Episode 271: Empowering Youth for Pan-African Progress with Hamzat Lawal

Florence Amerley Adu — Tue, 13 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Greetings Glocal Citizens!

This week’s guest is a dynamic activist that I had the pleasure of working with while distributing a documentary (see other topics of interest) featuring the work that has become his origin story in the world of Pan-African development. Hamzat “Hamzy!” Lawal is a global citizen, community organizer, an award-winning advocate and humanitarian who has successfully led grassroots campaigns in over 40 African countries. He specializes in practical issues associated with climate change, open data, advocacy and development policies affecting rural and deprived communities. He is the Founder of Follow The Money, a home-grown, Pan-African grassroots, data-driven initiative currently in 10 African countries. As the Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE), an organization he also founded, CODE won the ONE Africa 2016 Award recognizing, rewards, and advances the exceptional work of African organizations; dedicated to helping the continent achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

When he is not social entrpreneuring, Hamzy sits on the Executive Board of the largest Youth Movement in Africa: African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC), and has joined his voice on different platforms and policy influencing coalitions across Africa such as the Not Too Young To Run movement which drives youth political inclusion. And also serves as an Education Champion with the Malala Fund, organization working for a world where all girls can learn for 12 years and lead without fear.

This is definitely a listening and learning opportunity with wonderful insights into the work of empowering the youth that are poised to lead the Continent.

Where to find Hamzy?
On LinkedIn
On Facebook
On Instagram

What’s Hamzy reading?
Love Does not Win Elections by Glocal Citizen Ayisha Osori

Other topics of interest:
The documentary that started it all Perspective
About Kogi State, Nigeria and the Ebira people
About #SaveBagega
Another side of Bauchi State Special Guest: Hamzat Lawal.

Episode 147: A Souljourner Life with Hasira Soul Ashemu

Florence Amerley Adu — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0400

New month greetings Glocal Citizens!
This week's episode is all about roots and rooting. I've known my guest for more than half my life going back to our roots in Denver, Colorado. From our Angelic days walking the halls of East High High School to living in the lanes in and around Accra, Hasira Soul Ashemu and I have been able to stay connected thanks to social media and a spirit of inspiring and ushering change for marginalized people. Hasira, a community organizer, writer and entrepreneur, is the founder and chief visionary officer for Righteous Rage Institute. Born and raised in Northeast Denver, Colorado, he attended Howard University, “The Mecca,” and later travelled the world spending a decade living in Africa raising his family in Ghana. Hasira is a prolific writer, speaker, facilitator, communications professional who has been using his talents, experience and skills to create and support stimulating, engaging and innovative community initiatives that usher in social change. He is dedicated to the pursuit for social, equity, education and healing justice for society’s most vulnerable children; Black, Brown, Indigenous, Special Needs and those living in poverty. And, his work includes organizing healing and learning journeys, consulting and coaching at the individual, community, national and international levels for nonprofit, corporate, governments, public school districts and higher learning institutions across the US and five African nations. Hasira is also a fellow podcaster; after you take in our conversation, make your way over to his podcast To Heal a People!

Where to find Hasira?
www.righteousrageinstitute.org
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
On Facebook

What's Hasira reading?
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
The 5 Principles: A Revolutionary Path to Health, Inner Wealth, and Knowledge of Self by Khnum "Stic" Ibomu
You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience by Tarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown

What's Hasira watching?
Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am

Other topics of interest:
About Denver Black Panther Party Founder Lauren Watson
The meaning of Oborɔnyi
YFM Ghana
About Reggie Rockstone
One Africa Health Resort
About Blue Zones
About the Sloth and Pura Vida in Costa Rica
About Buckminster Fuller

On African Stateswomen
On Marcus Aurelius
On Freedom Schools

*When you click and purchase books using the link(s) above, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support! Special Guest: Hasira Soul Ashemu.

Glocal Citizens - Episodes Tagged with “Community Organizer”

Episode 271: Empowering Youth for Pan-African Progress with Hamzat Lawal

Episode 147: A Souljourner Life with Hasira Soul Ashemu