Tanzanian President Accepts African National Achievement Award in Recognition of Tanzania's Significant Progress

24 September 2007
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Africa-America Institute (New York)
press release

New York — The Africa-America Institute Awards Gala raised nearly $900,000 for educational and training programs in Africa

In a celebratory sold-out event, The Africa-America Institute's 23rd annual awards Gala paid tribute to the People of Tanzania for the East African nation's significant progress in education, environmental conservation, and in creating a business-friendly environment for entrepreneurs and investment.

The black-tie Gala, held on Sept. 19 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York, was chaired by American financier and conservationist Paul Tudor Jones II and Reginald Mengi, CEO of Tanzania's IPP Limited. The Gala also honored leading Americans and Africans for their contributions to Africa and the world. Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete accepted the African National Achievement Award on behalf of the People of Tanzania.

Nearly 500 distinguished U.S. and African leaders and top diplomats attended the annual awards dinner to celebrate African achievement, including Rachel Robinson, widow of baseball great Jackie Robinson. The AAI Awards Gala, under the theme "Educating for a Sustainable Future," is the largest Africa-focused black-tie event in New York City.

The Gala raised nearly $900,000—the highest amount raised in the organization's history—to support the Institute's efforts to help build human capacity in Africa through education and training programs, and to develop programming and forums aimed at educating Americans about Africa.

During his remarks Mr. Tudor Jones II, who is also founder of The Grumeti Community and Wildlife Conservation Fund in Tanzania, announced the creation of The Kikwete Scholarships, a ten-year commitment by the Grumeti Fund to support tertiary level training for Tanzanian students to pursue studies in the field of environmental conservation at U.S. universities. The scholarships, which recognize President Kikwete's leadership and commitment to conservation and environmental causes, will support the education of 20 students.

In his remarks, President Kikwete personally thanked Tudor Jones for the scholarships, saying it would help further study on environmental conservation in Tanzania.

"We commend Tanzania for its extraordinary commitment to build human capacity, particularly by strengthening its educational system at all levels," said Mora McLean, AAI president and CEO, a leading a New York-based international education and policy organization.  "We celebrate their achievements and progress."

Tanzania has achieved nearly universal primary education, setting it on target to meeting one of the UN Millennium Development Goals. The country's education system has grown from just one university in 1961 to some 200 tertiary training institutions at the end of 2006. A new four-year institution, Dodoma University, opened in September, enrolling 1000 students.

Since independence in 1961, the country has maintained its pledge to safeguard its abundant wildlife and natural environment. Today, more than 25 percent of Tanzania's total land area is under conservation—higher than the world average and exceeding United Nations goals.

In the area of business and investment, Tanzania was recently cited by The World Bank as one of Africa's top two reformers. During the Gala Reginald Mengi, Tanzanian businessman and media mongul, recognized Tanzania's recent business success and challenged the Western media to show the thriving side of Africa to encourage business and foreign investment.

Other awards included: the AAI Award for International Development and Diplomacy was presented to Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari, Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General; AAI's Distinguished Trustee Award was presented to Peggy Dulany, Founder and Chair of The Synergos Institute; and the AAI Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Gidion Kaino Mandesi, Executive Director of the Disabled Organization for Legal Affairs and Social Economic Development (DOLASED) in Tanzania .

**NOTE: If your media outlet is interested in official event photos, please contact Shanta Bryant Gyan at shanta@sbgcommunications.com or call (646) 290-8211.

AAI is a New York-based international education and policy organization with offices in South Africa and Mozambique and an alumni presence throughout the African continent. Since 1953, AAI has worked to educate and train African leaders and professionals and foster greater understanding between Africa and the United States. Today, AAI counts more than 23,000 alumni, including Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula, and New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) CEO Firmino Mucavele

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