Drive to Inspire – Africa reaches 40,000 young people, expands mentorship across 22 countries

Drive to Inspire Africa (DTI-A) says it recorded major growth in 2025, having reached more than 40,000 young adults since inception in 2023 through its outreach, mentorship and webinar programmes, as it deepened its work to support education, leadership and youth development across Africa.

This was announced by DTI-A founder Nana Adjoa Hackman during the organisation’s 2025 Annual Impact Reporting Event, held under the theme “Building Africa’s Future, One Young Person at a Time,” at the Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

The founder of DTI-A said the results formed part of its 2025 impact snapshot, which highlighted significant gains in youth engagement, scholarship support and cross-border mentorship. According to DTI-A, its direct engagements with young people over the period reflected its expanding footprint and growing influence among students and young professionals.

A key highlight of the year was the rapid growth of its mentorship programme, which expanded from 300 participants to more than 500 within a calendar year. The initiative also widened its reach from 12 African countries to 22 countries by February 2026, drawing participants from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, Liberia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi, Gambia, Namibia, Malawi, South Sudan, Togo, as well as Finland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Nana Adjoa Hackman said the expansion underscored its commitment to building a pan-African network of young people who are equipped with knowledge, guidance and practical support to pursue personal and professional growth.

DTI-A also recorded progress under its scholarship programme, where 23 new beneficiaries were added, increasing the total number of scholarship recipients to 40. DTI-A said the initiative remains one of its core interventions, designed to remove financial barriers and make higher education accessible to talented but underprivileged young people.

According to the founder, the scholarship programme continues to provide opportunities for students who might otherwise struggle to remain in school because of financial constraints. She said the support is intended not only to improve access to education, but also to help recipients complete their studies and prepare for meaningful careers.

DTI-A’s founder said its impact goes beyond individual beneficiaries, stressing that its programmes are structured to contribute to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly quality education, gender equality, decent work and reduced inequalities.

On SDG 4: Quality Education, the organisation said its outreach sessions, mentorship activities and webinars are helping to expand access to inclusive and equitable learning opportunities outside the traditional classroom. It noted that the engagements give young people career guidance, employability skills and exposure to pathways that can improve both educational and professional outcomes.

On SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, DTI-A said its mentorship model helps strengthen youth employability and workforce readiness by connecting participants with professionals and career advisers. It explained that such interventions support entrepreneurship, productive employment and smoother transitions from school to work, while also helping to address youth unemployment and underemployment.

The organisation further said its programmes contribute to SDG 5: Gender Equality by intentionally supporting young women through mentorship, scholarships and inclusive outreach. DTI-A said increasing access to financial support and guidance helps to break down barriers that often limit young women’s participation in education, leadership and high-growth sectors.

Under SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, the organisation said its ability to reach thousands of young people across different socioeconomic and geographic contexts reflects a deliberate effort to ensure that opportunity is not determined by location, background or financial means. It said its pan-African approach has allowed it to connect with young people from a wide range of countries and communities.

DTI-A expressed appreciation to its partners and sponsors for their support, saying their contribution has been central to the organisation’s achievements and the life-changing opportunities extended to beneficiaries. It said continued partnerships will be vital to sustaining and expanding its work in the years ahead.

The organisation said it is committed to widening its scholarship and mentorship interventions in 2026 through strategic collaborations that will allow more young people to benefit from its initiatives.

DTI-A reaffirmed its mission to empower Africa’s youth through education, mentorship and skills development, saying it remains focused on preparing young people to contribute meaningfully to national development and the continent’s broader transformation agenda.