United
Cities and Local Governments-Africa (UCLG–A) announces the winners of
the first ever “African Mayor Awards” in Luanda, Angola
LUANDA, Angola, May 5, 2015/ -- 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.
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
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