This year, the Barka Award was presented on Thursday the 23rd of March 2023 to Dr. Amadou Alpha Sall for his leadership and contribution to healthcare development in Senegal and Africa. Dr. Sall is the CEO of Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal and director of the World Health Organization collaborating center for Arboviruses and viral hemorrhagic fever.
"I can't think of a more deserving recipient of the Barka Award than my dear colleague and friend, Amadou Sall. As one of the world's top scientific and public health leaders on emerging diseases and epidemics, Amadou has made cutting-edge contributions in developing and disseminating diagnostic and control tools for viral diseases like Ebola, Chikungunya, Dengue and COVID-19.
In addition, ten distinguished Africans and Diasporans who continue to make high-level impact on a global scale and demonstrate their commitment to advance the African continent received the coveted Luminaire Awards. The Luminaire Awards were presented on Friday the 24th of March 2023 to Yohannes Assefa, Board of Directors, Ethiopia Diaspora Trust Fund; Twum Djin, Head of Engineering, Payments Conversion at Stripe; Dr. Josephine Fubara, Chief Science Officer, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare; Dr.
"Yohannes has been one of the strongest champions of the diaspora by highlighting their contribution to the development of Africa and raising awareness on the opportunities for investments in Ethiopia and beyond. He is most deserving to be recognized as one of the 2023 African Diaspora Luminaire Awardees. Congratulations to Yohannes on this achievement!" says Mimi Alemayehou, Senior Vice President, Strategic Growth, Mastercard Inc.