Africa
Africa Road Builders: Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan wins the 2022 Babacar Ndiaye Trophy for transport success
Samia Suluhu
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been named the 2022 winner of the Africa Road Builders-Babacar Ndiaye Trophy. The award is given to outstanding figures in Africa who have demonstrated their commitment to the development of transport infrastructure on the continent.
Samia Hassan
The award selection committee praised Hassan for his “personal leadership, extensive investment and commitment” to expanding the road and rail network in Tanzania. “We send our warm congratulations to President Samia Hassan and the people of Tanzania,” the selection committee said.
African Development Bank
The committee took note of the $290 million provided by the African Development Bank to support the revitalization of road, rail and air transport in Tanzania. It also took into account the $172.2 million contract signed with China Corporation Limited to supply the country with 1,430 modern freight cars to implement Tanzania Railways Corporation’s ambitious rail programme. Finally, the committee took note of the official start of construction of the historic project to build an outer ring road around the city of Dodoma. This project was launched by President Hassan on February 11, in the presence of the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina.
John Magufuli
Currently the only female head of state in Africa, Hassan came to power in March 2021, following the death of President John Magufuli, under whom she served as vice president.
Adesina of the African Development Bank
Sponsored by Adesina of the African Development Bank, the Africa Road Builders Babacar Ndiaye Trophy is organized by Acturoutes, an information platform on infrastructure and roads in Africa, and the organization Media for Infrastructure and Finance in Africa (MIFA), a network of journalists. Africans specialized in road infrastructure. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari received the award in 2021.
Babacar Ndiaye
The trophy was instituted in honor of Babacar Ndiaye, president of the African Development Bank Group from 1985 to 1995. The 2022 trophy will be awarded at the final Africa Road Builders conference, which is scheduled to take place alongside the next one in the African Development Bank. Annual meetings in May in Accra, Ghana.
