The Africa-America Institute (AAI), a U.S.-based international education and policy organization dedicated to strengthening the human capacity of Africans, will host its 30th Annual Awards Gala on Sept. 22 in New York City. The Gala coincides with the opening week of the United Nations General Assembly, when African and other global heads of state, accompanied by key officials and business and civic leaders, descend on the city.
Founded in 1953, the Africa-America Institute is headed by Amini Kajunju, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the institute’s first African-born president and CEO. Her tenure has seen the implementation of several initiatives, including an active social media presence, an annual Talent Summit and Career Expo, an annual conference on the State of Education in Africa, and a speaker series.
Under the theme, “Powering Africa’s Future through Regional and Global Partnerships,” the gala program will feature a moderated “Conversation on Africa” with the year’s honorees, focusing on fostering greater regional and global partnerships for development.
In the run-up to the program, and no doubt reflecting the youth of its president and CEO, the institute organized a weeklong social media contest in which its Facebook and Twitter followers submitted individual questions with the hope of having them selected for inclusion in the Conversation. The contest ran from Sept. 5 to Sept. 10. The top three questions chosen by a panel of judges will be posted on the institute’s Facebook page, and the question with the most “votes” in Facebook’s comment section will be asked during the Conversation.
The Conversation also will draw attention to how education empowers African youth to reach their full potential while being catalytic in society’s socioeconomic transformation through regional and global partnerships.
Fittingly, Cote d’Ivoire President and AAI alumnus Alassane Ouattara will receive the institute’s 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award for his achievements in promoting regional and global partnerships. President Ouattara received an AAI African Graduate Fellowship in 1972, with which he earned a Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. The president began his public service career as an economist at the International Monetary Fund, and served as an economist at the Central Bank of West African States before becoming prime minister and subsequently president of Cote d’Ivoire. As president, he chaired the Economic Community of West African States.
Vivienne Yeda Apopo, director-general of the East African Development Bank, will receive AAI’s Business Leader Award for her more-than 20 years of leadership in practical and comprehensive development banking, finance and business in Africa.
AAI alumna Thandika Mkandawire, former director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and the first person to assume the position as chair of African Development at the London School of Economics, will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award. With a scholarship from AAI, Mkandawire attended Ohio State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in economics.
U.S. multinational conglomerate General Electric Co. will receive the Corporate Responsibility Award, recognizing its commitment to empowering livelihoods in Africa through education and the employment of Africans in senior leadership positions, and to promoting trade and economic growth on the continent. Jay Ireland, president and CEO of General Electric Africa, will accept the award on behalf of GE.
CNN international anchor Isha Sesay will be the evening’s host, and legendary singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka will perform a musical tribute to 20 years of South African democracy. The black-tie affair will be held at Gotham Hall. It will begin with a reception at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:00 p.m.
