LUANDA, Angola, May 5, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The winners of the inaugural 2015 “José Eduardo dos Santos African Mayor Awards” (http://africanmayorawards.com) were announced last week during a gala dinner in Luanda, Angola. These awards acknowledge the leadership and contribution made by Mayors of large, medium and small cities and celebrate achievements and excellence in urban development in Africa.
Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/icp-1.png
Photo 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1940
Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1936
Photo 3: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1937
Photo 4: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1938
Photo 5: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1939
The winning cities received prize money totalling $350,000 will be disbursed for specific initiatives. US$50,000 went to the city of Praia in Cape Verde (winner in the small city category), $100,000 went to Kinondoni in Tanzania (winner in the medium city category) and Accra in Ghana (winner in the large city category) received $200,000.
The formal presentation ceremony and a Gala dinner was hosted by Angola’s Minister of State and Chief of Civil House in the office of the President, Hon Edeltrudes Maurício Fernandes Gaspar da Costa and attended by over 350 guests comprising government officials, city leaders, African mayors, investors and business leaders. The Awards took place in conjunction with the 2nd Africa Urban Infrastructure Investment Forum held from 29-30 March 2015 in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Awards organiser and Publisher of African Business magazine, Omar Ben Yedder, said that the African Mayor Awards recognise, celebrate and reward City leaders or Governors who are helping transform Africa’s growing metropolises. “The winning cities tonight are being led by individuals who are showing essential leadership qualities as they help build cities that work. And we will need more exemplary leadership, good governance and innovative thinking, whilst paying close attention to our culture and way of living when dreaming of the cities of tomorrow. Our leaders need to be close to the people, and our winners tonight are demonstrating these qualities.”
The winners were selected by a judging panel comprising of Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, General-Secretary of United Cities and Local Governments-Africa (UCLG-A),Tokunbo Omisore, Chairman of the African Union of Architects, Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director for UN-Habitat, Vitor Leonel Miguel, Chairman of the Angolan Architects Union and Gaetan Siew, Chair, Construction Industry Sector of Mauritius.
Also speaking at the awards UCLG-A Secretary General, Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi Mbassi said: “The José Eduardo dos Santos African Mayor Awards aim to raise the profile of Africa’s Mayors by honouring those who have made an outstanding contribution to their communities and developed a vision for urban living, working and travelling across Africa. Each year, outstanding African Mayors and municipal professionals from a large metropolis (1,000,000 residents or more), intermediate city (less than a 1,000,000 and more than 200,000 residents) and small cities (up to 200,000 residents) have the opportunity to win the prestigious Awards, which, this year are being supported by the Government of Angola, the UN-Habitat, the IC Publications Group and my own organisation, the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG-A).
Mr Elong Mbassi added: “We hope that these awards will encourage other Mayors to think long and hard about what sort of cities they want, to engage with their communities and to contribute to developing sustainable urban cities in Africa”.
In this inaugural year, the organisers commission a renowned Angolan artist to design a unique and inspirational trophy to capture the past, present and future of African cities. The piece represents courage and conviction as well as the urban challenges that African Mayors face in the future.
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of IC Publications.
For media enquiries please email Ana Candido at a.candido@icpublications.com, or Audrey Mpunzwana at a.mpunzwana@icpublications.com
NOTE TO EDITORS
About the African Mayor Awards
United Cities and Local Governments-Africa (UCLG–A) launch first ever “African Mayor Awards” (http://africanmayorawards.com) in Luanda to celebrate the achievements and excellence in the development of African cities. The African Mayor Awards programme recognises, celebrates and rewards City leaders who display exemplary qualities in leadership and vision, innovative thinking, management capabilities and integrity, social awareness, foster economic growth and development, ability to provide security and to protect the environment as well as the will and ability to foster good relations between communities from different cultural and social backgrounds. For further information please visit http://africanmayorawards.com
IC Publications/IC Events
IC Publications (http://www.icpublications.com) is one of the world’s leading sources of analysis and debate on African political and economic issues. Through a variety of platforms and services including: magazines, digital media and international events, IC Publications delivers unparalleled coverage and cutting-edge content on the latest developments in Africa. Leading publications include African Business, African Banker, New African and New African Woman.
IC Events has established itself as one of the leading organisers of African business and economic events. From small workshops and round-tables, to large business conferences and awards ceremonies, our events are recognised as some of the premier fixtures on the international calendar, and provide an excellent opportunity to network with the current decision makers and leaders from around the world.
Source:: AFRICAWIN