At 50, Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli has worn many hats—entrepreneur, author, policy thinker, and global advocate—but her most defining role might be that of a relentless builder. Of ecosystems. Of legacies. Of lives.
Now President and CEO of the ONE Campaign, she is leading the charge for global justice and equity, using her voice to demand the kind of investments that change the trajectory of nations—especially in Africa. But if you’ve followed her journey, this isn’t new terrain for her. From McKinsey boardrooms in New York and Johannesburg to founding LEAP Africa and co-founding Sahel Consulting and AACE Foods, Ndidi has long been laying the bricks for Africa’s development, one thoughtful initiative at a time. What makes her story even more compelling is how seamlessly she bridges worlds—corporate and community, local and global, policy and practice. Her name sits on some of the world’s most influential boards—Rockefeller, Chanel Foundation, Stanbic IBTC—yet her work still reaches the grassroots in powerful, tangible ways.
As she turns 50, this conversation is less about a milestone and more about meaning. What does legacy look like when your entire career has been rooted in purpose? How do you keep pushing forward when the systems you’re trying to change often push back? And more importantly, how do you stay grounded in faith, family, and the quiet call of service?
We sat with Ndidi for a wide-ranging conversation on growth, reinvention, and the power of staying true to your why. It’s a masterclass in impact—and in the kind of leadership the world so desperately needs.
Photography – Ty Bello
Congratulations Ndidi. You’re turning 50! Let’s start with a fun one—what’s something you thought you’d have figured out by now but still don’t?
How to completely shut down from work.
If you could have a conversation with your 25-year-old self, what’s the one piece of advice you’d give her?
There is so much that I have learned in the past 25 years, but if I had to pick one lesson, it would be “Live your life with open hands!” This lesson has at least three components:
· When you open your hands – you position yourself to give and also receive. Be prepared to give your time, insights, knowledge and resources others. Giving opens your heart to the needs of the world and also takes your eyes off your own lack. However, also be prepared to ask for help when you need it, especially as you embark on the journey of marriage and parenthood. Your vulnerability makes you human and does not detract in any way from your self-worth.
· When you open your hands – you can let go a little easier – of people, projects, and linkages that are not meant for you at a particular time. This is one lesson that we often learn the hard way. As passionate people, who also love deeply, we often hold on too tightly, which can be a strength and also a weakness. In every season of your life, be sensitive to exactly who you should be spending your time with and what you should be spending your time on. Learn to let go a little easier, realising that God places people and projects in your life for a season, a reason and a lifetime.
· When you open your hands – you remain flexible to what God has in store for you. This advice is often extremely difficult for A-type personalities who like to set stretch goals and work towards achieving them. However, the sad reality is that there is never a straight path to success. Cultivating a stronger relationship with God enables you to be sensitive to the Spirit and to understand exactly where you need to be at every point in your “University of Life.” This basically means that you welcome new possibilities that God has set before you and are willing to go down a path that may often seem unchartered and unclear but is likely the shortcut to achieving God’s plans for your life. Recognise that setbacks and failures are great learning experiences and do not define your future. Be encouraged by these truths that have helped me in my journey:
You may not know what the future holds, but you know who holds the future!
He who has started a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.
I wish you the very best in your life’s journey as you live with open hands – giving and receiving, letting go a little easier and remaining flexible to the best that God has in store for you!
You’ve built such an incredible legacy through LEAP Africa, Sahel Consulting, AACE Foods, and now the ONE Campaign. When you reflect on the journey, is there a single moment that stands out as the most defining?
I am most humbled that God has allowed me to birth visions and to be a small part of changing lives in Africa. What gives me the greatest joy is seeing AACE Foods spices – a proudly Nigerian product in shopping isles and kitchens when only 15 years ago, imported products were the norm. Similarly, it gives me great joy to meet LEAP alumni worldwide who share how transformative the organisation was in shaping their leadership journey. However, my biggest measure of impact is that the organisations that I have founded and co-founded – LEAP Africa, Sahel Consulting, AACE Foods, and African Food Changemakers, continue to thrive, although I have stepped off the Boards and day-to-day management. I am so proud of the leadership, boards and teams of these organisations. My husband – Mezuo Nwuneli has provided wonderful leadership and support through these transitions as well.
You started LEAP Africa to equip young leaders with the skills to drive change. Two decades later, what gives you hope about the next generation?
