IGAD Leadership Academy - ILA

Read our journal article, “Youth Engagement in the IGAD Region: Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Countering Radicalization into Violent Extremism through Strategic Communication,” at:https://peacebuilderscenter.jp/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12-Martha-and-Simon.pdf The article examines youth engagement in the IGAD region as a critical pillar in PCVE efforts noting that they ought not be treated not only as a vulnerable group but as strategic actors for peace. Drawing on IGAD policy frameworks, demographic data, and programmatic experiences, the study highlights how strategic communication and structured dialogue can empower youth to counter extremist narratives, address grievances, and strengthen community resilience

The article is featured in the ROLES Report on "Agendas for Conflict Resolution in Eastern Africa" edited by Prof. Hideaki Shinoda and Dr. Simon Nyambura and follows a research seminar convened by IGAD Leadership Academy (ILA) in collaboration with the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology Open Laboratory for Emergence Strategies (ROLES) of the University of Tokyo in November 2025. The full report can be read at: https://roles.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/publication/2025123147

"Legacy is built in moments of service. It is about prioritising people, not accolades."
Watch the full keynote address by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of Kenya, at the inaugural ILA Alumni Conference.


𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 👇

H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta's Speech at ILA Alumni Conference Former Kenyan President H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta delivered a powerful Keynote address at the inaugural . During the Conference, ILA Alumni Net...

Shaping the Architects of the Horn of Africa

The future of our region isn’t just coming; it’s being built at the Leadership Academy (ILA). Established in 2022 to bridge the leadership gap, the ILA is transforming young visionaries into the ethical leaders our region demands.

In 2025, we narrowed down 3,000+ applicants to three elite cohorts. Our mission? Equipping them with a powerhouse curriculum that fuses African Philosophies (Ubuntu, Ujamaa) with world-class governance.
How we’re leading the way:

✅ Ethical Governance: Merging local wisdom with global standards to lead with integrity.
✅ Policy Innovation: Empowering youth to drive regional integration and social reform.
✅ Resilient Leadership: Turning demographic potential into tangible economic stability.

We aren't just training students; we are cultivating the pioneers who will define the Horn of Africa.




IGAD Leadership Academy - ILA

Happy New Year!
The Leadership Academy is pleased to share news of the publication of journal articles emerging from research seminars jointly convened with ROLES, University of Tokyo. Aimed at promoting intellectual exchange on critical issues, the initiative was spearheaded by ILA Director Dr Simon Nyambura and Prof
Hideaki Shinoda, bringing together researchers from the IGAD region and Japan.

Read the full publication here:

https://roles.rcast.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/publication/2025123147

Markos Rike

創発戦略研究オープンラボ（ROLES） 東京大学先端科学技術研究センター（RCAST）のシンクタンク、創発戦略研究オープンラボ（ROLES）の公式サイトです。実施している研究プロジェクト、成果物、イベント情報などをご覧いただけます。

The IGAD Leadership Academy wishes you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous year ahead. Thank you for your continued partnership throughout the year.
IGAD Secretariat Patience Nyange