25 individuals awarded ‘builders of Africa economy’ prize

Twenty-five individuals have been awarded “builders of the African economy” prize during the 6th edition of the “Builders of the African economy” organized on Friday in the Ivorian capital Abidjan.

Prize winners include nationals from Morocco, Senegal, France, Rwanda, Colombia, Benin, Hong Kong, Algeria, the USA, Cameroon, UK, Nigeria, Angola, Togo, Tanzania and Guinea Bissau.

The most celebrated Grand Prix was awarded to Boubacar NDiaye, former President of the African Development Bank (ADB) from 1985 to 1995.

His laudable initiatives and achievements at the helm of the institution informed the choice of the panel to award him the Grand Prix.

Ndiaye pioneered a number of initiatives, including the African businessmen forum, the creation of the African Import Bank export (Afreximbank) and the establishment of a special funding facility for African Private Sector without the guarantee from their governments.

“This initiative is very beautiful and ambitious”, Mr Ndiaye said during his prize acceptance speech adding, "this gathering is legendary. This is the best possible celebration of the builders of the continent’s economy,” Michel Russel Lohoré the organizer of the event said.

The event was initiated in 2006 with the aim to promote African private sector, its businessmen and economic policy makers as well as the most performing investors either from the Diaspora or from foreign countries.