Honourable Minister, Ministry of Sea and Ministry of Culture and Creative Industries, Cabo Verde, H.E. Abraao Vicente, was recently honoured with the African Leadership Public Service Commendation Award during 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, on September 21, 2023, with the theme: African-Caribbean Cooperation and Today’s Geopolitics.
The award is in recognition of H.E. Abraao Vicente’s contributions to promoting and strengthening sustainable ocean-based economies, in particular for small island developing states and least-developed countries.
H.E. Abraao Vicente is the Honourable Minister responsible for the Ministry of the Sea and the Ministry of Culture and Creative Industries, Cape Verde. Over the years, he has continued to implement programmes and initiatives related to the transition and promotion of the blue economy in Cape Verde. He is a sociologist, painter, and self-taught photographer with exhibitions in several countries and a presence in renowned private collections.
At the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) in New York, H.E. Abraao Vicente 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.
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.
