UNWG - United Nations Women's Guild

Doctor Kanayo F. Nwanze appointed President of IFAD
MESSAGE BY MRS AISSATOU DEMBÉLÉ
President of the Africa Group

Dear President and Sister,

On behalf of the UNWG African Group and on my own behalf, I would like to express to you our warmest congratulations on the occasion of your appointment as the new President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

My dear Sister, this appointment is indeed in recognition of your husband’s strong commitment to IFAD’s goals towards the eradication of rural hunger and poverty in developing countries.

We take the opportunity of this memorable event to wish you and your family good health and well being. May God assist and guide your husband in the accomplishment of the challenging mission that he has been assigned.

Thank you
Aïssatou DEMBELE

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TRIBUTE TO THE LATE OULIMATA BA
MAY 8th 2009

About 4 years ago, on Thursday January 25th 2005, I was on duty travel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, when early morning, I received a call from a colleague, announcing that Oulimata had passed away and I had to give this sad news to her family. So, you can imagine how sadly I was surprised, and how alone I felt in Africa, to lose a great friend of mine.

Her husband had just completed over 20 good years of legal services with FAO. Oulimata was preparing for her return back home to Senegal, to enjoy a life as a pensioner. Unfortunately, such a dream never happened. She unexpectedly passed away just 3 days after her return from a spiritual pilgrimage to Mecca.

Four years later, due to my close and known relationship with her, the Board has requested me to talk about her and I’m very proud and full of emotion and memories, to do it for one of the most dedicated UNWG members that I’ve ever met. She was a solid pillar of the UNWG.

Oulimata contributed so much to our group. She had been with the group for over 20 years and served with altruism and passion. She was efficiently result-oriented and contributed to UNWG in various capacities. She had been a Treasurer, a Vice President and President of the African Group of UNWG and a Vice President of UNWG. I’m proud to have been a friend to someone who was a noted model for other UNWG members.

She has physically left us; such is the WILL OF THE ALMIGHTY, but it is up to us to keep her in mind as a source of inspiration. It is also a consolation for us to remember her as a distinguished lady, a caring wife and mother, a sincere friend, who made her husband, children, and friends proud. May our good memories of her keep us positive about things of life.

Puisque c`est la Volonté du Tout Puissant de l`arracher à notre affection, que ses bienfaits sur Terre lui soient redus au centuple à l`au-delà et que sa mémoire soit une source d`inspiration pour ceux et celles qui l`ont connue et qui auront désormais, la lourde charge d`entretenir les liens que Feue Ouly aura tissés de son vivant.

Son rappel à Dieu est certes une épreuve douloureuse mais croyez-moi, un décès n`est pas une malédiction mais un test pour les croyants que nous sommes

Il nous reste donc, à trouver une consolation dans le fait qu`elle aura bien vécu, heureuse joviale, altruiste, humble. Elle aura laissé un héritage moral dont les siens peuvent être fiers. Tu seras toujours parmi nous, dans un coin bien gardé, au fond de notre cœur.

Chère sœur, amie, conseillère, repose en paix. En cette nouvelle demeure je souhaite meilleure que celle que tu as quittée.

Que la terre de Yoff te soit légère

PAR MARIEME BA SOURANG