AIIP

About Us

The Africa Initiative Impact Program (AIIP)’s Youth Invent Program is dedicated to inspiring and empowering young Africans to harness their innate talents in technology and innovation. The program aims to foster a culture of creativity and problem-solving that benefits their immediate communities, focusing on critical sectors such as industry, security, and technology.

Goals

Encourage Talent Utilization:

Inspire youth to develop innovative solutions addressing local challenges using their God-given talents.

Support Inventions:

Provide funding opportunities, mentorship, and resources to help promising inventions transition from concept to commercialization.

Foster Partnerships:

Connect inventors with potential investors, industry partners, and funding sources to scale their innovations globally.

Create Impact:

Promote technological solutions that improve community welfare, security, and industrial development.

Reduce Unemployment & Crime:

By engaging youth in productive innovation activities, the program aims to eradicate idleness and reduce youth involvement in crime

Foster Ownership & Responsibility:

Empower young people with a sense of ownership over their ideas and innovations, encouraging responsibility and leadership within their communities.

Opportunities for Collaboration & Talent Discovery

AIIP actively seeks collaborations and strategic partnerships with governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, tech companies, and development partners.

These collaborations aim to:

Identify and nurture youth talent:

Discovering innovative young minds at the grassroots level, starting from as young as 12 years old.

Enhance program reach:

Extending opportunities for mentorship, training, and funding to a broader, more diverse youth population.

Create sustainable impact:

Building a network of stakeholders committed to empowering youth through technology and innovation.

Grassroots Talent Discovery:

AIIP is committed to uncovering latent talent in underserved communities. The program encourages young inventors from all backgrounds to participate, ensuring that even the most remote or underprivileged youths have access to resources and opportunities to showcase their ideas.

Scholarship Opportunities

To further support young innovators, AIIP seeks to source and provide scholarships for outstanding youth participants. These scholarships aim to:

Cover educational expenses related to STEM fields. Enable participation in advanced training, workshops, and innovation hubs. Support higher education or specialized technical training, helping youth turn their inventions into viable careers.

Through this comprehensive approach, the AIIP Youth Invent Program aspires to cultivate a new generation of African innovators capable of leveraging technology to solve real-world problems, stimulate economic growth, and position Africa as a leader in technological development. It also aims to eradicate youth unemployment and reduce crime by channeling youthful energy into productive, impactful activities. By fostering a strong sense of ownership and responsibility, the program encourages young people to become proactive leaders in their communities.

Our Team

President and founder

Franklin Leonards

Franklin is the Founder and President of The ELDERS Consult,...

Country Manager for Sierra Leone

Mohamed Khamis Mansaray

Mohamed Khamis Mansaray is a committed Network Engineer, education advocate,...

Creative Innovation, Sustainability & Youth Development

Xolani Annakie

Xolani Annakie is a multidisciplinary creative, cultural producer, and community...

Entertainment Coordinator | TV Host | Creative

Onome Destiny (O.D)

I’m Onome Destiny, an Entertainment Coordinator, TV Host, and Creative...

International correspondent

DANIELLA BOATENG

Daniella operates at the unique intersection of meticulous structure and compelling...

Public Policy Analyst

Edmund Eyram Afun-Peters

Edmund Eyram Afun-Peters is a Public Policy Analyst, Development Advocate,...

Franklin Leonards

Position: President and founder
Categories: Team

Franklin is the Founder and President of The ELDERS Consult, President & Group Chairman of Leonards Group of Companies. Franklin is an Entrepreneur, Real Estate Developer, Security Analyst, Leadership, Innovation, Corporate Consultant, Philanthropist, Mentor, and advocate for Youth Employment. Franklin is a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Academy of Students’ Achievement Awards Ghana (NASAAG) from 2022 to 2025 and reappointed from 2025 to 2027. The Board Chairman for Switch Up Experience, a tourism hub in Ghana, and an Advisory Board member of Innovation For Empowerment and Development (IFED) a model United Nation body. The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Leonard’s Homes Company Limited, a leading construction company in Ghana since 2013.

On international business, Franklin is the Board Chairman of Knox Prrmier Limited, a global trading and investment firm specialised in agric-commodity, crude, and precious metals trading and consultancy. He is also the Founder of African Initiative Impact Programme (AIIP), a transformative platform dedicated to fostering sustainable development, innovation, and economic empowerment across Africa, with the mission to drive impactful change through strategic partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, and innovative solutions tailored to address the continent’s most pressing challenges. Franklin is the founder of A Jewel in the Street Foundation, an institution that seeks to groom, train, and educate the less privileged in our society most especially ‘Kayaye [Head porters]’, and put them back into schools. Many of these beneficiaries are now graduates in the fields of Fashion, Media, and Cosmetology professions. Franklin is a member of the International Trade Council for both the United Kingdom and its Ghana Chapters. And a Consultant for Ghana’s Youth Employment Agency Job Center.