The vision for Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability & Professionalism (LEAP) was truly inspired by God! I was tired of hearing that African youth were leaders of tomorrow when many of those who were selling this false narrative started “leading” in their youth. I also wondered what “tomorrow” held for African youth when many of our “rulers” in their 70s and 80s were still holding onto power. Finally, I was committed to equipping leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors who would build organisations that would outlive them – hence the focus on succession and ethics training. This intense desire to inspire, empower, and equip the next generation of leaders who would be principled, dynamic, and ethical was not shared by many when we started. Indeed, we faced many obstacles and would have given up if not for the grace of God and the commitment of our exceptional Board, team members, volunteers, and funders. LEAP is now 23 years old – operating across Africa, with over 14 books, a world-class curriculum, e-learning, and thousands of fantastic alumni leading in the public, private and nonprofit sectors imbued with the skills, tools, and networks they gained from LEAP. I am grateful to the Board members, team and funders for sustaining the vision.
I have great hope for the next generation because they are innovative, dynamic, and unwilling to settle for the status quo. They ask tough questions about the world’s state and appear eager to embrace change. I see African youth leading the innovation landscape – leveraging technology, and data, as entrepreneurs and the workforce of the future, especially in the creative industry, agriculture/food, and healthcare.
You’ve often spoken about the power of mentorship. Who are the women who shaped your career, and how have their lessons influenced your leadership?
I have been truly blessed by amazing mentors, champions, teachers, sponsors and angels. My mother – Prof. Rina Okonkwo, and sisters – Dr. Adaora Okonkwo, Prof. Una Osili and Mrs. Nwando Ajene, have been amazing sources of support and encouragement. I also recognise and celebrate my other spiritual mothers, sisters, and friends – Dr Nneka Mobisson Etuk, Dr Nadu Denloye, Dr. Adhiambo Odaga, Carla Denizard, Prof. Debora Spar, Prof. Jane Nelson, Chief Dr. Stella Okoli, Prof. Linda Hill, Dr. Pamela Hartigan, Shivam Shah, Dr Helene Gayle and Pat Mitchell. Seeing these women achieve their highest potential with courage, grace, humility, and excellence has made me believe it is possible. They have also opened huge doors for me and counselled me through difficult seasons. I have been truly blessed beyond measure!
When you look at today’s African food landscape, how different is it from when you started? What progress are you most proud of?
I have observed three positive trends:
There is a growing appreciation of proudly Nigerian and African food and the emergence of afro-fusion and celebrity chefs on local and global stages. This fills me with so much pride because we are gradually embracing the reality that our food is amazing and worthy of respect. African Food Changemakers (www.afchub.org) has played a critical role in promoting our food on global stages.
The growing use of innovation, data and technology in the agriculture and food landscape, allowing us to increase the efficiency and profitability of the sector, but also fostering more precision and regenerative agriculture and climate resilience.
The growing interest in the food, agriculture, and nutrition landscape by our young people, who were ashamed to admit that their parents were farmers or opted for a university degree in agricultural economics or science as a third or fourth choice option. Sahel Consulting, through the Sahel Scholars Program, has worked diligently to change narratives and attract dynamic young people into careers in agribusiness by organising conferences and providing internships and scholarships. We are seeing a shift in this landscape, and I am so proud of the team that sustains this pioneering effort.
As someone deeply immersed in agriculture and food security, what’s one innovation in African food systems that excites you the most right now?
For a sector that has worked in silos for so long, I am excited to see more players embracing an ecosystem approach that requires pulling in key actors across the entire value chain to work together and drive change. I am proud that organisations like Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition, which I co-founded, are leading this charge with partners like the Gates Foundation to transform the Nigerian dairy sector through the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN). This program was designed with an ecosystem lens – forcing the team to address gender, nutrition, climate resilience, policy, infrastructure, and agriculture productivity challenges while galvanising the private, public, research, and nonprofit sectors to partner for transformation.
You’re a strong advocate for women in business. What barriers still persist for female entrepreneurs in Africa, and how do we shatter them?
While we have made some progress in the quest for gender equality, data from the World Economic Forum reveals that the barriers persist and that it will take 134 years for women to reach gender parity. I strongly believe that we must institute clear policies in all sectors to drive gender equality. Under H.E. Lamido Sanusi’s tenure as the Central Bank Governor, he instituted a 30% quota for bank boards to be occupied by women. This policy has transformed the Nigerian banking system, and today, we have women serving as CEOs and chairs of our leading banks. Rwanda did the same in political appointments, and today, 50% of the Cabinet is female, and they are high performing!
There are also persistent biases that we must continue to confront in the fight for gender equality, especially with more women enrolling in schools and occupying entry-level positions. This renewed backlash is linked to the fear that as women rise, men fall. We must actively fight this misconception and instead work diligently to ensure that both genders rise together. There is enough space for growth, economic empowerment, and political agency for men and women, and that message and clear actions have to demonstrate that at all levels.
