Cape Town – US media maven Oprah Winfrey has congratulated University of Cape Town UCT Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng for being been named the winner of the inaugural Africa Education Medal.
UCT vice-chancellor Professor Phakeng or @FabAcademic as she is known on the Twitter streets, was named the winner of the inaugural Africa Education Medal, launched this year by T4 Education and HP in collaboration with Intel and Microsoft.
Professor Phakeng was chosen from 10 finalists from across the continent, including the former president of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete.
Such an honour to get a congratulatory message from @Oprah for being the inaugural winner of the #AfricaEduMedal
— Mamokgethi Phakeng🏳️🌈 (@FabAcademic) September 7, 2022
Thank you @T4EduC @HP @intel @Microsoft #MacG #Past3AMSquad pic.twitter.com/fc0HSH2hhZ
In her congratulatory message to the VC via video message, Winfrey said: “It’s an honour recognising leaders making a positive impact on education, and I don’t know anyone who deserves it more because I’ve witnessed first hand through your support of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa how your vision and your passion and your commitment has made such a difference in the lives of so many students.”
“I honour the vital work that you do in education and I celebrate you as a forward-thinking, visionary leader for such a time as this. Congratulations, and blessings on your life.”
The Africa Education Medal was founded to recognise the work of change-makers who are transforming African education.
Unesco data shows that sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of education exclusion in the world.
IOL