Business: One of Forbes.com's “The 10 Youngest Power Men In Africa” Fred Swaniker is celebrated by President Obama….

Title: Obama celebrates Ghanaian entrepreneur, Fred Swaniker


A Ghanaian entrepreneur based in South Africa has been commended by the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, for using his expertise to help young Africans to develop their leadership skills.

Speaking at the Young African Leaders Initiative Town Hall at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa on June 29, 2013, President Obama sang the praise of the Ghanaian, who is in his mid thirties, for his enormous contributions to the continent.

The event was a question-and-answer session with a handpicked audience from across Africa. This is part of his three-nation Africa tour. He first visited Senegal with Tanzania being the last leg of his tour.

A release from the Office of the Press Secretary, White House acknowledged the need for entrepreneurs like Swaniker to be empowered to do more.

In the words of Obama: “We want to empower entrepreneurs like Fred Swaniker. Where’s Fred? He’s from Ghana. (Applause.) Where is he? There he is. So Fred has got a fan club over here. (Laughter and applause.) Fred helped to start a biotech company, and now uses his expertise to help other young Africans develop their leadership skills so that they can come back and put those skills to use serving their communities, starting businesses, creating jobs. So thank you, Fred, for the great work that you’re doing. (Applause.) “

Fred Swaniker is an entrepreneur with deep experience in education and leadership on the African continent. He is currently based in Johannesburg, and is the Founder & CEO of African Leadership Academy.

Forbes.com which voted Fred Swaniker as one of “The 10 Youngest Power Men In Africa” described him as a Ghanaian-born serial entrepreneur, Business consultant and Mckinsey alumnus. It also portrayed the African Leadership Academy as a World-class coeducational, residential secondary boarding school in Johannesburg which recruits outstanding students from across Africa and prepares them for a future of leadership.


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