Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki was appointed Deputy Minister for African Integration and Cooperation in 1996, and later that same year became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Nigeriens Abroad. In November 1997, he was named Prime Minister, a position he held until January 2000. During his tenure, he focused on promoting social dialogue, establishing frameworks for labor negotiations, and founding the National Council for Social Dialogue (CNDS).

After retiring from politics in 2000, he founded the think tank Cercle d’analyse des politiques publiques, which specializes in health and education policy. From 2009 to 2022, he served as Executive Secretary of the African Union’s development agency, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). He has also been appointed as a member of the Lead Group of the UN Scaling Up Nutrition Movement and served on the High-Level Panel on the Future of the OECD Development Assistance Committee.

Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete served as the fourth President of the United Republic of Tanzania from 2005 to 2015. Before his presidency, he held key ministerial positions including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Water, Energy and Minerals. He also chaired Tanzania’s ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and served in the Tanzania People’s Defense Force, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel.

He played a significant role in regional and continental leadership, chairing SADC, EAC, and the AU, and was involved in peacebuilding efforts such as the Burundi Peace Process and the AU High-Level Committee on the Ivory Coast Political Crisis. Globally, he contributed to diplomacy and development, serving as Co-Chair of the African Commission on Youth, the UN Panel on the Global Response to Health Crises, and the UN Commission on Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health. He is the founding Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA).

Since leaving office, Dr. Kikwete has remained active, chairing the SADC Panel of Elders, the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa–Africa Coordination Unit (GWPSA–ACU), and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). He also founded the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF) and serves as Chancellor of the University of Dar es Salaam.

Olusegun Obasanjo is a former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has held various public positions over many years as a military officer and politician. He served as Head of State from 1976 to 1979, and later as a civilian president from 1999 to 2007, during which he pursued public sector reforms and strengthened regional cooperation.

After leaving office, he became active in international affairs, including serving as the United Nations Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, contributing to regional stabilization. In 2022, he played a key role in facilitating a ceasefire agreement in the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia. He remains engaged in efforts to promote peace and security within the framework of the African Union.

Jorge Carlos Fonseca served two terms as President of the Republic of Cabo Verde from 2011 to 2021. A legal scholar by training, he earned a master’s degree in law from the University of Lisbon. From 1975 to 1979, he served as Director-General of Emigration and Consular Services, and later became the first Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1991, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. During his tenure, Cape Verde was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

During his presidency, he focused on strengthening the legal system, enhancing democratic governance, and deepening international relations. After leaving office, he founded the JCF Freedom and Democracy Initiative, which promotes civic engagement and provides a platform for research and dialogue on democracy. He is also actively involved in education in the fields of law and human rights, supporting institutional reform and the development of civil society in the region.

He is a writer and poet, with seven literary works published, and a total of 27 books edited, covering topics such as criminal sciences, politics, constitutionalism, democracy, and fundamental rights.

Donald Kaberuka served as President of the African Development Bank from 2005 to 2015. During his tenure, he advanced a comprehensive development strategy focused on infrastructure development, private sector support, natural resource management, and assistance to conflict-affected countries. Under his leadership, the Bank’s capital base tripled.

Prior to that, he was Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning from 1997 to 2005, where he led efforts in economic reconstruction and collaboration with international financial institutions. After leaving the African Development Bank, he held several prominent roles, including Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and High Representative of the African Union for financing, the Peace Fund, and COVID-19 response.

Currently, he serves on the boards of the Rockefeller Foundation, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and the Global Development Center.

Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi has held key public offices in South Africa, including Minister of Welfare and Population Development and Minister of Public Service and Administration, serving for many years in the fields of administrative reform and social policy. At the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), she led the Democratic Governance Group, working to strengthen governance and support legal system development.

She currently serves as Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University, where she promotes higher education reform and engagement with local communities. As Chair of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, she focuses on harnessing Africa’s intellectual resources and fostering policy dialogue. Her work spans education, peacebuilding, and gender equality, advancing cross-regional cooperation in these areas.

Yohei Sasakawa is Honorary Chairman of The Nippon Foundation and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. After graduating from Meiji University’s School of Political Science and Economics, he became President of The Nippon Foundation in 1989 and led the organization as Chairman from 2005 to 2025. During his tenure, he oversaw initiatives in ocean policy, social welfare, education, disaster relief, and international cooperation. As the World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, he has actively promoted global awareness and support for people affected by the disease. He also serves as Japan’s Special Envoy for National Reconciliation in Myanmar, where he has engaged in dialogue and support for ethnic minorities and peacebuilding efforts. His current work focuses on advancing social innovation and inclusive development through collaborative approaches across sectors.

Since 2020, Atsushi Sunami has served as President of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. He graduated from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and earned both a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. After working as a researcher at the Nomura Research Institute’s Policy Research Department, he held various academic positions at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), including Associate Professor, Professor, and Vice President. He currently serves as Special Advisor to the President and Director of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Center at GRIPS. He has also contributed to government policymaking as a member and advisor on science, technology, and innovation policy for agencies such as the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the fields of science diplomacy and international cooperation, he has been actively engaged in policy proposals and institutional design through dialogue and collaboration.