Cameroonian Becomes First African Director Of UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Cameroonian, has become the first black -African Director of UNESCO World Heritage.
He was nominated to the post of Director of World Heritage at UNESCO on December 6, following a decision from UNESCO’s Director Audrey Azoulay.
He becomes the first African to be at the helm of the prestigious World Heritage organization.
The graduate from the Grenoble School of Architecture will have the huge challenge of coordinating activities around the 1,154 world Heritage Sites.
Also, ensure that the African continent is less represented, and is given more opportunities.
Assomo joined UNESCO in 2003 and contributed to the creation of a special fund for the coordination and restoration of some African heritage sites such as the Forteresse site of llha in Mozambique, Mali, and Uganda.
From 2013 to 2016, Assomo who hails from the Centre region of Cameroon was Unesco bureau head in Bamako. His mission was the rehabilitation of the Timbuktu Mauslee destroyed by the Malian Jihadists.
Adding to his rich career are numerous decorations at the international scenery, such as Malian Commander of National Order of Merit.
By Mboh Mbenowoh