Luanda — The principal of Angola's Agostinho Neto University (UAN), João Teta, will on Friday here be awarded with the "Palmes Académiques (academic palms)" title of the French government for his meritorious work in the Angolan university sector.

The event will start at 09am at the meeting hall of the principal's department of Agostinho Neto University.

Speaking to ANGOP this Wednesday, the head of university cooperation of the French embassy, Benoit Bonnaimé, said that the ambassador of France to Angola, Francis Blondet, will hand over the title to the principal João Teta.

"This prize, which is a medal with two branches, is awarded to academic entities in France or in other countries who with their effort work towards developing education", he referred.

The "Palmes Académiques" is the oldest prize in France in the civil dominion, which dates back to the emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1808 and, at the time of its creation, it only recognised the engagement of eminent figures of this European country's higher education sector.

Benoit Bonaimé, who is also the advisor of the principal João Teta, stressed the qualities of the head of UAN who has been maintaining a good cooperation with France in the university field since 2003.