MIPAD Press Release, Recognition Ceremony

New York, USA- 3rd October 2021 was a victorious day as the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) in collaboration with CNN/Warner Media, unveiled the global list of outstanding personalities and high achievers in the 100 Creatives and 100 under 40 editions.

 

The Recognition and Awards Ceremony was held following the opening of the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). This Year’s week was both physical and virtual with LIVE viewing events in Dubai, Sao Paulo and Lagos. It was hosted by Zain Asher, CNN Anchor. It featured insightful global discussions, leadership development training, talent acquisition, film screening, masterclass and awards ceremony.

 

Dr.Epsy Campbell, the Vice President of Costa Rica received the hall of fame award with Ammo Aziza Baroud, Representative of Chad to the United Nations, for championing the UN Resolution for the creation of the Permanent Forum for the people of African Descent. Dr. George C. Fraser, United Shades of America received the hall of fame too.

 

The 44th President of United States of America, Barack Obama, Obama Foundation, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Host of finding your roots on PBS, and Francisca Van Dunem, Minister of Justice in the Government of Portugal made the Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

The honorees, who were among the 100 Creatives of African Descent from across the globe, included Kamau Bell; United Shades of America, British footballer, Marcus Rashford and the Senegalese TikTok star. Julian George, a Photographer and Founder of Made by Humans, Ryan Coogler the Director of Black Panther, Lashana Lynch an Actress, the First Female 007, Senator Ben-Murray Bruce, founder of the Silver Bird Group amongst others.

The ceremony was also graced by Elaine Thompson-Herah. One of the greatest female sprinters of all time, she is a five-time Olympic champion, the fastest woman alive. She was recognized for her outstanding achievement in the Creatives category.

The young global leaders who made the 100 Under 40 Edition included; Ham Serunjogi & Maijid Moujaled, Larry Madowo, CNN Anchor, Co-Founders & CEO at Chipper Cash, Barbara Iyayi, CEO & Founding Partner, Unicorn Growth Capital, among many others.

 

Below are the nuggets of wisdom shared by the dignitaries;-

Dr. Epsy Campbell, Vice President, Costa Rica

“We as black women have to do more wherever we are, and link together. I want to thank Kamil for making this incredible movement around the world for the people of African Descent. I want to recognize the work that MIPAD has done over the past but also the view for the future for people of African Descent.”

 

Dr. George C. Fraser

“I want to answer the most important question ever asked, “What is the meaning of life?” Life has no meaning. You have meaning and you bring it to life. It’s crazy to ask that question when in fact my brothers and sisters, you have the answer. Secondly, everything you’ve wanted in life is on the other side of hard. That’s what life is. Life is on the edge. That’s who we live our lives; if we are leading, if we are envisioning, if we are executing, we are on the edge. So you must go to the edge, leap off and grow wings on the way down. Finally, if you want to succeed, it’s very simple. Do what you love, with people that you love and you can’t fail”

 

Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner, United Nations Human Rights

“Congratulations to the latest group of MIPAD honorees who are being recognized for the contribution in the society from diverse fields. I’m pleased that the honorees are young activists; Africans and the people of African Descent around the world. I’m happy that the UN OHCHR fellows were among the 2019 honorees. The organization of recognition week falls directly into the three pillars of the International Decade for People of African Descent which are Recognition, Justice and Development. As we approach the mid-term of the International Decade for People of African Descent, we will need to do much more to build up on the achievements so far.”

 

Judge Carlos Moore, President of National Bar Association.

“First, I wish to thank the founder of MIPAD, Kamil Olufowobi, COO, Angela Regalado and the entire team. Congratulations to all honorees. Since 2017 MIPAD has served as a conduent in amplifying and implementing the United Nations Resolution 68|237 that declared the International Decade for People of African Descent up to 2025.Congratulations for your commitment in uniting the blood community. Job well done.”

“Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first black Supreme Court Justice in America once said, “The legal system can force open doors and sometimes even knock down walls but it cannot build bridges. That job belongs to you and I. Your country can’t do it. Afro and white, rich and poor, educated and illiterate, our faiths are bound together. We can run from each other but we cannot escape each other.” With this mind, I have established a firm policy team to ensure that the National Bar Association also addresses global legal challenges & initiatives such as reparations both domestically and internationally. For example, under my leadership for National Bar Association, is galvanizing black lawyers to do pro bono legal services to assist immigrants.”

 

Johnita Due, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Warner Media Sports

“It seems to me like a natural partnership to support the Organization in the remaining 3yrs of the International Decade for People of African Descent. I will say that the three pillars of the Decade; Recognition, Justice and Development are nothing unless we are giving voice to people of African Descent. That’s where an Organization like Warner Media News & Sports comes in. We are a news Organization. We are a media and sports Organization, and so giving voice to people of African Descent, giving voice to our employees, and giving voice to our audiences is extremely important.”

 

Dr. Sheila Walker, Global Advisor MIPAD

“We have 3 more years to the end of the decade. My goal in the next 3yrs is to tell the rest of the story. The story that we don’t know, story of the Global African Diaspora. What we have contributed to the global culture. It’s a lovely story. It’s not all trauma, it’s triumph.”

 

Kamil Olufowobi, Chief Executive Officer of MIPAD

“We are working on the UN Resolution that declared the International Decade for People of African Descent. The first pillar of that is RECOGNITION and the task we’ve had is to scout, and look around the world and find people of African Descent making positive contributions and highlight them every year. We’ve had the privilege of doing that since the decade started in 2015.EXCELLENCE around the world exhibited by people of African Descent in line with the decade.”

 

“We exist all over the world sometimes in unexpected places and it’s okay to be dispersed around the world but what’s not okay is being disconnected. We are stepping in to build an ECO-system not an EGO-system of some of the best and the brightest people of African Descent around the world to force collaboration.”

 

Download Class of 2021 Announcement Publication – https://www.mipad.org/classof2021

 

To watch full session:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWjxyJlVKEw&t=8005s

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