The Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe, Mr Wilfred Matukeni has been conferred with the African Business Leadership Excellence Award at the recently concluded International Forum on African -Caribbean Leadership (IFAL-2022) which was held in New York, on 21 September 2022, on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with the theme: Redefining Trans-regional cooperation for Sustainable Peace and Development.
Mr Matukeni was presented with the award by Dr Ken- Giami, Chairman African Leadership Organization UK in a well-attended event that had several heads of Government, business leaders, and other African and Caribbean stakeholders. Wilfred Matukeni was conferred with this honour in recognition of his leadership pedigree which is marked by excellence, tenacity, and dedication to duty. A specific consideration by the board includes his passion for efficiency, respect for corporate governance, and creative attitude to finance which amounts to a ceaseless effort in repositioning NOIC for Stellar Performance and Efficient Service Delivery.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Matukeni thanked the management of the African leadership magazine for the honours, stating that the recognition was an incentive to do more. He stated that the mandate of NOIC was to ensure the security of supply in the Zimbabwe oil industry by providing efficient, sustainable transportation and storage services. He expressed gratitude to the Government of Zimbabwe which he said has through their current ministry provided an enabling environment for NOIC to operate successfully. He appreciated the NOIC board of directors for their wise counsel and strategic guidance, while also commending the Management and Staff of NOIC, which he referred to as NOIC’s greatest resource.
Other 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; Barr. Mrs Vickie Anwuli Irabor, President of the Defense and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) who received the SDG Advocacy & Mental Health Leadership Award, and Mr José de Lima Massano, Governor, National Bank of Angola who received the African Public Service Leadership Excellence Award.
The five heads of state who also addressed 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, and bilateral cooperation, as well as increase engagements in trade and investments, innovation and technology transfer, culture and tourism, and other sectors. The theme of the programme was – Redefining Trans-regional Cooperation for Sustainable Peace and Development.
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.
The forum, which held 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.
The African Leadership magazine is published by African Leadership Organization, a company registered in the United Kingdom. The magazine is dedicated to bringing Africa’s finest to a global audience, presenting the African narrative from an African perspective while evolving solutions to the peculiar challenges faced by the continent today.
