Sophie Tiemagni Pledges Full Commitment as ABER Continental Vice Chair
By Joyce Sunny, FOREIGN DESK — Newly appointed Vice Chairperson of the Continental Executive Council (CEC) of the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER), Barr. Sophie De Sylvie Djoufa Tiemagni, has pledged her total commitment to advancing the organisation’s continental mandate and strengthening women’s leadership in Africa’s Blue Economy.
Tiemagni made the pledge in a letter of acceptance following her appointment by the Convener and Chief Executive Officer of ABER, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo.
She expressed profound appreciation to Kiyaramo for the confidence reposed in her, describing the appointment as “not an ordinary appointment, but an extraordinary honour, a tremendous responsibility, and above all, a profound expression of trust.”
“I had to look at it more than once. I could hardly believe my eyes. Your confidence in me means more than I can adequately express in words,” she said.
Tiemagni also reflected on her selection from among the many distinguished personalities within ABER, saying she hoped to justify the confidence placed in her.
“Whatever the reason, I pray that I will never disappoint you or betray the confidence you have placed in me,” she stated.
Beyond the personal significance of the appointment, the new Vice Chairperson said she considered it an important statement on the role and capacity of African women in leadership.
“As a woman, I see it as a powerful statement about women’s leadership, women’s capacity and the place of African women in shaping the future of the Blue Economy,” she said.
Tiemagni was appointed Vice Chairperson of the CEC under Gazette No. ABER/CEC/CHARTER/09/26/001.
The position makes her the second-highest executive officer of ABER and a key member of the organisation’s Presidium.
Among her responsibilities is the coordination of ABER’s 54 National Coordinators and six Regional Vice Chairs covering North, West, Central, East and Southern Africa, as well as the African Diaspora.
She is also expected to act for and support the Convener/Chair in high-level engagements with the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), African governments and development partners.
Other responsibilities include leading the harmonisation of regional Blue Economy strategies within ABER’s continental framework, co-chairing deliberations of the CEC and facilitating the implementation of Council resolutions across the organisation’s Technical Directorates and Bureaus.
Tiemagni pledged to focus on translating ABER’s vision into measurable action.
“Serving as Vice Chairperson means standing alongside you where vision must be transformed into action, where leadership must be translated into results. I am ready. I will let my work answer the question of why you chose me. You have my total commitment,” she said.
ABER is a continental multi-stakeholder networking platform bringing together experts, policymakers, governments and development partners to promote a sustainable, inclusive and sovereign Blue Economy for Africa.
Its vision is: “One Africa. One Ocean. One Prosperous Future.”
