Manhattan Borough President, African Consuls General bid Amb. Okoyen farewell

President, Manhattan Borough, New York, United States of America (US) Gale Brewer, Wednesday, April 7, 2021, joined African Consuls General in New York to eulogize and bid farewell to Nigeria’s outgoing Consul General in New York.

The occasion was the Valedictory meeting of the African Consuls Group (ACG) called by Ambassador Okoyen, who has been leading the Group since its inception in January 2020.

Ambassador Okoyen was recently appointed Ambassador to Cuba with concurrent accreditation to  Bahamas, Honduras and Nicaragua and is expected to depart New York soon for his new duty post.

He, therefore used the opportunity of the meeting, which had Gale Brewer as Special Guest, to hand over the mantle of leadership of the Group to the Consul General of South Africa in New York, Motumisi Tawana.

In his welcome address and comprehensive report of the affairs of the Group, rendered at the meeting, which was attended by other Consuls General from Africa, Ambassador Okoyen traced the genesis of the body, the reason for its formation and how far it has come since inception.

The other Consuls General, thereafter, took turns to congratulate Ambassador Okoyen on his new posting and shower accolades on him for the excellent way he has led the Group since its inception.

They also applauded the comprehensive report he presented and, as one man, stressed that it would serve as the template for their future activities.

Gale Brewer, in her speech, also congratulated Ambassador Okoyen on his new assignment and spoke glowingly of his remarkable and impactful service as Consul General in New York.

She also acknowledged the far-reaching services being rendered by the other Consuls General to the nationals of the countries they represent, stressing that they are an ‘unheralded’ yet ‘fabulous’ group of leaders who mean so much to the Borough. She pledged that the Manhattan Borough will continue to partner with the African Consuls Group in efforts to serve the peoples of their countries best.

Besides Tawana, the Consuls General of Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire emerged alternate Presidents of the Group, and in accepting to lead, promised to build upon the solid foundation that Ambassador Okoyen has laid.

The meeting ended on a convivial note with many of the Consuls General suggesting that the next meeting of the Group should be held in Havana!!