The “Africa Road Builders” Selection Committee has appointed Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina, winner of the 2023 edition of the Babacar Ndiaye Super Prize, succeeding Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, winner of 2022.
According to the committee’s press release, relayed on the site of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Rajoelina was chosen « for his personal leadership, his commitments and his investments aimed at providing Madagascar with mobility infrastructure in perfect harmony with the Sustainable Development Goals”.
Among the actions of the Malagasy leader, cited by the committee which met on April 28, 2023 in Dakar, is the construction of the ring road of Iarivo, peripheral highway of the capital Antananarivo, as the symbol of sustainable mobility infrastructure. This highway has lanes for pedestrians, for cyclists alongside the motorized lanes, and also has secure bus stops and rubbish drop-off points.
Another achievement concerns the expansion of Iarivo airport, the work of which has taken into account people with reduced mobility and improved the car parks.
“The Selection Committee congratulates President Andry Rajoelina and the entire people of Madagascar and invites the winner to receive his trophy on May 26, 2023, on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group, in Sharm el-Sheikh. in Egypt,” the statement said.
The Babacar Ndiaye Trophy for « Africa Road Builders », sponsored by the AfDB Group, is awarded by Acturoutes, an information platform on infrastructure and the road network in Africa, and the organization Media for Infrastructure and Finance in Africa (MIFA), a network of African journalists specializing in road infrastructure.
The award was created in honor of Babacar Ndiaye, President of the AfDB Group from 1985 to 1995. Each year, the « Africa Road Builders » selection committee carefully assesses ambitious and concrete projects having a real impact on population mobility in Africa.
Since its launch in 2016, the Babacar Ndiaye trophy has rewarded the heads of state of the following countries: Morocco, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon (2016), Senegal, Rwanda (2017), Kenya (2018), Gambia (2019), Egypt (2020), Nigeria (2021) and Tanzania (2022).
By OMA Newsletter N° 1161 of 08/05/2023
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
