Armando Lona N’nhinda, a renowned journalist, academic, and activist from Guinea-Bissau, has been awarded the prestigious West Africa Leadership Award by the West African Leadership and Empowerment Centre (WALEC).
The annual awards ceremony took place on December 13, 2024, in Lagos, Nigeria, recognizing individuals across West Africa for their influential contributions to leadership and social progress.
Among this year’s honorees are two other distinguished figures from Guinea-Bissau: sociologist and former Secretary of State for Hospital Management Cadija Mané and journalist and activist Arthilmisa Mendonça.
WALEC hailed Lona’s efforts as instrumental in fostering democratic values and advancing leadership across Africa.
His work in civil society and academia has positioned him as a key voice for structural reform and Pan-African unity.
Armando Lona’s Journey and Achievements
Armando Lona serves as editor-in-chief of the Guinean newspaper O Démocrate, a professor at the University Amílcar Cabral, and a researcher at the National Institute for Studies and Research (INEP).
He has been a steadfast advocate for democracy, humanism, and responsible governance, earning him recognition across the region.
Lona also coordinates Frente Popular, a civil society organization he co-founded in March 2024 to champion the rule of law, accountability, and individual freedoms in Guinea-Bissau and beyond.
From 2011 to 2020, Lona served as a political adviser to the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS).
His academic credentials include a master’s degree in Political Sociology from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal and journalism qualifications from Dakar’s ISSIC and CESTI institutions.
In addition, Lona has trained in conflict analysis and mediation at prestigious institutions such as the UN System Staff College in Turin, Italy, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana.
He also holds accreditation as a mediator from the London School of Mediation.
WALEC described Lona as a tireless advocate for Africa’s progress, citing his unwavering dedication to democracy, structural change, and unity.
His leadership continues to inspire efforts to reshape the continent’s future.
