Albina Assis Africano

Right from the start we are greeted with a sincere smile, embracing the vigorous side she holds within herself. Almost as many positions as people have passed by Albina Assis, perhaps it was this that turned her into a good storyteller. Cultured and perfectionist, the engineer quickly falls into the mould of a model woman: a convinced defender of human rights, a leader, the first woman in the country to hold the position of Minister for Oil, an extensive CV, golfer, housewife, mother and grandmother. With a life full of choices and sacrifices, Albina opens the doors of her home to V&G, to talk about everything. From the role of Angolan women, to the oil and food industry, the future of young people, Angola’s development, and personal dreams and achievements. This is an interview without filters, driven by the critical spirit of one of the figures most cherished by the Angolan people. 

You started out as a physics and chemistry teacher. Did you ever imagine becoming the Chairman of Sonangol, Minister for Oil, Minister for Industry and advisor to the President of the Republic?
I never imagined it, because people never study to become ministers. I began by doing some teaching. At the time, finding a job in engineering was not easy. I also remember that at the age of 13 I was already tutoring because I loved mathematics and physics and chemistry, which were difficult for many people. I even helped prepare people in my family to take their entrance exams to secondary school. Later, when I was already teaching, I began to charge for the tutoring to earn more money. From those who had financial means, I asked for more; I didn’t charge anything from the poor. This is all to say that we never graduate thinking that we’re going to be in the government. Besides, my idea was always to remain in the technical sector. I was involved in politics in my youth, but the technical sector was what I really wanted. 
When I was already working at PetroFina, in the field that I identified with, I received an invitation from the government and, at the time, being a militant of my party, I couldn’t say no. It was a radical change, from one day to the other. It was a bit difficult for me. But I accepted the challenge and it ended up being a great surprise, because I never thought things would turn out so positively. Of course, there are good days and bad days, but it went more or less well. I didn’t spend much time at Sonangol and I spent about two years on the board of directors. Then I was invited to join the government and that’s when things became more complicated. It’s the responsibilities, the criticism... And the thing is that we’re not very prepared to hear criticism. I tried to do my best, but we all make mistakes during our professional life. Many people say that I was a good minister. There are always some in favour and some against, and the fact is that I took a position specially made for men, so it wasn’t very nice for some people. The role of a woman in such a position is not well accepted. When I graduated as an engineer, I worked with men, in a refinery, and I did practically everything they did. If they went up 50 metres, I went up too. If they went down or opened a valve, so did I. I still have some calluses from opening valves. But coming back to the government, it used to be believed that only men knew how to think and how to command, but today the world is different. We have seen, even from the previous party, that things have changed. At the moment we have a female Vice-President of the Republic, women in management positions, boards and provincial governments, which proves that the role of women in decision making is becoming more important.  

Are you proud to see Angolan women now in a position to succeed in terms of the work market?
For me it is a source of pride. We do not have to be afraid of taking the place that we deserve, as long as we strive to fill it in the best possible way, with capability. I’m also not a supporter of the idea that, just because you’re a woman, you have to fill that position. No. A woman should hold the position with capability. I remember that when I entered the government, I spent Sundays reading laws, looking at the documentation, trying to interpret them. I would not leave the house. And, in the end, this gave me more strength to move forward and get to where I could. 

Out of all the roles you have taken on, what was the most difficult decision you have ever made?
It was when I was working at the refinery. I found myself in a situation where I had to stop a strike and tell the Angolan workers that I would replace them with Filipinos. It's shocking to have to say that, but the country was in no condition to support a strike in the oil sector. We were in a war situation and we needed fuel. As soon as we switched to multipartyism, people thought they were living in an anarchy and were not prepared to face either multipartyism or the aftermath that was the beginning of democracy, so they thought they could do anything. We have strengthened the strike law, but this law also carries responsibilities. At the time, we didn’t yet have enough unions to support the effects of the strike and I think this was one of the most difficult decisions I ever had to make. Afterwards I eventually spoke to the workers and told them that what they had to do was a workers’ committee, which would be taken to senior management for analysis. But I never had a need to fire staff, even during my time in the ministry. 

Do you feel that was the phase when you had to be harder on people?
I try to understand people. Of course, sometimes I have to be hard, but it is for obvious reasons and because the circumstances demand it. Our behaviour cannot jeopardise our country. In the refinery, I have always had good employees and workers, but working in a refinery is not easy. It is hard for anyone. I remember sometimes leaving at 10 p.m., late at night, out there. You have no idea what the old Roque Santeiro was, but those who experienced it understand. I would walk out there, cross Roque Santeiro, alone in the car... It wasn’t easy, but I did this many times. While passing by, I would see people with guns and I would pretend not to see, I would just put my foot on the accelerator to get home fast. The refinery was quite far from where I live. Nowadays, the roads are different and it's much quicker.  

Were those moments also what made you a stronger woman?
They toughen you up, it’s true. Once, I was with a colleague in the middle of Sambizanga and the car broke down. I told her: «Let’s not be afraid.» Then we stopped the car, while we tried to find out if the problem was a lack of fuel, and a man appeared. We asked him for help. I remember my colleague said to me: «You’re brave.» But the truth is that if I had been afraid, it would have been worse. Another time, the car broke down. Parts here, parts there. And I looked around. There were no taxis and I began to wonder what I was going to do with my life. In the meantime, a gentleman passed by, who noticed that I was distressed, and he fixed my car. This proves that there is also a lot of solidarity with people. The world is made up of bad people, but also of good people. This is what gives me the strength to continue to react positively.

