question: What do you want to be remembered for long after you are gone?” Peterside said.
Fostering sustainable systems beyond individual tenures
Commissioning the project, AUST President Professor Azikiwe Peter Onwualu pledged the university’s full support. He assured participants that the institution would provide an enabling environment for senior fellows and researchers to achieve the project’s objectives and help address Africa’s leadership gaps.
He commended the conceptualisation of AFRILEAP, noting that its vision aligns with the founding ideals of the pan-African university and its commitment to advancing development through research, innovation and human capacity development. Professor Chudi Uwazurike, Director of CePAPS, also spoke at the event, pledging the centre’s commitment to ensuring the initiative’s success and promoting its adoption across the continent.
AFRILEAP seeks to address a persistent governance challenge in Africa: the discontinuity of policies, reforms and development programmes following changes in leadership. Through rigorous research, evidence-based assessment and leadership development, the initiative aims to promote systems capable of delivering sustainable results beyond individual tenures.
Multidisciplinary research team and 18-month roadmap
The research framework will assess leadership legacy across five key dimensions: values transmission, the institutionalisation of systems, human capacity development, socioeconomic impact, and public and organisational memory. The project will examine the legacies of historical figures, contemporary public-sector leaders and private-sector executives to generate insights into leadership effectiveness and enduring institutional impact.
AFRILEAP will commence its fieldwork in Nigeria, with comparative studies planned in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt and Rwanda. Its multidisciplinary research team comprises scholars and practitioners based in Africa and the United Kingdom, with expertise spanning governance, technology, sustainability, peacebuilding, communications and leadership development.
The research team includes Dr Aminu Bello Usman, a computer science and cybersecurity specialist; Dr Mohammed Dahiru Aminu, an expert in sustainability, governance and public policy; Richard Ali, a specialist in peacebuilding and institutional resilience; Dr Jeff Ukachukwu, a communications and management strategist; and Dr Sam Danso, an artificial intelligence researcher and strategic research leader.
Other members include Professor Olalekan Adekola, an expert in geography, environmental systems and climate adaptation; Dr David Molapo, a South African leadership strategist and human capital development specialist; and ZohAkiy Mbi-njifor Mbapeh, an expert in governance, executive leadership and organisational development.
Developing the African Leadership Legacy Index
Over the next 18 months, the project will prioritise the development of mathematical, psychometric and qualitative indicators to underpin the African Leadership Legacy Index. These indicators will provide a structured basis for evaluating leadership impact beyond immediate accomplishments and short-term performance.
Other planned outputs include an African Leadership Legacy Framework, an open-access knowledge hub, policy briefs, Executive Legacy Masterclasses and a 12-month Future Legacy Leaders Fellowship. Together, these initiatives are designed to strengthen leadership capacity, promote institutional learning and equip emerging leaders with the knowledge and skills to build sustainable legacies.
Through its research and development programmes, AFRILEAP aims to provide policymakers, public institutions and private-sector organisations with evidence-based tools for assessing leadership beyond immediate achievements and political tenure. It also seeks to encourage leaders to build resilient institutions, institutionalise effective systems and invest in developing future generations of leaders.
The project has invited development institutions, philanthropic foundations, corporate organisations and strategic partners to support its research, policy engagement and leadership development programmes as it works towards advancing a more accountable, sustainable and future-oriented leadership culture across Africa.
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