Prior to founding the Leonard’s Group, He worked with a company called Specs Savers in the United Kingdom as a supervisor. Franklin also worked as an Unemployed Claim Supervisor for the Department of Works and Pension in the United Kingdom. He worked as a Job seekers’ advisor for the United Kingdom Employment Service Centre (Job Centre Plus). Franklin also worked as a Recruitment Manager, Risk assessor, First aid, and food and hygiene trainer for MediChoice Health Care in the United Kingdom. Franklin is also the CEO of Global Engineering and Planning Services Company Limited, an engineering industry in Ghana. Franklin has over twenty-five years of leadership and management experience and continues to move and lead Leonard’s Group of Companies. He is a Professionally Certified holder in Security Terrorism, a Certified Information Security. Systems Analyst, and a certified Firearm Training Instructor from the Bureau of National Investigation Authority in California, USA.
Franklin Leonard has an MBA in Innovation, Leadership, and Consultancy Management. Master of Business Administration from ILC – Imperial College of London.

Awards and recognitions: Franklin Leonard was honored as the Most Responsible Social Service
Philanthropist for 2023 by the Ghana Philanthropy Awards
Franklin’s areas of expertise include:
• Real Estate Development and Construction
• Commodity Trading and Consultant – Import and Export
• Electrical Engineering
• IT, Computing, and Network Security Systems
• Security Surveillance and Cyber Security Training
• Customer Service Training, Entrepreneurship, and Start-Up Business Training
• Risk Assessment Training
• Policy Training Analyst
• Innovation, Leadership, and Consultancy Management Training
Contact: Email: info@theleonardsconsult.com Social Media: LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook @Franlin
Leonards

Mohamed Khamis Mansaray

Position: Country Manager for Sierra Leone
Categories: Team

Mohamed Khamis Mansaray is a committed Network Engineer, education advocate, and nonprofit leader with a deep passion for empowering communities across West Africa and beyond. Born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leone, he attended the prestigious St. Edward’s Secondary School before relocating to the United States in the early 2000.He holds a degree in Network Engineering and has cultivated a successful career at the intersection of telecommunications and digital education.

Mohamed brings over five years of experience with Verizon Communications, where he served as a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and PBX (Private Branch Exchange) Engineer. In these roles, he was instrumental in maintaining and optimizing critical communication infrastructure. He later transitioned into the digital learning sector, contributing to the advancement of accessible education through his work at Stride Inc., a leading provider of online learning solutions.

Beyond his technical expertise, Mohamed is deeply committed to social impact—especially in his home country of Sierra Leone. For the past ten years, he has served as the Deputy Director of the Center for the Promotion of Inclusive Education (CPIE), where he advocates for equitable access to quality education for all learners, including those with disabilities. He is also the Executive Director of the Foundation for the Empowerment of West African Communities (FEWAC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting education, economic development, and community empowerment throughout the region.

A devoted family man, Mohamed lives in Virginia with his wife and their four children—three sons and a daughter. His life’s work reflects his unwavering belief in the transformative power of education, technology, and collective action to build a more inclusive and equitable future.

Xolani Annakie

Position: Creative Innovation, Sustainability & Youth Development
Categories: Team

Xolani Annakie is a multidisciplinary creative, cultural producer, and community empowerment strategist with over 20 years of experience shaping artistic spaces, designing transformative programmes, and championing youth development across the UK and internationally. Her work spans fashion, beauty, skincare entrepreneurship, interior design, sustainability innovation, and large‑scale project leadership—bringing together creativity, psychology, and social impact in a way that is uniquely her own.

Formally qualified in Fashion, Beauty Therapy, and Interior Design, Xolani’s creative practice is rooted in a deep understanding of aesthetics, identity, and the emotional power of design. Her work in fashion carbon‑footprint reconstruction reflects her commitment to reimagining the fashion industry through sustainability, ethical production, and environmental consciousness. She explores how design can reduce environmental impact while still honouring culture, creativity, and self‑expression.

Her entrepreneurial journey includes founding her own skincare brand, where she blended beauty, wellness, and cultural identity into products that celebrated individuality and confidence. This venture deepened her understanding of how creativity and wellbeing intersect—an interest that now informs her academic path.

Alongside her creative ventures, Xolani has spent more than a decade leading complex projects, securing funding, and developing community‑centred initiatives. As the co‑founder of Out of Control, she has designed and delivered youth empowerment programmes that support young people in navigating education, employment, wellbeing, and creative identity. Her work has uplifted diverse communities, equipping young people with the tools to imagine new possibilities for themselves and their futures.

Her artistic leadership extends into the performing arts, where she currently serves as a Producer for a theatre production. In this role, she curates narratives, shapes creative direction, and orchestrates the collaborative process that brings powerful stories to life on stage.

Xolani is also expanding her impact through academia. She is currently studying Psychology, with a long‑term plan to pursue PhD research exploring the intersections of creativity, identity, mental wellbeing, and community transformation. Her academic interests align seamlessly with the mission of organisations like AIIP, where innovation, empowerment, and human development converge.

Across every project, Xolani is guided by a commitment to building spaces where imagination thrives and people feel seen, valued, and empowered. Her two decades of experience reflect a lifelong dedication to creativity, sustainability, community, and the transformative power of intentional design.

