The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has been appointed Vice President of the African Lotteries Association (ALA).

Abdul-Salam’s appointment follows the resignation of the immediate past Director-General of the NLA, Samuel Awuku, who was elected Vice President of ALA on March 8, 2024.

Upon Abdul-Salam’s appointment as the new Director-General of the NLA, the ALA Board of Directors unanimously approved him to the Executive Committee to serve the remainder of Awuku’s term.

During an online ALA Executive Meeting, ALA President Dramane Coulibaly and members of the Executive Committee congratulated Abdul-Salam and welcomed him to the team.

Following his appointment, Abdul-Salam paid a working visit to the NLA’s sister lottery organization, Loterie Nationale De Côte D’Ivoire (LONACI), where he was warmly received by its Director-General, Dramane Coulibaly, who also serves as the ALA President.

In his new role as Vice President, Abdul-Salam expressed gratitude for the appointment and acknowledged the strong relationship between the NLA and LONACI. He pledged to build upon the work of his predecessor, Samuel Awuku, and strengthen collaboration between the two lottery bodies.

“I am most grateful to the President of ALA and the Executive Committee for my elevation to ALA Vice President. I pledge to work closely with them to address the concerns of our member bodies and fulfill the Association’s goals,” Abdul-Salam stated.

The NLA Director-General also commended LONACI’s successful strategies for boosting revenue and sustaining its operations, stating that he plans to incorporate some of these best practices into the NLA’s operations.

Dramane Coulibaly expressed his excitement over Abdul-Salam’s visit, calling it a testament to the excellent relationship between the NLA and LONACI.

He also shared insights on combating illegal lottery operations and assured Abdul-Salam of his full support in his new role.

During his visit, Abdul-Salam attended a ceremony where LONACI received its WLA Level 2 Certification in Responsible Gaming.

According to Coulibaly, this certification helps identify gaps and ensures compliance with responsible gaming principles.

“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 to the fact that LONACI has successfully undergone a critical self-assessment to identify the challenges it must address to fully comply with Responsible Gaming principles,” Coulibaly stated.

The WLA Level 2 Certificate was presented to LONACI by ALA’s Permanent Secretary, Driss Hamdoune, who emphasized that the recognition highlights LONACI’s dedication to creating a safer, more transparent, and more responsible gaming environment.

Abdul-Salam congratulated LONACI on this achievement and wished them success as they prepared to advance toward Level 3 Certification.