Dr. Onyi Nwaneri
Managing Director, Sesame Workshop International
Onyi Nwaneri is the Managing Director of Sesame Workshop International, a non-profit operating at the intersection of education, media, and research. She leads the organisation’s strategy across South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, advancing equitable early learning and driving social impact at scale in line with Sesame Workshop’s mission to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.
With over two decades of leadership experience, Onyi has strengthened organisations focused on rights, development, and opportunity. Her work centres on expanding access to education, employment pathways, dignity, and voice for children and young people facing structural disadvantage. She focuses on building institutions, partnerships, and scalable delivery models that sustain long-term impact.
A recipient of numerous awards, including recipient of the Women of the Year – Humanitarian Impact Award, Onyi holds a master’s degree in human rights and democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria and an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science.
“Empowerment is not a solo endeavour, it is a shared responsibility. Invest in boys as allies today, because when they rise right, women and girls rise fully. Let’s raise allies, not bystanders—and turn equality into action.”
