The National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) is proud to announce that one of its own, Atupele Ngonga, represented Malawi at the 5th Batch of the Nasser Fellowship for International Leadership held in Cairo, Egypt, from 9 to 25 May 2025. The fellowship brought together over 160 young leaders from more than 80 countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to engage in a highly structured programme of leadership training, policy engagement, and South-South cooperation.
Atupele, 28, is a seasoned development practitioner with over eight years of experience in youth development, gender equality, and employability programming. Her leadership journey began in community youth structures in Mzuzu and Mzimba North, where she mobilized youth clubs and strengthened coordination among local organizations. She rose to national prominence in 2019 when she was elected General Secretary of the Malawi National Youth Network under NYCOM, supporting youth engagement in policy processes and helping link grassroots voices to national and global development strategies. She currently serves as Project Officer for the YEFFA Project at NYCOM, where she continues to champion youth inclusion and empowerment.
During the 17-day fellowship, Atupele joined other participants in policy dialogues, field visits to strategic national institutions, and capacity-building sessions focused on diplomacy, good governance, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange. Notable engagements included visits to the Egyptian Senate, the League of Arab States, the National Training centers like the military and police academies, correctional and rehabilitation centres, and religious and cultural heritage sites.
Speaking on her return, Atupele described the fellowship as a transformative experience that deepened her understanding of Pan-Africanism, strategic leadership, and the power of youth-led change. She also had the honour of meeting Malawi’s Ambassador to Egypt and used the opportunity to brief the Embassy on NYCOM’s work in youth development and ongoing efforts to promote youth inclusion in national policy implementation.
Among the key lessons drawn from the fellowship was the importance of institutional collaboration in addressing youth challenges, the potential of cultural diplomacy in promoting peace, and the critical need for countries to invest in youth leadership as a driver of sustainable development. Atupele also observed how Egypt has prioritised youth-focused institutions and programmes, including youth representation, presidential youth conferences, and an organised approach to civic education through youth academies.
Building on this experience, Atupele made a number of recommendations for NYCOM and its partners. She proposed the establishment of a Youth Leadership Academy under the Achinyamata Centre to provide structured training in civic education, entrepreneurship, peacebuilding, and strategic leadership. She also recommended increased collaboration with embassies to support Malawian youth participating in global leadership opportunities, and called for the expansion of national policy dialogues like the National Youth Conversation to provide structured engagement between young people and political leaders.
She further proposed that NYCOM explore partnerships with institutions such as the Malawi Prison Service to initiate rehabilitation and skills development programmes for incarcerated youth, and enhance programming that promotes interfaith tolerance, gender equality, and national unity.
NYCOM welcomes these recommendations and remains committed to strengthening Malawi’s participation in international youth platforms. The Council also applauds the Government of Egypt for creating space for emerging leaders from the Global South to network, share knowledge, and co-create solutions to common development challenges.
At the closing ceremony, Malawi’s Deputy Ambassador to Egypt, Dr Shoab Mzoma, commended Atupele’s participation and reaffirmed the Embassy’s support for youth engagement initiatives. The fellowship concluded with a vibrant cultural celebration, which showcased the diversity and solidarity among participants from across the Global South.
NYCOM congratulates Atupele for flying the Malawian flag high and for returning with actionable insights that can enrich the country’s youth programming and leadership agenda. As NYCOM continues to implement its Strategic Plan under Pillar 4 on Youth Participation, Rights, Governance, and Leadership, it remains focused on cultivating young leaders who can represent Malawi confidently on global platforms while also contributing meaningfully at the community level.
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