Kandeh Yumkella Wins African Utility Week Power Industry Lifetime Achievement Award

The third edition of the African Utility Week Power Industry Awards took place on Wednesday 18 May 2016 during the 16th annual African Utility Week, in Cape Town, South Africa. These awards bring together 700 of Africa’s most renowned power and water industry professionals, many of them long standing attendees of African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa. Kandeh Yumkella, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and former Special Representative of the Secretary-General and CEO, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), won the Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also an inspired keynote speaker on the opening day of African Utility Week on Tuesday. On receiving his award last night Mr Yumkella said: “I know the energy revolution is powering up and ready to take off. We saw again this week that we have the technology and the innovation. Sometimes we are too suspicious of each other, we should embrace energy trade with each other”. Dr. Yumkella mobilized global action towards a sustainable energy future and was responsible for the planning and implementation of the initiative as well as engaging with the leadership of relevant stakeholders in government, businesses, academia and civil society at the highest level to advocate for and promote sustainable energy for all. With over 25 years of international experience, Dr. Yumkella previously served as Director-General of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for two four-year terms (2005-2013). Dr. Yumkella is co-Founder of the African Energy Leaders Group and is a Commissioner at the Energy Transitions Commission. A recipient of numerous international awards, he is a former Minister for Trade, Industry and State Enterprises of Sierra Leone. Read the full press release here. Photo Credit: African Utility Week