The Africa Road Builders selection committee has named Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina as the winner of the prestigious Babkar Ndiye Trophy for his commitment to infrastructure development in the island state. he succeeds Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, who won the award in 2022,
According to a press release by the committee, members elected President Rajoelina at a meeting held in Dakar on 28 April 2023, “for his personal leadership, commitment and investment in providing Madagascar with infrastructure fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.” For.”
The committee cited the construction of the Erivo Ring Road, a highway encircling the capital Antananarivo, as a symbol of the sustainable mobility infrastructure built by the Malagasy leader. The highway has pedestrian and bicycle lanes alongside the roadways. It also has secure bus stops and rubbish drop-off points.
The works also included an expansion of Erivo Airport, including facilities for people with reduced mobility and an improved car park. Rajoelina’s investments also extend to strengthening transport connectivity in rural areas.
President Rajoelina will receive his trophy during the ceremony on 26 May 2023 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt,” according to the press release.
Sponsored by the African Development Bank Group, the Babakar Ndiaye Trophy, also known as the Super Prize, is awarded by Excutures, an organization responsible for Africa’s infrastructure and road networks, and Media for Infrastructure and Finance in Africa (MIFA). It is a platform to provide information about Network of African journalists specializing in road infrastructure.
The award was created in honor of Babakar Ndiye, President of the African Development Bank Group from 1985 to 1995. Every year, the Africa Road Builders Selection Committee assesses ambitiously realized projects that impact the mobility of people in Africa.
Previous winners of the award, since its launch in 2016, were the heads of state of Morocco, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon (2016), Senegal, Rwanda (2017), Kenya (2018), Gambia (2019). Egypt (2020), Nigeria (2021) and Tanzania (2022).
