Deputy Secretary-General's remarks at Mo Ibrahim Foundation Leadership Ceremony [as prepared for delivery].

His Excellency President Ouattara, Her Excellency, the First Lady, Former Heads of State [there are too many to here this evening to name], Ibrahim Laureates , Honorable Ministers, Mo Ibrahim Foundation Board Members, Colleagues, friends, brothers and sisters, Future leaders of tomorrow,

Dear Mo,

Thank you for convening this event and giving us a reason to gather such an amazing group of leaders and young people from all corners of Africa and the world.

Dear friends,

I am honoured to join you here at the world-renowned Ibrahim Governance Weekend. I can think of no better way to start than with this special tribute to Kofi Annan.

The film we have just seen captures Kofi in all his multifaceted glory - the diplomat, the mentor, the quietly forceful speaker, the compassionate human being.

It was hard to pick from among the highlights, but I was especially struck by the young woman who said that Kofi had 'opened my eyes for the first time to how far and promising the way could be for an African'. That is a standard to which we should all aspire.

Mo, I know Kofi was your guest at the governance weekend two years ago, and that he contributed greatly to the work of your Foundation and Prize Committee. He was, as you said upon his passing last August, 'a comrade in arms in the fight for better governance and rule of law in Africa'.

Thank you for bringing us all together in his honour tonight, and for focusing this weekend on some key challenges that engaged Kofi across his life -- youth, migration and leadership.

We are privileged to have Kojo Annan here with us. Dear Kojo and cherished members of the Annan family, let me express once again our condolences on your loss - which was also, so painfullly, the UN's loss and the world's loss.

Kojo, you saw the outpouring of love and admiration last September at the memorial ceremony we held at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The General Assembly Hall was filled to capacity with people but most importantly with memories. And in the days that followed, as world leaders took the podium for the annual General Debate, leader after leader voiced their sadness at his passing, their appreciation for his achievements, and their high regard for his service to the world.

Kojo, thank you for continuing to sustain Kofi's legacy through the Kofi Annan Foundation.

For the United Nations, Kofi was the right person at the right time. We all recall the turmoil of the immediate post-cold war period. But the end of...