Abdoulaye Wade

Honorary Degree Recipient

Doctor of Laws

College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences and Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, September 24, 2004

Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal, grew up in colonial French West Africa and has spent more than thirty-four years of his career striving for change through higher education and government service. He was the first dean of the College of Law and Economic Sciences at the University of Dakar. In the 1970's he founded and served as the Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Senegal. For the past ten years, he served as Minister of State and in March of 2000, he was elected President of the Republic. As President, he has played a pivotal role in developing policy and advocating for change in political, economics, and education in Africa. As a lawyer, he directly impacted the lives of people struggling for political freedom and human rights in Africa. His work with President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa to develop the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) is paramount in that it changed the international assistance model in Africa from one of dependency of other countries for help to one that emphasizes foreign investment in and empowerment for African nations.

Biographies are as-of time of award presentation.