Visit of a Delegation from Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech to the Headquarters of UCLG Africa
On Tuesday 14 December 2021, a delegation of 32 students from Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech (Morocco) visited the headquarters of UCLG Africa. This delegation was led by Professor Fatima ARIB, Director of the ENCG, Professor Tarik ZAHRANE, Deputy Director in charge of Cooperation and Scientific Research, Ms. BENHAMMOU Nisrine and Mr. MANTOUR Youssef in charge of Communication and Cooperation and Sports Affairs at UCA of Marrakech.
This Delegation had the honor to be welcomed by the Secretary General of the umbrella organization of local governments in Africa, Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi and some of his collaborators: Dr. Najat Zarrouk, Director of Development, Capacity Building, Knowledge Management and Director of the African Local Government Academy (ALGA) of UCLG Africa, Mr. Mustapha Moufid, Director of the African Capitals of Culture Program, Director, Department of Culture, Migration, Peace and Security and Mr. Thierry Sanzhie Bokally, Head of the Knowledge Management Unit of UCLG Africa.
The Secretary General made a presentation on the history of UCLG Africa, its vision, its objectives, its structure, its governing bodies and finally on the various projects on which UCLG Africa is committed to contribute to the unity of the African continent through the dynamism of local and regional authorities, and to allow the transformation of “Africa of Nation States” into “Africa of Peoples and Territories”. He briefed them on the organization’s triennial flagship event, the “Africities Summit”, which is its 9th edition. This event will be held in Kisumu, an intermediate city in Kenya, on the theme “The role of Africa’s intermediate cities in the implementation of the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063”. Mr. Mbassi gave useful advice to the students while inviting them to get involved at a very young age in the management of local authorities. He awarded a certificate of recognition to the President of Cadi Ayyad University for his active involvement and collaboration during the 5th edition of the African Forum of Territorial Managers and Training Institutes targeting local authorities (FAMI 5).
Prof. Arib, on behalf of the delegation, thanked the Secretary General and all the staff of UCLG Africa for the warm welcome and the honor of being a privileged partner of UCLG Africa, especially during the FAMI, and for allowing the students present to understand the real stakes of decentralization and the role that UCLG Africa plays in the implementation of the global agendas
Dr. Zarrouk appreciated the visit and took the opportunity to thank the first officials of the UCA for their remarkable support in the organization of the FAMI 5 and the strong partnership between the UCA and UCLG Africa.
Mr. Moufid in his speech drew the attention of students on the importance of culture as the essence of creativity, innovation and social link.
This visit follows the fruit of the partnership that exists on the one hand, between Cadi Ayyad University and UCLG Africa and on the other hand the holding of the 5th edition of the African Forum of Territorial Managers and Training Institutes targeting the Territorial Communities (FAMI5_2021) of UCLG Africa from 6 to 11 December 2021 at the Administrative and Cultural Complex MOHAMMED VI of Habous, Bab IGHLY in the Region of Marrakech-Safi on the theme “The Digital and Smart Transformation of Local Africa: The Time to Act is Now! !! “. The UCA is among the first partners who supported this edition with the participation of the faculty in the first row the president of the UCA and its students in Master and Doctorate in the plenary sessions and the various Workshops throughout the Forum.