Africa's Best Performing Governor for 2024, Neville Andre, says winning the prestigious award has not ended the work to improve citizens' lives.

Andre says the Erongo leadership must continue to do more to resolve challenges such as the water crisis and food insecurity.

The Erongo Regional Council staff members and other residents gathered at the Swakopmund roadblock to welcome back governor Neville Andre.

The governor travelled from London, where African Leadership Magazine crowned him Africa's Best Performing Governor for 2024.

The awards honour exceptional business leaders, policymakers, and organisations for their contributions to Africa's socio-economic development.

Andre indicated that Namibia is celebrated as a nation on the move, and the world is impressed with how young people like him are given an opportunity to drive progress.

"I dedicate this award first to our late President, Hage Godfried Geingob, for giving me this opportunity to govern this region, which is a very important region in this country, and during his life he was always guiding me to better serve the people."

Andre says the award signifies the hard work that Erongo residents, public institutions, the business community, and leadership put into unleashing the region's potential.

"We are not done, we continue to face injustices in our pursuit of excellence. What I mean is that we need to resolve the water crisis, improve food security, bring down the scourge of sexual gender-based violence and other forms of violence, initiate and realise our dream to reduce economic imbalances by creating job opportunities for young people, and create a conducive learning environment for our learners in schools." 

Trade and Industrialization Minister Lucia Ipumbu also won an award as the Best African Minister for Trade, while Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua received a special Congressional Commendation for his leadership.