Théophile Nata
Encyclopedia
Théophile Nata is a Benin
ese politician and a former member of the Pan-African Parliament
.
Catholic
Primary School for four years starting in 1954 and ended in 1960. He graduated from the Sainte Jeanne d' Arc de Oudah, Southern Benin
after seven years.
He studied French and literature for two years at the Higher Education Centre of Lomé
, Togo
, as well as at Abidjan University in Côte d'Ivoire
and the Sorbonne
. He received a Master's Degree
which dealt with colonisation and decolonisation in the novels of Aimé Césaire
.
Nata acquired a PhD in Comparative Literature at the Sorbonne in 1976 He obtained a Bachelor's Degree
, a Master of Arts
and a Postgraduate diploma
from the International Institute of Phonetics, Paris III University. He was appointed Associate Professor of French Language, Literature and Linguistics at the National University of Benin in 1976 as well.
to Algeria
and then as Ambassador of Benin to the United States.
He was a participant in the 1990 National Conference and was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
of Benin's transitional government that same year. In 1991, he was made Commander of the National Order of Benin.
Nata served as Minister of Youth and Sports from 1991 to 1993. He founded a political party in 1992. He was elected to the National Assembly
in the 1995 parliamentary election
and was elected by the National Assembly as its Second Vice-President. In 1999, he was appointed Minister of Rural Development; he
gained the rank of High Officer of the National Order of Benin in 2000.
From 2001 to 2003, he served as Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. He was again elected as a deputy in the National Assembly in the March 2003 parliamentary election
.
Nata has served in the Pan-African Parliament since 2004. Following the death of Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere
in 2005, he became Fourth Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament.
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
ese politician and a former member of the Pan-African Parliament
Pan-African Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament , also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union and held its inaugural session in March 2004. The PAP exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers, lasting for the first five years...
.
Education
Nata attended NatitingouNatitingou
Natitingou is a city and commune in north western Benin. It is about 50 km from Benin's Pendjari National Park, where tourists can see West African wildlife during the months of December through June...
Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Primary School for four years starting in 1954 and ended in 1960. He graduated from the Sainte Jeanne d' Arc de Oudah, Southern Benin
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
after seven years.
He studied French and literature for two years at the Higher Education Centre of Lomé
Lomé
Lomé, with an estimated population of 737,751, is the capital and largest city of Togo. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, Lomé is the country's administrative and industrial center and its chief port. The city exports coffee, cocoa, copra, and palm kernels...
, Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
, as well as at Abidjan University in Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
and the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. He received a Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
which dealt with colonisation and decolonisation in the novels of Aimé Césaire
Aimé Césaire
Aimé Fernand David Césaire was a French poet, author and politician from Martinique. He was "one of the founders of the négritude movement in Francophone literature".-Student, educator, and poet:...
.
Nata acquired a PhD in Comparative Literature at the Sorbonne in 1976 He obtained a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and a Postgraduate diploma
Postgraduate diploma
A postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate qualification awarded typically after a bachelor's degree. It can be contrasted with a graduate diploma...
from the International Institute of Phonetics, Paris III University. He was appointed Associate Professor of French Language, Literature and Linguistics at the National University of Benin in 1976 as well.
International and governmental work
Nata was the co-coordinator of the AGECOOP Project within the Directorate of National Commissions and Councils. He became director of the Asia Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in 1978. In 1988, Nata was appointed as Benin's AmbassadorAmbassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and then as Ambassador of Benin to the United States.
He was a participant in the 1990 National Conference and was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Benin's transitional government that same year. In 1991, he was made Commander of the National Order of Benin.
Nata served as Minister of Youth and Sports from 1991 to 1993. He founded a political party in 1992. He was elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of Benin
The unicameral National Assembly of Benin is the country's legislative body.The current National Assembly has 83 members who are directly elected through a system of party-list proportional representation and serve five-year terms.-See also:...
in the 1995 parliamentary election
Beninese parliamentary election, 1995
Elections for the National Assembly were held in Benin on 28 March 1995. Voting for 13 seats was re-run on 28 May after the Supreme Court had invalidated the results due to irregularities. Voter turnout was 75.8%.-Results:...
and was elected by the National Assembly as its Second Vice-President. In 1999, he was appointed Minister of Rural Development; he
gained the rank of High Officer of the National Order of Benin in 2000.
From 2001 to 2003, he served as Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. He was again elected as a deputy in the National Assembly in the March 2003 parliamentary election
Beninese parliamentary election, 2003
A parliamentary election was held in Benin in 30 March 2003. The 83 seats in the National Assembly of Benin were split between twelve parties and two main alliances....
.
Nata has served in the Pan-African Parliament since 2004. Following the death of Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere
Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere
Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere was a Beninese politician. He was the Fourth Vice-President of the African Union's Pan-African Parliament....
in 2005, he became Fourth Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament.