Alumnus and foreign ambassador presents guest lecture
The Republic of Guinea’s Ambassador to the UK visited Keele University last week - 25 years after he left as a graduating student.
Speaking to a packed room, His Excellency Paul Goa Zoumanigui delivered a guest lecture on the international community’s response to the 2014/15 Ebola crisis and his role as a London-based diplomat during this time.
Mr Zoumanigui graduated with an MA in Diplomatic Studies from Keele University, 1991-1992, and spoke to current Politics, Philosophy, International Relations and Environment (SPIRE) students about his career since leaving Keele University and the importance of global health diplomacy.
He said: “I consider Keele as my home, it’s in my heart and I’d like to thank SPIRE and my former teacher Lorna for welcoming me back.
“When I received the proposal to come and talk on a subject of my choice I decided on Ebola, a very topical important issue. Ebola was first identified in Guinea in March 2015 and during the Ebola crisis global health diplomacy was critical in foreign affairs and of great importance to the UN and foreign policy.
“This collaboration between countries and global communication was unprecedented and Ebola created the first UN mission for a world health response. From this experience practises have now emerged on how to tackle a health crisis on a global level.
“It is my hope this lecture will help inspire students in the pursuit of global health diplomacy.”
Mr Zoumanigui’s diplomatic service has included senior political positions at the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa in Gabon and the Secretariat of the Economic Community of Central African States; holding deputy ambassadorships in Canada and Guinea’s permanent mission to the UN in New York; and serving as Political and Diplomatic Adviser to Guinea’s Head of State.
Mr Zoumanigui also answered students’ and guests’ questions including how the Ebola outbreak affected his role.
He explained: “When I became Ambassador of Guinea I never thought I would be focusing on one single health issue, but as a diplomat it’s important to have basic information of a lot things. I found the coordination and communication between countries very difficult but it was an unprecedented case and there was no guidance.”
Mr Zoumanigui’s former lecturer Dr Lorna Lloyd, a Senior Research Fellow in International Relations in SPIRE, said: “Paul is remembered as a very good student and a popular man; it’s no surprise that he went onto have such an impressive career. I’m grateful to Paul for visiting Keele and speaking to our students, and to Lancine Sacko, the President of the Guinea community in the UK and Alassane Gomis, a member of the embassy who accompanied Paul. The lecture emphasised and demonstrated the value of international cooperation.”
Whilst at Keele Mr Zoumanigui met with Vice Chancellor Professor Trevor McMillan, Professor Richard Luther Dean of Internationalisation, Professor Christian Mallen (IPCHS) and Kate Whiston (IRD) and discussed the synergies between Keele's research in Primary Care and the development of healthcare in Guinea.
Global Health is one of the key research themes underpinning a number of Keele’s international partnerships and His Excellency’s experience as a diplomat working in a health crisis highlights the importance of and opportunities for interdisciplinary research. Keele is keen to explore ways in which it can support capacity building and care after crisis in Guinea through partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Paul Zoumanigui is pictured with Dr Lorna Lloyd and recent Keele graduate Aiah Kpakiwa, from Sierra Leone.