In line with the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent, the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), on Sunday, March 25, unveiled its global list of honorees tagged; “MIPAD 100 under 40” in Lagos.
Held at Eko Hotel and Suites, the aim, according to the management of MIPAD, a civil society initiative, is to celebrate high achievers of African descent.
General Manager of MIPAD, Grace Singh said that the project is in support of the United Nations resolution 68/237 which declared the years 2015 to 2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent.
“What MIPAD does is that it identifies and ranks high achievers of African descent in Africa and in the Diaspora, people that have made outstanding achievements. We look for people that are outstanding in the society be it in politics in government or in the private sector. What we are trying to do is to create a global network of people that have done great things. They can come together exchange ideas and think of how to move the continent forward. We will be doing it twice a year. We have a lot of people of African descent who do not know what is going on in the continent,” she said.
Delivering a keynote address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Abike Dabiri, said that the MIPAD initiative is important in order to tell the stories of Africa by Africans themselves.
Dabiri noted that Africans in the Diaspora can help change the narratives about Africa and called on skilled professionals to play major roles in developing the continent.
Also speaking, Folusho Philips, chairman, Philips Consulting, commended MIPAD for the initiative.
Among the honouress were TV personality, IK Osakioduwa, super blogger, Linda Ikeji, Co-founder of Red Media, Debola Williams, Mark Okoye, commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget Development, Anambra State, Nigeria, Wael Ghonim, political activist, Egypt, Boglo Kenewendo, economist/consultant/member of parliament, Botswana, Aurthur Kalala Katalayi, advisor/ambassador/businessman from Democratic Republic of Congo, and a host of others.