Onome Destiny (O.D)

Position: Entertainment Coordinator | TV Host | Creative
Categories: Team

I’m Onome Destiny, an Entertainment Coordinator, TV Host, and Creative with over 10 years of experience across film, television, Afrobeat music, comedy, and live events.

I’ve worked as a Production Manager on films and Afrobeat music videos for top artists including Davido, Adekunle Gold, and Burna Boy, overseeing productions from concept to delivery. My experience also spans comedy and live entertainment, coordinating and working on shows featuring leading comedians such as Basketmouth, AY, and others.

On screen, I’ve hosted a pop culture TV show on BEN TV, presented music and entertainment content, and worked on a reality television project, Show Reel London. I’ve also been part of major television productions, including working with Funke Akindele on her popular series Jenifa in London.

From behind-the-scenes production and entertainment coordination to presenting my own show, I bring structure, creativity, and confident on-screen presence to every project. Alongside this, I work in event management, content creation, and creative development, building entertainment experiences that are engaging, culturally relevant, and brand-driven.

Entertainment is not just what I do — it’s how I create impact.

DANIELLA BOATENG

Position: International correspondent
Categories: Team

Daniella operates at the unique intersection of meticulous structure and compelling storytelling. Her professional journey began in the world of Journalism, where she spent years honing a sophisticated toolkit of communication skills. This background taught her that true impact isn’t just about the message, but about the precision of the delivery. She mastered the art of active listening, the strategy of the “right question,” and the ability to distill complex truths into narratives that resonate.

To further broaden her scope and deepen her impact, Daniella is currently pursuing advanced studies in Politics and Human Relations. This academic endeavor allows her to understand the systemic forces and power dynamics that shape our society. By blending political theory with an understanding of human behavior, she brings a sophisticated, global perspective to her work, ensuring her strategies are both culturally resonant and structurally sound.

Today, Daniella leverages that investigative rigor as a certified Virtual Assistant. She recognizes that for high-level leaders, the greatest commodity is time. By stepping in to manage the “how” the intricate systems, workflows, and administrative architecture she empowers visionaries to return their full attention to the “why.” She doesn’t just manage tasks; she builds the infrastructure that allows leadership to scale.

Daniella’s professional work is an extension of her deeply held personal values. Her career is anchored by a commitment to global advocacy, focusing on three core pillars:

  • Women’s Empowerment:Creating environments where female leadership is not only present but prioritized.
  • Child Rights:Working toward a future where safety and education are guaranteed rights for every child.
  • Youth Development:Mentoring and equipping the next generation with the tools needed to navigate the modern world.

What truly sets Daniella apart is the rhythmic energy she brings to her projects. As an accomplished Spoken Word Artist, she understands the visceral power of language to inspire action. This creative spark ensures that her approach to administrative support is never “cookie-cutter.” Instead, she brings a fresh, lateral-thinking perspective to every challenge.

Daniella is far more than a support professional; she is a strategic partner and advocate dedicated to the dual goals of organizational growth and the betterment of the global community.

Contact:Email: boatengdaniella@gmail.com

 

Edmund Eyram Afun-Peters

Position: Public Policy Analyst
Categories: Team

Edmund Eyram Afun-Peters is a Public Policy Analyst, Development Advocate, and Researcher with multidisciplinary interests spanning Law, Politics, Leadership, Diplomacy, Business, and Youth Development.
Guided by a vision of inclusive and sustainable development for Africa, Edmund has actively engaged in the continent’s socio-political and development discourse through policy analysis, development dialogues, and strategic interventions addressing critical issues across diverse platforms and stakeholder groups.
He strongly believes that Africa’s transformation depends on selfless leadership and patriotic citizenship, underpinned by integrity, innovation, and a shared sense of purpose.
Edmund currently serves with the National Drivers & Transport Conference (NADATRAC) initiative; a non-profit platform dedicated to road safety advocacy, as Deputy Project Lead (Policy & Strategy). In this role, he leads policy analysis and research to inform road safety and transport recommendations; liaises with government agencies, unions, and other stakeholders on policy advocacy and collaboration; monitors policy developments within the transport sector; prepares strategic reports and policy briefs; and supports the integration of evidence-based policy recommendations into programme design and execution.
Beyond policy practice, Edmund has been actively involved in training individuals in academic research skills, an experience that has deepened his interest in academia and shaped a career path focused not only on personal advancement but also on empowering others.
Committed to evidence-based and non-partisan analysis, Edmund aspires to become one of Africa’s most sought-after policy analysts and consultants, delivering insights and strategies grounded in the continent’s geopolitical and socio-cultural realities.
He holds a Diploma in Public Administration from the Institute of Accountancy Training and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Professional Studies, Accra, alongside other professional qualifications that have shaped his development.
Edmund is open to collaborations, research partnerships, and policy engagements that advance Africa’s growth and good governance.
Email:
eyrampeters9@gmail.com
officialpenwriter@gmail.com

 
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