Visit of the Director-General of UNESCO to Côte d'Ivoire on the occasion of the Final of the 34th African Cup of Nations Football Championship CAN 2023

Director-General Audrey Azoulay met with President Alassane Ouattara on Saturday 10 February 2024 at his Residence in Abidjan. She expressed her satisfaction at the excellent cooperation between UNESCO and Côte d'Ivoire, particularly in the fields of education, teacher training, literacy, the transformation of the education system and culture, through its Priority Africa.

The Director-General of UNESCO praised Côte d'Ivoire's perfect organization of the CAN 2023 and the magnificent performance of the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire in this competition. Ms Audrey Azoulay expressed UNESCO's pride in having supported Côte d'Ivoire in this great continental event by organizing the "CAN des quartiers" with the municipal authorities. She reiterated UNESCO's commitment to continuing its support in building the CAN legacy to make Côte d'Ivoire a true model for the region in terms of sporting values, ethics and integrity.

The President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, H.E. Mr Alassane Ouattara, praised the close cooperation between Côte d'Ivoire and UNESCO in the fields of culture and education, and thanked the Director-General of UNESCO for her constant support for his country.

He recalled the importance for Côte d'Ivoire of the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny-UNESCO Peace Prize, which rewards living individuals and active public or private bodies or institutions that have made a significant contribution to promoting, seeking, safeguarding or maintaining peace, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitution of UNESCO.

Finally, H.E. Mr Ouattara thanked the Director-General of UNESCO for her presence in Abidjan on the occasion of the Final of the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations.

On Sunday 11 February 2024 at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Ebimpé, the Director-General of UNESCO attended the final of the African Cup of Nations Football Championship (CAN 2023) won by the Elephants of Côte d'Ivoire against the Super Eagles of Nigeria (2 goals to 1).

The Managing Director visited the COCOVICO market in Abidjan, renowned for the dynamism of the women of the Cocody Cooperative for the Marketing of Food Products (COCOVICO).

Ms Audrey Azoulay took the opportunity of her presence in Abidjan to visit the Magic System Foundation on 10 February 2024 to discuss the Foundation's commitment to UNESCO and the launch of the song "Education in the Air" with Salif Traoré known A'Salfo, a popular artist of Ivorian nationality and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. His internationally renowned group Magic System is the author and co-interpreter with Yémi Aladé (Nigeria) and Mohamed Ramadan (Egypt) of the song Akwaba, the anthem of the CAN 2023.

"Education in the Air" is a cover version of the hit song "Magic in the Air" by the group Magic System, donated to UNESCO. It has been rewritten by UNESCO and Magic System to celebrate education as the key to a better world. The song will be launched on social networks with dance steps inviting the world to join in the celebration. It comes just in time for the launch of the "African Union Year of Education 2024" on 17 February 2024 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, during the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.