For women, I have learned many things. I will share just three to guide your journey as you rise:
Representation matters: when you have a seat in the room, use it wisely, with courage and boldness. Some of us are so happy to be in the room, that we do not show up with our best selves. I walk into every room knowing that I am carrying the dreams and hopes of my ancestors and my children and grandchildren – and that they expect me to fight for them. This is a great burden to carry, but it is the reality. There are still so few of us in many spaces globally, and we need to occupy the space and change the landscape to ensure that there are many more of the best of us in rooms and that we change the status quo.
Be the first, but not the last: In every role that I have gotten, I have tried to ensure that I appoint a brilliant and capable young person or woman as my successor. Mr. Fola Adeola gave me the opportunity to run the FATE Foundation when I was only 25 years old. He took a chance on me and gave me the mentorship, guidance, and support that I needed to thrive. I have tried to do the same for others via LEAP, Sahel, AACE, African Food Changemakers, and even at ONE.
No leader can go it alone – build communities of support to learn from, grow with and rise together. I have benefitted from structured and loose sister circles – Power Girl, HN Girls and Praying Sisters which have nurtured and supported me. I have tried to create similar communities for others including the Leading Women in Food Fellowship at African Food Changemakers. I strongly encourage young women to build these communities of trust and sisterhood.
Let’s talk about food beyond policy—what’s your absolute favourite Nigerian dish, and is there a story behind why it’s so special to you?
I love many Nigerian dishes. My two favourites are catfish pepper soup with boiled yam and okra Soup with plantain fufu. They all taste so good and remind me of home and my wonderful childhood in Enugu.
The work you’re doing with the ONE Campaign is incredibly powerful. What are some of the key advocacy goals for Africa right now that need urgent attention?
The ONE Campaign is a global advocacy organisation which fights for equity, justice, and investments to ensure economic opportunities and healthier lives in Africa. Our vision is that Africa is an equal player on the global stage. Over our 20-year history, ONE has worked with critical stakeholders to galvanise over $ 1 trillion in investments, leveraging hard-hitting data, trusted messengers, government engagement, and creative campaigns, working through nine offices around the globe. With changing geopolitics, significant retreat on overseas development assistance, and greater fragmentation, our fight has gotten more difficult. However, we are undeterred and strongly believe that this is the time for Africans to rise and collectively demand what we want, not what the world thinks we need. As Africans, we must drive inclusive and sustainable growth in our continent by creating an enabling policy environment, attracting catalytic and patient capital that is priced fairly for public and private sector investments, and supporting the emergence of a strong civil society that ensures transparency and accountability in the use of funds, so that no one is left behind.
Over the next five years, ONE is focused on unlocking and reducing the cost of catalytic capital, advocating for transformative financing for healthcare in Africa, and championing policies that enable growth and jobs in the creative industries, agriculture, and critical minerals. We also plan on scaling our work via ONE Data and Analysis | Home and deepening our engagement with youth through the ONE Academy, an interactive eLearning platform which we will educate, equip, and mobilise one million emerging activists with the knowledge, strategies, and confidence to become powerful voices to drive real change.
Advocacy is tough, especially on a global scale. How do you navigate the frustration that sometimes comes with pushing for policy change?
Advocacy requires a toolbox of approaches, strong relationships with trusted messengers, data to inform sound policymaking, humility, tenacity, resilience, wisdom, and courage. I am blessed with great mentors, prayer partners and a community of support. On the toughest days, I rely heavily on prayer and gospel music to increase my faith.
Over the years, you’ve also worked closely with young people, from LEAP Africa to African Food Changemakers. What’s a piece of advice you find yourself giving young professionals repeatedly?
I encourage young people to determine and document their values from a young age and invest in lifelong learning. I also encourage them to identify a champion, a critic, and a role model to support them through the university of life. Additionally, I remind them that true leadership is about service and lifting others as they climb. Finally, excellence and integrity have no hiding place – always put your best into every opportunity you are blessed with.
Fifty is such a milestone—what’s something about ageing that has pleasantly surprised you?
With every passing day, I am gaining a little more courage, wisdom and the boldness to speak my truth.
You’ve had a fascinating career, but if you weren’t doing this, what’s an alternate path you could see yourself on?
I would love to be a university professor, teaching strategy and agribusiness and empowering the next generation of leaders.
And finally, as Ndidi at 50, what’s the boldest thing you still want to achieve?
I am letting God dream for me.
I feel called to play a critical role in enabling Africa to become an equal player on the global landscape! I pray to see all of Africa’s children grow up in safe and nurturing environments with great education and healthcare and fulfil their highest potential.
