Executive Leadership Team

The Executive Team is responsible for implementing the strategic direction established by the Board and ensuring the successful execution of all organizational activities.

Sneddon Wanchia

Director of Programs

Sneddon Wanchia is a researcher and youth development advocate whose work spans microbiology, food safety, sustainable agriculture, and African studies. He holds a BSc in Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Technology from the Catholic University of Cameroon, an MSc in Biochemistry (Food Safety Engineering) from the University of Yaoundé I, and is currently completing an MA in African Studies (African Sustainable Communities) at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.

As Director of Programs at African Lantern, he leads the design, coordination, and implementation of initiatives advancing the organization’s mission of moving African youth from certificate dependency to practical skills, innovation, and self-reliant entrepreneurship, ensuring every program connects schools, communities, and young people to opportunities to learn, earn, and lead.

Sneddon’s path has taken him through national food safety laboratories in Cameroon, cross-border agro-commodity trade between Cameroon and Gabon, and grassroots community health campaigns, giving him a grounded, systems-level view of where African education, agriculture, and economic opportunity intersect. Having lived and worked across Cameroon, Gabon, and Israel, he has seen firsthand how formal credentials alone rarely translate into livelihoods, and how practical skill-building, paired with confidence in African knowledge systems, can close that gap.

He is a co-author of a waste management proposal selected for the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU), and has managed his family’s farm across poultry, piggery, plantain, and vegetable production — work that continues to shape his belief that durable development in Africa starts with practical capability, not paperwork.

“Africa’s future will not be built by certificates alone, but by young people equipped with practical skills, entrepreneurial courage, and confidence in their own identity.”

Tomiwa Olawale

Director of Partnerships and External Relations

Tomiwa Olawale is a legal practitioner, corporate law researcher, and public policy professional with a strong interest in corporate and commercial law, technology law, governance, and sustainable economic development. Her work sits at the intersection of law, business, and public policy, with a focus on advancing legal and institutional frameworks that foster innovation, investment, and inclusive growth.

She has built professional experience across the public and private sectors, advising on commercial transactions, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, public-private partnerships, startup advisory, and legal due diligence. Her multidisciplinary approach enables her to navigate complex legal and business challenges while delivering practical, commercially sound solutions.

Beyond practice, Tomiwa is an accomplished legal researcher and advocate, having represented institutions in national and international moot court and Model United Nations competitions, earning recognition for excellence in legal research, advocacy, and policy analysis. She is passionate about leadership, institutional development, and leveraging the law as a catalyst for economic transformation, good governance, and sustainable development.

Tomiwa is committed to contributing to impactful legal reforms, strengthening public institutions, and supporting businesses, governments, and development partners in creating lasting value within Nigeria and across the global economy.

Chisomo Bridget Maliwa

Director of Research · Malawi

Chisomo Bridget Maliwa is a Malawian food scientist, researcher, entrepreneur, and climate action advocate passionate about advancing sustainable food systems through science, innovation, and community-driven solutions. Her work focuses on food science, agricultural value addition, post-harvest management, climate-resilient food systems, and sustainable community development across Africa.

She is the Founder and Director of Duwa Enterprise, a food processing and training enterprise dedicated to developing value-added food products while empowering farmers, women, and youth through food processing, entrepreneurship, research, and capacity building.

Chisomo has both local and international research experience such as nanotechnology applications in food and agriculture, functional foods, the nutritional composition of underutilized indigenous vegetables, the sustainability of food-processing SMEs, and the exploration of food waste-derived antioxidants for management of Alzheimer’s disease. Her research is driven by a commitment to translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions that improve nutrition, strengthen livelihoods, and enhance sustainability.

Chisomo is an African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Climate Action Fellow, a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Trust (QECT) 100 Young Leaders Award 2026, a World Food Forum (WFF) Youth Representative, and a Reviewer for World Nutrition publication. Through her research, leadership, and innovation, she is committed to generating evidence-based solutions, fostering interdisciplinary research partnerships, and translating scientific evidence into practical interventions that promote resilient, inclusive, and climate-resilient food systems across Africa.

Mazal Mucha

Director of Media and Publicity

Mazal Mucha leads African Lantern’s branding, visual communications, and digital storytelling initiatives. An Ethiopian-Israeli and a Bachelor’s student in Sustainability at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, she combines creativity with a passion for sustainable development and social impact.

She is a talented graphic designer, media storyteller, photographer, and videographer, with expertise in creating compelling visual content that inspires engagement and amplifies impact. Through her creative vision, she is committed to building African Lantern’s public image, showcasing its work, and communicating its mission to audiences across Africa and beyond.

Driven by innovation and excellence, she believes that powerful storytelling can inspire action, strengthen communities, and advance meaningful social change.

Serah Oluwatosin Kasumu

Trustee and Finance Officer

Serah Kasumu believes that meaningful change starts with small actions that grow into lasting impact. She is passionate about creating positive change through sustainable solutions, community engagement, and collaboration.

She is a historian, development advocate, sports and nature enthusiast, and the founder of Skas Apparel, a fashion brand committed to creativity, quality, and sustainability. Currently pursuing a fully funded Master’s degree in African Sustainable Communities, she is interested in sustainable development, community empowerment, promoting local solutions, and preserving African cultural heritage.

Serah believes that everyone has a role to play in building a better society and is committed to learning, serving, and working with people and organizations that are creating lasting impact across Africa.

Chisomo Nomsa Tembo

Secretary · Zambia

An emerging environmental scientist and sustainable development expert with interdisciplinary skills in biodiversity conservation, climate change, agriculture, natural resource management, research, stakeholder engagement, and international cooperation. Backed by a solid scientific background, she has gained hands-on experience working with international research organizations, NGOs, government-linked programs, and the private sector. Her contributions span climate-resilient agriculture, biodiversity conservation, biological pest control, food and nutrition security, WASH, gender-responsive initiatives, and sustainable rural livelihoods.

Her extensive scientific background spans agriculture, livestock, and the environment. With experience in seed quality and viability testing to promote resilient agriculture, and in livestock, health, and ecosystem projects to improve productivity and well-being, her roles include ecological research, biological pest control, data collection, project management, reporting, partnerships, and evidence-based decision-making.

Having learned that sustainable conservation requires more than ecological science, she now incorporates social science, participatory development, and community involvement, emphasizing that success depends on local knowledge, livelihoods, governance, and resource users. This approach guides her research on how citizen science and community engagement can improve wildlife conservation in Zambia, with a current focus on pangolins.

Nomsa, pursuing dual master’s degrees in Israel and Zambia, aims to connect science, policy, and practice to drive innovative environmental solutions. Since December 2025, she has co-founded the NEXA Fellowship, organized by the Israel-Africa Relations Institute, to promote leadership and collaboration among young African and Israeli professionals. Since 2024, she has served as Publicity Secretary for Zambian Women in Agricultural Research and Development (ZaWARD), demonstrating a strategic mindset, adaptability, and teamwork. She is passionate about animals, children, and partnerships that benefit Zambia, Africa, and the globe.

Rachid El Omari

Director of North Africa and Francophone Expansion · Morocco

Rachid El Omari is a Moroccan expert in project management and development, with over 15 years of experience supporting international NGOs, public institutions, and civil society organizations in Morocco. He has held senior positions with organizations such as Expertise France/AFD, FNUAP, UNICEF, and Handicap International, managing complex programs funded by the European Union, USAID, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

He holds a Master’s degree in Project Engineering and Public Policies and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in African Studies at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. He holds multiple PMI certifications from the Project Management Institute.

Rachid is fluent in Arabic and French, with working knowledge of English and Spanish.