By Sallieu S. Kanu
Her Worship the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, is set to be honored with the 2021 Lawrence C. Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize at a special ceremony hosted by the Penn Institute for Urban Research at the University of Pennsylvania, according to the Freetown City Council Communications.
The award presentation, delayed due to COVID-related restrictions, will take place during the Institute’s 20th Annual Urban Leadership Forum on April 25, 2025, in Philadelphia.
The event, open to the public, will be held at Meyerson Hall, Lower Gallery (210 S. 34th Street, Philadelphia) at 11 a.m. Other distinguished recipients include Patrick Harker, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and Enrique Peñalosa, renowned urban visionary and former two-term Mayor of Bogotá.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr is being recognized for her exceptional leadership in advancing resilient, sustainable, and inclusive urban development globally. Her transformative achievements in Freetown include the establishment of the city’s first-ever wastewater treatment plant, the digitalization and expansion of the property rate system, and the planting and monitoring of 1.2 million trees under the #FreetownTheTreeTown initiative.
The Lawrence C. Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to urban development and sustainability. Mayor Aki-Sawyerr’s work in Freetown has positioned her as a global leader in urban innovation, earning her this prestigious accolade.