The Director General of Catoca Mining, Angola, His Excellency Dr. Benedito Paulo Manuel, was recently honoured with the Special Congressional Commendation from Georgia and South Carolina, USA, award in New York.
H.E. Manuel received these awards at the just-concluded 9thedition of the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL), which was held on the margins of the 78thUnited Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the New York Hilton Midtown, USA, with the theme: African-Caribbean Cooperation and Today’s Geopolitics.
The awards are in recognition of H.E. Manuel’s contributions to promoting sustainable diamond mining in Angola by integrating technologies, such as digitalization and waste management, and providing training to employees and local communities to preserve the environment and create a sustainable economic source of living.
Dr. Benedito Paulo Manuel is the Chief Commander and General Manager responsible for the remarkable achievements of Catoca Mining Society, Angola’s diamond industry powerhouse, and the visionary leader who places people at the core of his management philosophy, fostering professional development and enriching countless families through a wide range of social programmes offered by Sociedade Mineira de Catoca.
At the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) in New York, H.E. Dr. Benedito Paulo Manuel was honoured alongside the President of Guyana, H.E. Dr.Mohamed Irfaan Ali; the Vice President of The Gambia, H.E. Muhammad B. S. Jallow; and the CEO of Bank of Industry, Nigeria, Mr. Olukayode A. Pitan.
The awards which were presented by Hon. Rosalyn Myers, Member, South Carolina House of Representatives, USA, were received by the representatives of the African Leadership Magazine on behalf of Dr. Manuel, with the intention of making a formal presentation to him in Angola later in the year.
Other high-level policymakers, and business and diplomatic leaders at the event in New York include H.E. Dr. Mamadou Tangara, Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia; Hon. Serign Modou Njie, Minister of Defence, The Gambia; Amb. Dr. Lamin B. Dibba, The Gambian Ambassador to the United Nations; Amb. Momodou Lamine Bah, The Gambian Ambassador to the United States; Dr. Anselmo Monteiro, President, National Institute of Social Security, Angola; Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary-General, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities; Hon. Rosalyn Myers, Member, South Carolina House of Representatives, USA; Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade, Afrexim Bank; among others.
The International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) is an annual flagship event of the African Leadership Magazine that is held annually on the side of the United Nations General Assembly. Over the past 8 years, the event has become a platform that connects world leaders, especially from Africa and the Caribbean nations, policymakers, and private sector leaders, with a focus on the challenges and progress of the African people, strengthening trans-regional cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean nations, building strategic partnerships and bilateral cooperation, as well as increasing engagements in trade and investments, innovation and technology transfer, culture and tourism, and other sectors.
