FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —The Economic Club of Africa Network (ECAN) is pleased to congratulate Dr. Isaías Barreto da Rosa, a member of the Network, on his appointment as UNESCO Representative to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Head of the UNESCO Office in Abuja.

The appointment represents an important professional milestone and recognizes Dr. Barreto da Rosa’s experience, leadership, and commitment to advancing international cooperation and sustainable development in Africa.

Prior to his appointment as the UNESCO Representative to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Head of the UNESCO Office in Abuja, Dr. Barreto da Rosa served for four years as UNESCO Representative to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the UNESCO Office in Kinshasa. Before joining UNESCO, Dr. Barreto da Rosa held several senior leadership positions across the continent. From 2018 to 2022, he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cabo Verde’s Multisectoral Economic Regulatory Agency (ARME). Previously, from 2014 to 2018, he was the first ECOWAS Commissioner responsible for Telecommunications and Information Technologies.

Dr. Barreto da Rosa has an extensive academic and professional background in digital technologies, education, regulation and development. He completed postdoctoral research at Tallinn University, Estonia, focusing on mobile access to digital libraries in digital-divide environments. He holds a Ph.D. with honours and an Advanced Studies Diploma in Education and Human Development from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain; a Master’s degree in Management Development from the Euro-Arab Management School in Granada, Spain; and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Lisbon, Portugal. Dr. Isaias Barreto da Rosa is also a Cisco Academy instructor by the University of Central England, United Kingdom, and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa.

Earlier in his career, he worked as a software developer at the Portuguese Catholic University, a researcher at Tallinn University, and a professor at Jean Piaget University of Cabo Verde for more than a decade, where he also held several academic and technology leadership positions.

The Board, leadership, and entire ECAN community warmly congratulate Dr. Barreto da Rosa on this achievement.

“We are delighted to celebrate this important milestone with Dr. Barreto da Rosa. ECAN takes great pride in seeing members of our community assume positions of leadership and responsibility across influential national and international institutions. This appointment is a testament to his professional accomplishments and commitment to public service and sustainable development. A member in good standing, Dr. Barreto da Rosa exemplifies the three core attributes of ECAN: Excellence, Influence, and Integrity. We wish him every success in this important role,” said ECAN Board Chair, Prof. Fred Olayele.

The appointment reflects the calibre and diversity of ECAN’s membership, which brings together highly accomplished business leaders, senior executives, elected officials, senior policymakers, entrepreneurs, diplomats, and distinguished experts who operate at the highest levels across Africa and the global community.

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About ECAN

ECAN is a non-profit organization dedicated to finance, innovation, and development in Africa. We convene influential leaders and thinkers dedicated to fostering partnerships to advance Africa’s expanding role and strategic influence in a fragmented world. A strategic circle of influence — where ambition and execution meet discretion and efficiency — ECAN’s core mandate is to strengthen commercial ties and deepen innovation exchanges. Membership is by invitation only — and typically reserved for highly accomplished and distinguished leaders and experts.

To learn more, visit www.econclubafrica.org