UAC Honors African Presidents

United African Congress, an organization that represents 3.5 million continental Africans living in the United States, will honor African Presidents who have made significant efforts towards improving living standards in their countries by addressing democracy, education, health and poverty issues.

(Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will be honored with others).

African Presidents attending the United Nations General Assembly will address the African community and the public when they receive the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Award from the United African Congress on Monday September 18.

The ceremony will start at 7 PM at the Riverbank State Park in the Cultural Center, 679 Riverside Drive and 145th Street, New York. The UN Millennium Development Goals Award, created by the United African Congress, an organization that represents 3.5 million continental Africans living in the United States, will honor African Presidents who have made significant efforts towards improving living standards in their countries by addressing democracy, education, health and poverty issues.

The award recognizes Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia; Armaud Gruebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique, and Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda.

Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, Under-Secretary General and Executive Director, United Nations Habitat Program will be the Keynote Speaker.

“The selections were based on the African Peer Review Mechanism,� said Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai, President of the United African Congress (UAC). The review mechanism is an instrument designed to support the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). African leaders adopted NEPAD in 2002 to support and redefine the UN Millennium Goals in an African-driven approach.

The UAC UN Millennium Development Goal Awards recognizes the valuable contributions these African leaders are making in improving the quality of life in their countries and throughout Africa by demonstrating goals and benchmarks that can be set and successfully attained despite the challenges they face in their respective countries.

Among the foreign dignitaries scheduled to make remarks are Jean Ping, President, 59th Session UN General Assembly, Foreign and State Minister, Republic of Gabon and presiding Chairman Emeritus, UAC; Dr. Fode Dabor, Esq., Ambassador, Republic of Sierra Leone, Kingdom of Belgium and Head of Mission to the European Union; and Dr. Eugene Feigelson, Sr. Vice President, Biomedical Research and Dean, State University of New York Health Sciences Center, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY.

Other dignitaries invited to make remarks include Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of the City of New York; Charles Rangel, Member of the United States Congress; David Paterson, Democratic Leader New York State Senate, Adolfo Carrion, President, Borough of the Bronx and Rev. Jesse Jackson, President, Rainbow Push Coalition.
The Masters of Ceremonies are Mamadou Niang, Sr. Producer, French Television and Secretary General, Citizens Commission of the African Union and Rev. Clyde Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, United Methodist City Society and Vice Chair, UAC Advisory Board.

Riverbank State Park is located at 679 Riverside Drive in Manhattan. The Award Ceremony runs from 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and various African Artists will perform after the presentation. The event is free and sponsored by the UAC.
Corporate sponsors of the event include Lipsig, Shapey, Manus and Moverman LLP; Verizon; Cape Aloe Ferox World Wide Company; Riverbank State Park of New York State; Office for General Services (OGS), Harlem State Office Building; The Citizens Commission on the African Union; The Interfaith Center of New York, Hon. Adolfo Carrion, President, Borough of the Bronx.

Additional scheduled events during the week preceding the awards include:

Thursday September 14, 2006 from 10 a.m. -1 p.m.  Press Party at the River Room Restaurant, Riverbank State Park and 145th Street and Riverside Drive, NY.  Hosted by: Shaya Designs Inc.  This event is free and open to the public.

Friday September 15, 2006 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  African and Diaspora Resource Fair, Bronx Court House Rotunda, 161st Street and Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY.  Hosted by: Adolfo Carrion, President of the Borough of the Bronx, NY. This event is free and open to the public.

Saturday September 16, 2006 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  African Diaspora Arts Exhibition, Fashion Show and Dance. Featured appearances by the Best African DJ “The Boss, Sam Gblah� and Ivory Coast entertainer and journalist “Touba Boubakar�. The Art Exhibition is free to the public. Tickets are required for the Fashion Show and Dance and can be obtained by contacting 212-685-2848 or 917-340-6559. or 718-UAC-2323.

Monday September 18, 2006 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Bending the ARC NEPAD, United Nations, African Union and United African Congress Trade Conference at the United Nations.  This conference is by invitation only. Registration and UN clearance required. 

The UAC seeks to empower Continental and Diaspora Africans to participate effectively in activities and programs that affect them in the United States as well as our countries in the continent of Africa. The UAC also seeks to help Africans to articulate their concerns regarding issues of democracy, education, health and poverty, thereby improving their quality of life and opportunities here and in Africa. The mailing address for United African Congress is 44 E. 32nd Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10016. Telephone (212) 685-2848 Fax (212) 689-4497.

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