Portsmouth,
United Kingdom.
25 September 2022.
African Leadership Magazine (ALM) has concluded its first-ever International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) with five Heads of state from Africa and the Caribbean region attending and calling for greater cooperation among the nations and peoples of both regions. The forum, which took place on the margins of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the iconic Harvard Club of New York City, also brought together over 250 business, political, and social justice leaders to debate issues ranging from climate action, reparations, food security, trade, and defence, among others.
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, HE Gaston Browne
The five heads of states who also addresses the forum included H.E. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana; H.E. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; H.E. Dr. Terrance M. Dew, Prime Minister, St. Kitts And Nevis, HE Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of St. Lucia and HE Adama Barrow, President of The Gambia, ably represented by the Gambia Minister of Foreign Affairs. The event was, therefore, truly an opportunity for the regional leaders to build strategic partnerships, bilateral cooperation, and increase engagements in trade and investments, innovation and technology transfer, culture and tourism, and other sectors. The program’s theme was – Redefining Trans-regional Cooperation for Sustainable Peace and Development.
President of Guyana, HE Irfaan Ali, presenting a keynote at IFAL
The forum also featured two high-level panel sessions on the current state of governmental and economic policies impacting social institutions in Africa and the Caribbean countries, with three experts as panellists, namely- Van McCormick, Executive Director, International Economic Alliance (Havard); Hon Marlo Oaks, Treasurer- State of Utah; and Mr. Nathan Estruth, Former Vice President, Procter & Gamble. The second-panel session took a different turn with a focus on “Viewing the World from the Lens of Regional/Domestic National Security with Gen (rtd) William “Kip” Ward, Former Commander of US AFRICOM and US Colonel Sergio Do La Pena (fmr0 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere, US Department of Defence as expert panellists.
The events also had a special awards presentation ceremony to honour and recognise African leaders who have distinguished themselves excellently in business and public service, as well as contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of their communities. The honourees during the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) included Mr. Hanan Abdul-Wahab, CEO, National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO) Ghana, who received the African Business Leadership Commendation Award in Food Security; H.E. Mário Augusto Caetano João, Minister of Economy and Planning, Angola who received the African Public Service Excellence Award; and Barr. Mrs Vickie Anwuli Irabor, President of the Defense and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), received the SDG Advocacy & Mental Health Leadership Award. The other honorees included Mr Wilfred Matukeni, CEO, National Oil Infrastructure Company, Zimbabwe, who received the African Business Leadership Excellence Award; and Mr José de Lima Massano, Governor, National Bank of Angola, who received the African Public Service Leadership Excellence Award.
Prime Minister of St. Lucia, HE Philip J. Pierre, presenting Keynote at IFAL
The International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) is an ALM flagship event held annually on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to bring leaders together in setting policy direction and as a peer review mechanism. Over the years, the event has become a platform that connects world leaders, especially from Africa, policymakers, and private sector players with a focus on the challenges and the progress of the African people. This forum which has been running for eight years and primarily focused on African leaders, was expanded in scope for the first time to include Caribbean nations in a bid to strengthen trans-regional cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean nations.
Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, HE Dr Terrance Drew, Chairman African Leadership Organization Dr Ken Giami, and Prime Minister of St. Lucia HE Philip J. Pierre at IFAL 2022
About African Leadership Magazine
The African Leadership Magazine is published by African Leadership Organization Limited, a company registered in the United Kingdom with a vision to celebrate African achievements and excellence in a way that empowers and inspires. The magazine focuses on bringing the best of Africa to a global audience, telling the African story from African perspectives while evolving solutions to peculiar challenges the continent faces today. Since its maiden edition in August 2008, African Leadership Magazine has become a leading pan-African flagship leadership-focused publication read by over 1.2M targeted international investors, business executives, government policymakers, and multilateral agencies across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Europe, and the US.
Enquiries
Ehis Ayere
E: ehis@africanleadership.co.uk
Phone: +44 23 92 658 276
