Nigerian music sensation Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, popularly known as Patoranking, has been appointed as the regional goodwill ambassador for Africa by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
This appointment, spanning an initial period of two years, highlights Patoranking’s commitment to empowering African youth and promoting innovation and enterprise development.
In his new role, Patoranking will advocate for various initiatives aimed at building the innovation ecosystem in Africa, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and supporting the Timbuktoo initiative. He will leverage his influence to inspire and mobilize young people to engage with these critical issues.
“Empowering African youth by providing them with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive is a cause close to my heart. I step into this role to lend my voice to important initiatives that hold immense potential to change development for many of our people through innovation and technology driven by the ingenuity and ambition of the continent’s majority – the young people,” said Patoranking.
Patoranking’s personal journey from adversity to success serves as an inspiration to many. Despite facing significant financial challenges, he has continuously demonstrated a dedication to giving back, fostering entrepreneurial leaders, and creating educational opportunities for underprivileged students. In 2020, he established the African Leadership University (ALU) Patoranking Scholarship, offering ten fully paid scholarships to promising students from across Africa. This initiative is expanding, with new scholarships being finalized for three-year degrees.
In May 2024, Patoranking launched the Patoranking Foundation Tech Scholarships through a partnership with ALX Africa, providing a half-a-million-dollar scholarship fund to empower 40 exceptional young minds with cutting-edge technology education and career-ready training.
Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, praised Patoranking’s appointment: “Creatives are incredibly important to the evolving story of Africa. They bring authenticity, dignity, confidence, and influence. We look forward to working with Patoranking as the UNDP Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa, where he will use his talent to advocate and create opportunities for others.”
Patoranking’s unique voice and craft resonate with a diverse audience across Africa and beyond. As the Regional Goodwill Ambassador, he will advocate for the attainment of SDGs in Africa, mobilize sustainable investments, and inspire innovative actions to bridge the gap between opportunity and investment. Additionally, he will play a crucial role in promoting the Timbuktoo initiative, which includes thematic vertical hubs and University Innovation Pods (UniPods) across the continent.
His advocacy, UNDP believes, will be pivotal in investing, nurturing, and building an African youth innovation ecosystem. The announcement of Patoranking as the UNDP Goodwill Ambassador for Africa was made by Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa during the launch of the Timbuktoo fintech hub in Lagos.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Emmanuel Mensah