New York — The Africa-America Institute will hold its 21st annual awards dinner today recognizing the people of Rwanda for the country's extraordinary progress since the tragic 1994 genocide and honoring leading Americans and Africans for contributions to U.S.-Africa relations.
AAI, a leading New York-based international education and policy organization, will present the African National Achievement award to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who will accept on behalf of the people of Rwanda.
The country will be recognized for moving from genocide toward peace and economic viability; progress toward democratization and good governance; strengthening private enterprise and entrepreneurship; and significant strides in the field of education.
"The Africa-America Institute is pleased to present the African Achievement award to Rwanda for their progress since the mass atrocities in 1994," said Mora McLean, president of the Africa-America Institute.
"We recognize the country's extraordinary movement forward, based on its commitment to investing in its people," said McLean. "And this is cause for optimism about the future all over the continent."
Since 1994, the Rwandan government has made education a top development priority.
Today, education in Rwanda is mandatory and free through the first three years of secondary school. The country has boosted its literacy rate from below 40 percent in the 1980s to more than 70 percent today. Before 1994, total university enrollment was less than 1,000; today Rwanda has over six universities with a total enrollment of over 10,000.
The government is also aggressively striving to become Africa's technology hub and use new technologies to fight poverty and jump-start its economy.
AAI has educated hundreds of Rwandans and will soon launch two initiatives with the Rwandan government to help strengthen the country's human capacity by training and educating its citizens in information technology.
Other awards will include: a Distinguished Alumna Award to Betty Bigombe, a peace negotiator and consultant to the World Bank Post Conflict Unit; AAI Distinguished Alumnus Award to Jonathan Lifa, Regional Manager of Public Affairs, Chevron Corporation; AAI Excellence in Media Award to Dele Olojede, 2005 Pulitzer Prize Winner and former Foreign Editor Newsday; and AAI Lifetime Achievement Award to Roger Wilkins, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and Clarence J. Robinson Professor of History, George Mason University.
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The Africa-America Institute, a New York-based international education and policy organization with a presence in 50 African countries, works to educate and train African leaders and foster greater understanding between Africa and the United States. Founded in 1953, AAI has more than 22,000 alumni including Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, Namibia Prime Minister Nahas Angula, and NEPAD CEO Firmino Mucavele.
