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Lucy Kanu

Mentoring Africa Economic Empowerment

It’s clear to see that Lucy Kanu is having an impact in Nigeria. Through Idea Builders, the agriculture-focused nonprofit organization and social entrepreneurial initiative she founded, she works with disadvantaged women and youth to provide sustainable livelihood programs.

Early on, Lucy realized the importance of having role models, and she was further inspired by the idea for “mentoring walks” explained by founder and former CEO of Oxygen Media, Geraldine Laybourne, who spoke at the 2008 FORTUNE/U.S. State Department Mentoring Program.

After the program concluded, Lucy spearheaded the inaugural Mentoring Walk in November 2008 — staged in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Serbia and Peru — and has helped lead the annual event ever since.

Lucy went a step further by developing a mentoring program for established and emerging businesswomen in Nigeria. She has held annual symposiums, trainings, workshops and mentoring walks focused on the economic progress of women in states across Nigeria, collectively reaching thousands of women each year. 

Quote about Lucy (from her mentor, Sara Ortwein, Exxon Mobil Corporation)

“Lucy is the quintessential example of who we hope to find when we invest in a woman through this program – someone who will use her drive and intellect and take her experiences from the program to positively influence her community, her country and the world.”