The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has been appointed Vice President of the African Lotteries Association (ALA).
His appointment follows the resignation of the immediate past Director-General of NLA, Hon. Samuel Awuku, who was elected ALA Vice President on March 8, 2024. With Mr. Abdul-Salam assuming leadership at the NLA, the ALA Board of Directors unanimously approved his inclusion in the Executive Committee to serve the remainder of Hon. Awuku’s term.
During an online ALA Executive Meeting, President Mr. Dramane Coulibaly and other committee members congratulated Mr. Abdul-Salam and warmly welcomed him to the Executive Committee.
Following his appointment, Mr. Abdul-Salam paid a working visit to the Loterie Nationale De Côte d’Ivoire (LONACI), where he was received by its Director-General, Mr. Dramane Coulibaly, who also serves as African Lotteries President.
Expressing gratitude for his new role, Mr. Abdul-Salam acknowledged the strong relationship between NLA and LONACI.
He pledged to build on the achievements of his predecessor and work closely with ALA leadership to strengthen partnerships among member organizations.
“I am most grateful to the President of ALA and the Executive Committee for my elevation as ALA Vice President. I pledge to work hand in hand with them to address our member bodies’ concerns and fulfill the Association’s goals,” he stated.
During his visit, Mr. Abdul-Salam gained insights into best practices that have contributed to LONACI’s revenue growth and business sustainability. He expressed his commitment to adopting similar strategies to enhance NLA’s operations.
Mr. Coulibaly commended Mr. Abdul-Salam for his visit, describing it as a testament to the strong collaboration between NLA and LONACI. He shared key strategies for combating illegal lottery operations and assured him of continued support in his new role.
Additionally, Mr. Abdul-Salam attended a ceremony where LONACI received its WLA Level 2 Certification in Responsible Gaming. Mr. Coulibaly stressed the significance of the certification, emphasizing that it reflects LONACI’s dedication to upholding the principles of responsible gaming as outlined by the World Lottery Association (WLA).
“The certificate we have received today is proof, if proof were needed, of our commitment to respecting the principles of Responsible Gaming, as laid down by the World Lottery Association (WLA).”
“It attests that LONACI has successfully undergone a critical self-assessment to identify the challenges it must address to comply fully with Responsible Gaming standards,” Mr. Coulibaly stated.
The WLA Level 2 Certificate was presented to LONACI by ALA Permanent Secretary Mr. Driss Hamdoune, who praised LONACI’s efforts in fostering a safer, more transparent, and responsible gaming environment.
Mr. Abdul-Salam congratulated LONACI on this achievement and wished them success as they embark on the process for Level 3 Certification.
