The third Africa Day Awards is to be held on Saturday 25 May at the prestigious Radisson Blu Royal Hotel near Dublin Castle, organisers have announced.
Across the world on the same day, Africans will celebrate 50th anniversary of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was renamed the African Union just a little over 10 years ago.
Sponsored by Aligreen Recycling Ltd and supported by Concern Worldwide, Westerpark Recycling, On-Site Refueling and MK Design Studio, the invitation-only event is a unique celebration aimed promoting and celebrating linkages and relationships of solidarity between people, organisations and businesses in Ireland and in the countries of Africa.
The Africa Day Awards also acknowledge and promote good leadership and celebrates the contributions of entrepreneurs and businesses to Africa’s growing economic power.
Organisers said a panel of judges led by Niall Crowley, independent equality expert and former chief executive of the Equality Authority, will select award winners in five different categories, including individuals in all sectors, not-for-profit organisations, private sector, public sector and education institutions.
The winners will be those who engage in or promote connections between Ireland and any of the countries of Africa, characterised by mutual support, mutual respect, mutual benefit and mutual learning.
In addition, nominees in the areas of leadership or entrepreneurships will be considered in terms of innovation and vision, impact on employment, empowerment of local communities, impact on African institutional practices, and enhanced service provision within local African communities.
Like in previous years, African music and dance will be central to the 2013 Africa Day Awards, which Metro Éireann said would be attended by Africans, native Irish and many other nationalities in Ireland.
Previous winners include Cork-based Kenyan woman Beni Karuga, Dublin City Council's Office for Integration, former Lesothan Ambassador to Ireland Manette Ramaili and Tullow Oil founder and CEO Aidan Heavey.
