New York, USA, March 16th, 2026
The Abdul Samad Rabiu, Africa Initiative, held a stakeholder meeting on the future of its mentorship program for young women in tertiary institutions in Africa. The event, which was held in New York on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW 70), brought together old and new mentors of the program to engage in strategic conversations that will guide the next phase of the program. The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body focused on advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women.
This event serves as both a celebration and a strategic forum, bringing together mentors from across Africa and the diaspora to recognize their impact on mentees’ academic, personal, and professional journeys. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the outcomes of ASR Africa’s Mentorship Program, which has supported mentees across multiple institutions over a three-year period, fostering growth, leadership development, and long-term career readiness.
Speaking during the event, the MD/CEO of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, expressed gratitude to the Mentors who have supported the program since its inception. He added that across ASR Africa’s developmental interventions, the mentorship program stands out as the most impactful intervention because of its potential to create clarity and a smooth transition to professional life for young women.
The guest of honor and co-chair of the NGO CSW, New York- Pamela Morgan, praised ASR Africa for sustaining the mentorship program. Pamela who was at the inaugural meeting of the mentorship program during the UNCSW 67, mentioned that global leaders have realized that another powerful tool to women empowerment beyond education is mentorship. She encouraged the mentors to keep giving their time and resources and to also gain from the stories of the young women that they mentor.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates to the distinguished mentors in recognition of their dedication and influence. It also featured a strong reflection on the transformative role of mentorship in shaping mentees’ academic and career trajectories.
The ASR Africa Mentorship Program is a structured capacity-building initiative designed to strengthen the personal and professional development of young Africans. Since its inception, over 200 mentees have been impacted through the program, with successful implementations in Nigeria, Zambia, and Senegal with upcoming programs in Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and other African Countries.
The initiative underscores ASR Africa’s belief that sustained mentorship is essential to nurturing the next generation of leaders and in driving meaningful change across communities and institutions.
ABOUT ASR AFRICA
The brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.
