Nigerian Afrobeats and dance artist Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie professionally known as Patoranking …
appointed today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Africa as a Regional Goodwill Ambassador.
For two years, Patoranking will primarily champion youth innovation and business development, “The timbuktoo initiative’ to build the innovation ecosystem in Africa and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Empowering African youth by providing them with the tools, resources and opportunities they need to thrive is a cause close to my heart. I step into this role to lend my voice to important initiatives that have huge potential to transform development for many of our people through innovation and technology driven by the ingenuity and ambition of the continent’s majority – the youngPatoranking said.
Patoranking’s journey from adversity to success inspires many. Having faced and overcome significant financial challenges, he has made it his mission to give back. His dedication to fostering business leaders and creating educational opportunities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds is a testament to his resilience and commitment to making a positive impact.
In 2020, he created the African Leadership University (ALU) Patoranking Scholarship, which offered ten fully paid scholarships to promising students from across Africa to attend the prestigious African Leadership University in Rwanda and Mauritius. It concludes scholarship offers for the next batch of students offering three-year degrees. In May 2024, he launched the Patoranking Foundation Tech Scholarships through a pioneering partnership with ALX Africa, a leader in developing innovative technology skills for young African talent. The partnership will soon announce a half-million grant to empower 40 exceptional young minds with access to cutting-edge technology education and vocational training.
“The creatives are incredibly important to the evolving story of Africa. They bring more than money – they bring authenticity, dignity, trust and influence. We look forward to working with Patoranking as the UNDP Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Africa as a champion for innovation and timbuktoo for youth, where he will use his talent to support and create opportunities for others.”said Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Office for Africa, during the launch of the timbuktoo fintech hub.
Patoranking is a multi-award winning artist and one of Africa’s most versatile artists. His international Afro-dance and reggae anthems, including stylish hits such as “Alubarika”, “Girlie O”, “Available” and “Suh Different”, have resonated from West Africa to the Caribbean. His music has generated over a billion streams worldwide and over 1.64 million subscribers on YouTube alone. Forbes Africa included him in its 30 under 30 category for 2020, recognizing him for his efforts in music and philanthropy.
Patoranking’s unique artistry and voice, which resonates with a diverse audience across Africa and beyond, will be instrumental in bringing together young people to create African solutions. As a Regional Goodwill Ambassador, Patoranking will use his creative voice to support the achievement of the SDGs in Africa. It will mobilize a critical mass for sustainable investment, bring the majority of African youth into the room and inspire innovative actions that help close the gap between opportunity and investment.
Registered and domiciled in Rwanda, timbuktoo The initiative was launched in January 2024 on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. It has ten thematic vertical hubs in Accra, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Addis Ababa, Kigali, Lagos, Nairobi, Lusaka and the African-based Timbuktoo University Innovative Pods (UniPods) continent. Guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and powered by UNDP, timbuktoo is harnessing Africa’s youth, meeting them where they are and preparing them to lead the fourth industrial revolution as a path to exponential wealth and job creation, thereby impacting communities at scale. UNDP believes Patoranking advocacy will be critical to investing in, fostering, nurturing and building an African youth innovation ecosystem.