Botswana students aged between 16-19 years with leadership skills will get an opportunity to go through an intense two-year academic programme at the African Leadership Academy (ALA).

The programme is meant for 120 students chosen on merit. Fred Swaniker, the lead recruiter in southern Africa announced last week that the academy is out to get Botswana's most promising young leaders to join the inaugural class. He said after doing an interview in one private radio station, many youngsters who believe that they are the leaders of tomorrow started calling him seeking to join the academy. "Entry into the academy will be based on merit alone, without regard to each student's financial means. The academy's extensive scholarship fund seeks to enable all qualified students to attend," Swaniker said.

He pointed out that after two years, the academy would place the students in different universities around the world. He explained that the academy seeks to transform Africa by developing and supporting future generations of leaders in the continent's public, private and social sectors. Swaniker stated that ALA aspires to bring the most promising young leaders from all 54 African countries to its campus in South Africa.

Swaniker, who is from Ghana, said that with its accomplished student body and unique curriculum, ALA would be unlike any other school in the world. He indicated that students at ALA would have the opportunity to work with other bright young leaders from across the continent on entrepreneurial projects to develop innovative solutions to the continent's most pressing challenges such as poverty alleviation, health care provision and economic development. "Each student will be matched to a distinguished personal mentor and will have the opportunity to attend frequent guest lecturers by prominent lectures and entrepreneurs," Swaniker said.

The ALA admissions process is very rigorous and students capable of sponsoring themselves would not be admitted unless they pass all the stages of recruitment. "Interested students would have to complete a written application, write an essay and submit academic reports from their school. Finalists will sit a written entrance examination and be interviewed by members of the academy's staff," he said.

He revealed that they seek young people with the passion and courage required to be an agent of positive change on the African continent.

ALA is led by Dean Christopher Khaemba of Kenya. He previously served as principal of Alliance High School, one of Kenya's leading secondary schools.