Panafrican News Agency

AfDB, South African Embassy to celebrate Nelson Mandela Anniversary in Cote d’Ivoire

Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the South African embassy in Cote d’Ivoire have finalized preparations for a joint lecture to honour Nelson Mandela’s 100th birthday.

The lecture, which will take place on 17, September, 2018, at the Bank’s Headquarters, will be delivered by Dr Pali Leholhla, former South African Statistician General, and Dr Koffi N’Guessan, former Director of the Ecole Natonale Superieure de Statistiques et d’Economie Appliquee in Cote d’Ivoire (ENSEA).

Mandela, the iconic anti-Apartheid activist who became South Africa’s first black President, died on 5 December, 2013, at the age of 95.

Speaking about the anniversary, the Bank’s Communications and External Relations Director, Victor Oladokun, said, “The Nelson Mandela Centenary Celebrations provide us and people around the world, a unique opportunity to reflect on his life and times and to promote his legacy.

Oladokun said the lecture would focus on the promotion of intra-African scholarship as a means of promoting the production of “knowledge about Africa, in Africa, by Africans, for Africa” in line with the Bank’s strategic priorities.

The event is expected to attract top dignitaries, members of the international community, policy makers from the government of Cote d’Ivoire, the Bank’s board of directors and senior leadership as well as the South African community in Cote d’Ivoire, students, academicians and the media. The South African ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire will also attend.
-0- PANA VAO 1Aug2018