Washington, DC — The London-based African Leadership Magazine honored several leaders at its hallmark Washington, D.C. event last week.

Among those honored was FEEEDS CEO, Ambassador (Dr.) Robin Renee Sanders, for her commitment, advocacy, and work with small and medium size entrepreneurs (SMEs) in Africa, Sanders, who previously was the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, and the Republic of Congo has long worked throughout her U.S. diplomatic career and now in the private sector on addressing key economic issues in Africa.

The magazine focuses on identifying and recognizing key leaders in the Diaspora and in Africa who work to advance the positive development, economic, and political goals of the African Continent.

Sanders, who received the Africa Advocacy Impact Award, was honored along with several others. These included Nigeria's Rivers State Commissioner for the Private Sector, William Essien of First Capital Plus Ghana, and A. V. Felix, Managing Director and CEO of Energia Limited. Sierra Leone's President Dr. Ernest Koroma was honored with the Africa Leadership Award.

In her remarks in accepting the award, Ambassador Sanders highlighted that she had committed her life to believing in Africa's development and forward progress despite the challenges and was always an "Africa-optimist," way before it became en vogue to do so over the last few years. She noted her current work with SMEs, affordable housing and in food security and the environment – key elements of her FEEEDS Advocacy Initiative – and stressed that leadership was about vision, transparency, flexibility, implementation, and most of all humility.

Dr. Sanders also received congratulations during the night for her past work and diplomatic service in Nigeria from Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States, Professor Ade Adefuye.