- Photo caption : Chairman, Africa Heritage Awards, Former President of Botswana , Dr. Seretse Khama
…Advocates Good, Visionary Leaders For Continent
Ex-President of Ghana, His Excellency, John Mahama and the Chief Executive Officer of the Poverty World African Network(PWAN) were yesterday honoured with awards at the 2nd African Heritage Awards (AfriHeritage- 24) organised by the Heritage Times (HT) in Lagos ,Nigeria .
African Heritage Awards (AfriHeritage-24) honoured the former Ghana President with African Advancement Award for Exemplary Leadership, Dr. Jayne Onwumere was honoured with African Humanitarian Award for Women Emancipation and Empowerment and the third award; African Development Award for Advocacy and Social Justice was given to African Rising Movement,
Speaking at the award, the Chairman of the Heritage Award, former President of Botswana , Dr. Seretse Khama, said the award is meant to celebrate excellence and the immense contributions by Africans to the African continent.
He added that it is not ordinary contributions but contributions that are making a meaningful impact to the continent.
The award, he said, is an embodiment of excellence, adding that he hopes the awards will continue to showcase what Africa can offer.
He called for good government if African heritage must be protected.
On his part, the former Ghanaian President, who also received awards for his contribution to African heritage, thanked the organisers for finding him worthy of the award.
He pointed out that African leaders have to do more, adding that Africans need to grow to reposition the continent.
Africa, he said, should not be lagging behind, adding that Africa needs to know where the world is heading and also think outside the box.
Mahama advocated that Africa must have visionary leaders who are thinking and working for the people.
Mahama contended that the visa barriers placed within Africa were doing a lot of damage to the continent’s growth and expansion and advocated for its reversal.
- Photo caption : Ex-President of Ghana, His Excellency, John Mahama award recipient.
According to him, “We must believe in ourselves as Africans. There is more money leaving Africa than coming in. All these grants and loans are moving out of the continent. We need to free African movement more than we are presently doing. In the European Union, you don’t need a visa to enter any of the countries in Europe. In Africa, we don’t need to get a visa to go anywhere within the continent. We must move two times faster than we are doing presently. We must be self-reliant as a continent,”
Earlier, the Convener of the African Heritage Awards (AfriHeritage- 24),Mr. Moses Siasia, lamented that African heritage is not only threatened by neglect but also by indifference, which allows the continent’s historical sites to crumble and languages go into extinction.
He advised that African must act decisively and collectively to preserve their heritage for future generations.
The Convener stated this while delivering a welcome speech at the 2nd edition of the African Heritage Awards organised by Heritage Times.
He said that Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment in the history of the continent and that Africans are heirs to a rich and diverse heritage, spanning millennia of civilisations, cultures, and traditions.
Siasia, however contended that despite that Africans also face immense challenges, from economic disparities and political instability to environmental degradation and social injustices.
He noted that it is incumbent upon us, as custodians of Africa’s legacy, to chart a path forward that preserves our heritage while fostering unity and progress for all.
“Preserving our African heritage is not merely a matter of nostalgia or sentimentality; it is a duty we owe to future generations. Our heritage is our identity, rooted in the land and woven into the fabric of our societies. It is the stories of our ancestors, the wisdom of our elders, and the aspirations of our youth.
“It is the rhythm of our music, the taste of our cuisine, and the colors of our art. It is the resilience of our people in the face of adversity, the ingenuity of our innovators, and the warmth of our hospitality. Yet, our heritage is also under threat. It is threatened by the forces of globalization, which seek to homogenize cultures and commodity traditions,” he said.
He continued, “It is threatened by conflict and violence, which tear at the social fabric of our communities. It is threatened by neglect and indifference, which allow our historical sites to crumble and our languages to fade into oblivion. If we are to preserve our heritage for future generations, we must act decisively and collectively.
Yet, amidst our achievements, challenges persist, beckoning us to strive for even greater heights.”Some of the dignitaries at this year’s event are the Managing Director of NDDC, President of Ijaw Youth Council, Jonathan Lokpobiri and among other notable personalities
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