To commemorate Luca Attanasio, the Ambassador who lost his life in a terror attack in Congo, on the day of his birthday, a plate dedicated to him was presented, and the Moroccan winners of the Mama Sofia Foundation sponsored scholarships provided by the online University eCampus, were announced.
Casablanca – Rome, 23 May 2023 – A ceremony was held today to dedicate the Palazzo Italia in Casablanca, the Consulate General of Italy seat in the Moroccan city, to Ambassador Luca Attanasio. The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Italy to Morocco Armando Barucco, the Founder and President of the Mama Sofia Foundation Zakia Seddiki Attanasio, in the presence of and streaming from the Farnesina. The Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carlo Lo Cascio and the Director General for Human Resources, Budget and Innovation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Renato Varriale, also attended the ceremony and spoke on behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani.
The ceremony, held on the anniversary of the birth of Ambassador Attanasio, who died in an assassination attempt in Congo, saw the unveiling of the plaque in his memory.
On this occasion, the Moroccan winners of the Luca Attanasio scholarships were announced following the call for applications published not only in Morocco but also in 11 other countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Ethiopia, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Tunisia. They are Bilal Msiyed, Hanan Tihitih and Zaid Bejal.
The Luca Attanasio Scholarship project is the brainchild of Zakia Seddiki Attanasio, founder and president of the Mama Sofia Foundation, in memory of Italian Ambassador Luca Attanasio and aims to promote higher education initiatives and, at the same time, the promotion of the Italian language and study system.
The project enjoys the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Education and Merit, and the Ministry of University and Research. It envisages the awarding of 43 scholarships and the same number of Italian courses for attaining B2 language certification offered by the online University eCampus. The Director General of eCampus University, Alfonso Lovito, spoke.
The initiative is also supported by ANPIT, Associazione Nazionale Per l’Industria e il Terziario (National Association for Industry and the Service Sector) – set up to support the development of companies and employment – and by Vexavit – the Swiss and Italian-based company specialising in sensor systems for telemedicine, transport, strategic infrastructures and people’s well-being.
