The initiative seeks to transform cultural and historical ties into tangible collaborations across philanthropy, business, and innovation.
Africans living abroad are proving that distance does not diminish responsibility.
From funding schools and healthcare projects to mentoring youth and empowering women, the diaspora is transforming communities across the continent in ways both big and small.
Some leverage global networks to create large-scale programs, while others send everyday remittances that sustain families and spark change at the grassroots level.
Together, their efforts tell a single story: Africa’s development is being shaped far beyond its borders.
Meet eight diaspora leaders who are making this vision real:
1. Tsitsi Masiyiwa: Championing Africa’s human capital
In London, Tsitsi Masiyiwa co-founded the Higherlife Foundation, dedicating herself to advancing human capital development across Southern Africa.
Her philanthropy, which began with scholarships for vulnerable children in Zimbabwe, Burundi, and Lesotho, has evolved into a strategic and globally-connected force.
A key figure at the nexus of African development and major international funding, she co-launched the $1 billion Co-Impact Gender Fund with Melinda French Gates.
Masiyiwa’s narrative is one of leveraging international partnerships to invest in Africa’s most valuable asset its human potential and is driven by her deep dedication to education and empowerment.
2. Moradeun Ogunlana: A royal advocate for women’s health
In Houston, Texas, Moradeun Ogunlana has built a remarkable philanthropic career that blends grassroots action with international diplomacy.
As a Nigerian-American royal and founder of the African Women Health Project International (AWHPI), she leverages her unique background to give African women a powerful voice on the world stage.
She moves seamlessly from funding health programs in Africa to serving as a UN Ambassador for Peace, connecting local needs for maternal and reproductive health with global policy advocacy.
Her story is one of using personal heritage and global standing to champion the well-being of women and girls.
3. Justina Mutale: Championing the multiplier effect
London-based Justina Mutale, originally from Zambia, is a powerful advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Her philosophy is built on the belief in the “multiplier effect”that investing in one woman uplifts her entire community.
Through the Justina Mutale Foundation, she provides scholarships and leadership training to young women and girls from disadvantaged communities across Africa.
She is a tireless advocate who uses high-level international forums, including the UN, to amplify the voices of marginalized African women, ensuring they are heard in influential circles.
4. Dr. Truphena Choti: A culinary bridge for the diaspora
From her base in Silver Spring, Maryland, Dr. Truphena Choti’s AfriThrive creates a unique cultural bridge for the African diaspora.
Inspired by her Kenyan roots, her organization provides culturally appropriate food to African immigrant communities in the US through a community farm, reconnecting them to their heritage.
This work simultaneously funds and supports development projects in her native Kenya. Dr. Choti’s narrative is a powerful example of how diaspora engagement can build community resilience both abroad and at home by focusing on culturally relevant and impactful initiatives.
5. Mariéme Jamme: Coding as a path to empowerment
Based in Surrey, UK, Mariéme Jamme is a strong voice for technology education.
A self-taught coder with a challenging past in Senegal, Jamme founded iamtheCODE, a global movement to teach young women and girls from marginalized communities how to code.
Her personal journey demonstrates that technology can lead to both professional and personal liberation.
From refugee camps to high-tech companies, her work connects young African women and girls with a global network of opportunities, ensuring they can compete in the digital economy and become future leaders.
6. Lindiwe Tsele: Transferring expertise for sustainable change
Lindiwe Tsele, a South African tech entrepreneur based in the United States, uses professional success to address educational disparities in her home country.
She co-founded the African Education Project (AEP) to strategically transfer expertise from the US tech sector, focusing on sustainable STEM education and digital literacy training.
Her approach is a model of long-term development, aiming to build local capacity rather than just providing temporary aid.
Tsele’s story shows how diaspora professionals can be a powerful force in creating lasting, systemic improvements in their countries of origin.
7. Dr. Nnaeto Orazulike: A doctor’s prescription for better health
In the UK, Nigerian-British medical doctor Dr. Nnaeto Orazulike founded the Orazulike Foundation to improve healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria.
He uses his medical expertise and professional network in the UK to secure and donate essential medical equipment and training resources to underserved regions.
His philanthropy is a targeted and effective response to a critical healthcare deficit, demonstrating how professionals in the diaspora can provide strategic, needs-based support that significantly impacts communities back home.
8. Masai Ujiri: The transformative power of basketball
Toronto-based NBA executive Masai Ujiri, born in England to Nigerian and Kenyan parents, has turned his passion for basketball into a vehicle for youth empowerment across Africa.
Through his Giants of Africa (GOA) initiative, he builds basketball courts and runs camps that do more than develop athletes they instill life skills, leadership, and integrity.
Ujiri uses his global platform to create opportunities for young Africans, proving that sport can be a powerful tool for broader community development and the expansion of educational and professional horizons.
The Broader Impact: Diaspora Remittances
While high-profile philanthropists make headlines, the African diaspora’s contributions extend far beyond the elite.
Remittances money sent home by Africans living abroad remain the largest, most consistent form of financial support for the continent.
According to the World Bank’s Migration and Development Brief (April 2025), remittances to Africa in 2024 reached approximately USD 92.2 billion, representing about 5.2% of the continent’s GDP.
These flows surpass both official development assistance and foreign direct investment in many regions, highlighting the scale and reliability of diaspora contributions.
Remittances provide households with direct support for essential needs such as education, healthcare, housing, and food security.
They represent a grassroots form of philanthropy, sustained by ordinary Africans whose earnings abroad translate into meaningful impact at home.
Two Sides of the Same Coin
High-profile philanthropists like Ujiri or Masiyiwa invest strategically, creating large-scale programs that generate visibility and long-term impact.
Remittances, in contrast, are intimate and immediate, directly sustaining families and communities.
Together, these forms of giving demonstrate the multi-layered impact of the African diaspora: elite philanthropy drives strategic development projects, while remittances ensure resilience at the household level.
Both are essential to the continent’s social and economic wellbeing.
Looking Ahead
Harnessing the collective power of diaspora giving both high-profile philanthropy and everyday remittances presents an opportunity for African governments, civil society, and development partners.
Programs that facilitate secure remittance transfers, incentivize investment, and support diaspora-led initiatives can amplify this impact without undermining its grassroots authenticity.
Ultimately, the stories of the millions of Africans sending remittances, illustrate a shared commitment: distance does not diminish responsibility.
Their combined efforts are a reminder that Africa’s development is being shaped not just within its borders, but across the globe, by citizens who carry their connection, commitment, and vision wherever they go.
