By Adonis Byemelwa
On the morning of Wednesday, July 16, in Luanda, His Excellency Ambassador Téte António, Angola’s Minister of Foreign Relations, welcomed a distinguished delegation to the “Paulo Teixeira Jorge” Noble Hall.
Among the visitors were Dr. Rita Cooma, CEO of ICCOUNCIL, and Ms. Peggy Valentine, President-General of the Consortium for International Management, Policy, and Development (CIMPAD), leading an Afro-descendant delegation from the United States.
Their visit marked an important step in promoting President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s Higher Education, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Program (PJMGL)—a bold pan-African initiative created by ICCOUNCIL to foster a vibrant educational and entrepreneurial ecosystem across the continent.
The meeting unfolded in a spirit of mutual respect and strategic alignment. Ambassador Téte António, drawing from his deep understanding of Angola’s regional and international priorities, underscored the importance of solidifying cooperation with both ICCOUNCIL and CIMPAD.
He described ICCOUNCIL as a strategic partner not only for Angola but for Africa’s broader ambitions of sustainable development and capacity building.
With Angola now assuming the presidency of the African Union, the timing of this partnership, he noted, could not be more crucial.
There was a sense of shared vision in the room. As discussions turned toward the upcoming 14th CIMPAD International Conference—set to take place in Luanda in June 2026—both sides expressed a desire to deepen their collaboration in the education sector.
The Minister emphasized the critical role of Afro-American engagement in this context, applauding CIMPAD’s decades-long contributions to African educational development and its clear commitment to the continent’s youth.
Ms. Valentine echoed that commitment, voicing her enthusiasm about the strengthened partnership with Angola. She spoke candidly about the Consortium’s aim to serve not just as an event organizer, but as a long-term contributor to educational reform and youth entrepreneurship across Africa.
Since arriving in Angola, the CIMPAD delegation had already engaged in substantive conversations with government officials, university leaders, students, and members of the American diaspora.
These meetings, she said, reaffirmed the Consortium’s belief in Angola’s potential as a continental hub for educational innovation.
Also present at the meeting was Dr. Harvey L. White, the founder of CIMPAD, who offered historical and forward-looking insights. He expressed genuine interest in learning from Angola’s educational experiences—particularly those focused on empowering African youth—and reiterated CIMPAD’s intention to build joint programs that nurture innovation and academic excellence.
Dr. Rita Cooma, President of ICCOUNCIL, spoke clearly and confidently about the collaboration’s long-term goals. She emphasized the vision to establish a direct link between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Africa—promoting scholarships, curriculum development, and nationwide educational programs.
The broader mission, she explained, is to ensure these programs have a footprint in all 55 African Union member states.
The PJMGL Program itself—spearheaded under the leadership of President João Lourenço and in coordination with ICCOUNCIL, CIMPAD, the African Union Diaspora Division, and the CIDO Directorate—aims to reshape the landscape of African education, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
It seeks to empower youth, women, and diaspora communities through strategic investment in science and technology, aligning with the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2016–2025 and its upcoming 2026–2035 phase).
A central element of the initiative involves the creation of Pan-African Higher Education Ecosystems and Innovation Centers, with Angola positioned as a flagship location.
These centers, planned for countries where the Dangote Group has a commercial footprint, are set to accelerate human capital development, social inclusion, agricultural innovation, and sustainable economic growth throughout the continent.
The July 16 meeting was more than a diplomatic gesture; it was a powerful affirmation of Angola’s role at the heart of Africa’s transformation journey.
Through strategic partnerships like this, Angola is not just hosting dialogue—it is helping to shape the future of education and innovation across the continent.
