On September 26, the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) hosted Recognition Week 2025 at the Harvard Club in New York City. The event celebrated the achievements of individuals of African descent who have made significant contributions globally while aligning with the ethos of the International Decade for People of African Descent, which emphasizes recognition, justice, and development.
Diplomacy and Leadership
The opening panels explored how Africa and its diaspora are reshaping international relations through advocacy, culture, and storytelling. Speakers emphasized that embassies, think tanks, and diaspora professionals are central to amplifying Africa’s voice in global decision-making.
A highlight of this year’s program was the strategic partnership with the Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA). President Alexandria Maloney joined the Cultural Diplomacy panel, offering insights into diaspora identity and cultural exchange. Meanwhile, Chief Protocol Officer Lisa Irambona skillfully managed the day’s proceedings, ensuring the convening was executed with seamless precision and carried the distinction befitting the occasion.
Prayer Breakfast Set the Tone for the Day
The beginning of the event started with a prayer breakfast featuring Lady Deniece Laurent-Mantey, Dr. Peter Bonadie, and Ms. Lesley Osei, who offered reflections on faith, service, and purpose—setting the stage for a day of thoughtful conversations that showcased the breadth of diaspora leadership across diplomacy, economics, natural resources, and culture.
Alexandria Maloney, representing BPIA, emphasized that diaspora institutions extend influence beyond borders by creating professional pipelines into international affairs. Panelists agreed that soft power has become strategic, requiring coordinated networks to strengthen Africa’s global role. The Mayors office (and Deputy Mayor) were also present.
Economy and Resources
Finance and resource governance were recurring themes throughout the program. The Building Black Wealth session stressed ownership, fintech innovation, and intergenerational wealth transfer as foundations of economic resilience.
Speakers argued that diaspora communities must transition from consumption-driven economies to investment-led systems that shape long-term prosperity. In parallel, the Solid Minerals panel emphasized beneficiation and transparency, cautioning that without accountable frameworks, Africa’s resource wealth may fuel dependency rather than development.
Culture as Capital
The creative industries were celebrated as both cultural treasures and powerful economic drivers. Nollywood, Afrobeats, and digital storytelling were highlighted as tools to shape narratives and create billion-dollar markets that amplify Africa’s global presence.
Panelists stressed that protecting intellectual property, expanding financing, and fostering cross-border collaboration are essential for sustaining creative growth. They concluded that culture is not just entertainment but a strategic form of capital that links identity, economics, and diplomacy.
Lifetime Achievement
At the Awards Luncheon, MIPAD bestowed its highest honors on Prime Minister Terrance Drew of St. Kitts & Nevis and Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, outgoing President of Afreximbank.
Prime Minister Drew was recognized for his leadership in governance, public health, and strengthening Caribbean–African ties. Professor Oramah was honored for transforming African finance and trade, including his role in launching the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
Looking Ahead
Recognition Week 2025 reaffirmed that the diaspora is not on the margins of global affairs but at its center. For MIPAD and its strategic partner BPIA, the event underscored that networks of African professionals are essential to shaping the institutions of tomorrow.
From diplomacy to finance, resources to culture, the convening made clear that leadership is measured not only by achievement but also by the ability to build structures of prosperity and pride. The African diaspora is not merely contributing to the global narrative—it is writing it.
