Dubai. President João Lourenço of Angola has been named the winner of the 2025 Babacar Ndiaye Super Prize – Great Builder Trophy in recognition of his exemplary leadership in transforming Angola’s transport infrastructure.
The announcement was made at the annual meeting of The Africa Road Builders – Babacar Ndiaye Trophy Selection Committee, held at the Movenpick Downtown Hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The committee assessed major achievements across the continent based on the 2025 report by the Media Network for Infrastructure and Finance in Africa (MIFA), as well as public reports from international institutions.
President Lourenço was selected for his personal commitment and leadership in driving forward Angola’s infrastructure agenda.
The committee noted that in recent years, Angola has undertaken major developments aimed at strengthening its strategic position in Southern and Central Africa and supporting economic diversification.
Among the highlighted achievements were the Lobito Corridor, a key regional railway network spanning 1,700 kilometers and the Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport, inaugurated in November 2023 and positioned to serve as a major regional air hub.
Others are the paving and rehabilitation of over 4,000 kilometers of roads between 2018 and 2022; and the planned Luanda Light Rail, a 60-kilometer urban transport system aimed at improving mobility within the capital.
These developments have already begun to generate significant impacts, including the creation of new services and the integration of digital technologies in transport and logistics systems.
President Lourenço is expected to receive the award on May 28, 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, during the Final Conference, which will take place on the sidelines of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings.
Special recognition was also given to President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire for his outstanding efforts in road development, and to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB, for placing transport and infrastructure at the forefront of the Bank’s agenda during his leadership.
In addition, the 2025 Builders’ Trophy was awarded to several institutions and companies for their contributions to infrastructure development across Africa.
These include the Ministry of Transport and Moonlight Company from Egypt; Ageroute, Remedes, Diakité Holding, the General Directorate of Road Infrastructure, and Kpandji Automobile from Côte d’Ivoire; Al Saadaa Group from Egypt; La Congolaise des Routes (LCR) from the Republic of Congo; and Think Tank RDC Stratégie from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
All laureates have been invited to receive their trophies during the May 28 ceremony in Abidjan.
The Selection Committee also extended its gratitude to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, the 2024 laureate of the Super Prize – Babacar Ndiaye Trophy, for agreeing to host the first-ever Summit of Great Builders in September 2025.
The summit will gather all previous heads of state who have received the award since its inception.
The Committee thanked the United Arab Emirates for its warm hospitality, and all sponsors and participants who contributed to the success of this 10th edition of The Africa Road Builders initiative.
It also paid tribute to the late Dr Babacar Ndiaye, the former President of the AfDB and inspiration behind the award, and expressed appreciation to the Ndiaye family for their ongoing support.
Special thanks were also extended to the African Development Bank and its president for their continued sponsorship and partnership in promoting infrastructure advancement across Africa.