«Our future lies in agriculture»

Has being a woman ever limited you?
I have never felt limited, but sometimes you come across situations that make you so... For example, there are countries where, due to their culture, you should never greet a woman. I was once in a situation where there was a minister at a presentation that I was going to give in South Africa, who was from a Muslim country. And he asked to inform me that he could not shake hands with me. I respected this, because I understood the reason. I couldn’t oppose him, because it was correct for his culture. Then, at the end of the day, I was handed a picture in my room accompanied by a box of dates. It was that minister, who gave it to me as a sign of respect and affection.  

What are the challenges facing Angolan women in the current socio-economic climate?
The challenge for the woman is to contribute to development. In order to do so she needs to improve her education and training, as well as not limit herself to one field. In fact, she has the capacity to work in all possible sectors. These days, statistics also tell us a lot, including the fact that there are more women in universities than men. I believe that Angolan women are on the right track. Now, it is necessary to put an end to the thought that only by selling their body can they make money. Each person is free to use their body as they wish, but this should be avoided, because it can lead to harmful diseases. They choose this life very young and then, when they want to have children, they can’t. It’s in these small things that I think there should be more work done in the media to guide young people. I feel sorry for young people, because adult people already know how to lead their lives. 

Speaking to the media, you appealed to the young people to value the country’s independence more, because «it was not given, but was won by Angolans with much blood and much sacrifice». Do you see potential in the young people who are beginning to emerge?
Unfortunately, I don’t see the potential that I’d like to see. Independence was won with the blood and sacrifice of many Angolans. Today, young people don’t care. How many warriors have fallen? How many intellectuals? How many fell so that the homeland would be free? Our young people must understand that it was not an easy path, either for the Angolans, or for the Portuguese. It was not an independence handed to us on a silver platter. There have been countries that had practically no fight, using negotiation and discussion. That was not what happened in our country. Angola’s independence was, as I call it, a hard-fought and difficult birth. That is why our young people should be trained, working and supporting. We are already leaving and it is they who will be driving this country. Either they prepare themselves properly and understand the meaning of independence or else Angola will not take significant steps towards progress. 

Are you afraid of what might happen?
A little, although I believe in the youth. But sometimes the problem of easy money can lead these generations down bad paths. Those who are not educated might be the easiest targets.

In 2010, in an interview with V&G, you said that the «future of Angola lies in agriculture». Almost 14 years later, do you still think the same way?
I still think the same. Angola is a country that has probably only used about 10 or 15% of its land, which means that there is still 80/85% left for agricultural use. Everything is good in this country. Angola’s soil is a gift, everything grows, everything appears, everything emerges, so our future lies in agriculture. For this to happen, we need to move from home production to industrialised production. In a first phase, you increase production and industrialise the products for internal consumption. Then, at a later stage, you focus on exports. 
In the past, we exported sugar to Europe. Nowadays, we have to buy. We also had so much coffee. We used to be the second or third largest coffee producer in the world. Now? We have to buy it. Angola will only evolve when industrialisation grows. It’s also beneficial in terms of job creation, because industrialisation also increases jobs. Now, if I buy the uniforms, which are cheap, I take the bag, buy, hang it up and sell it, but I’m not training anyone, neither seamstresses, nor dressmakers... I’m not preparing anything. 
At my age, I’ve been through two systems. In the colonial system, in the first part of the 1950s, we imported everything from Portugal. Then, all of a sudden, they decided to start producing in Angola, with a programme called PPA (Prefer Angolan Products). This is when sausages made in Angola appeared, ham... The only reason we didn’t make wine was because Salazar wouldn’t allow it. In the final years, we were already producing butter and cheese. All these things were produced here. And Angola has to take it up again. Of course, it’s not easy, because we had a major depression in industrial output, but we can pick up again. When I was Minister for Industry, I tried to do something, but I wasn’t understood enough. My idea was to try to join forces to kick start industrialisation. Agriculture accompanies food production and could even contribute to poverty reduction, because food would be cheaper and less fortunate people could also have access to it. We also have to understand countries when they are developing, things do not change overnight. But today I already see things on the right track. Not long ago I went to a fair with products made in Angola. Things are slowly starting to find their way.

«I believe that Angolan women are on the right track»

You often speak of the shortages that exist in the food sector. What needs to be done to reverse this situation?
Production needs to be increased in every province, meaning, each one with its own level of production, but where there is almost everything everywhere... Here in the south, we have wheat, as well as corn and a range of products, in such a way that we can create conditions so that all people, especially children, are not malnourished. Angola can overcome malnutrition, with work and with the support of social educators and nutritionists. Sometimes people just don’t know what to do, but they have to work, to farm, in short, to conquer. It’s not the state that has to hand everything out on a silver platter, nor the Red Cross. That is the message I usually pass on to young people.  

And in the oil sector, is Angola up to speed on sustainability?
I, at least, am. Sustainability is a necessity, because no country will continue to grow until 2030/2050 if we do not take sustainability into account. Well, when I was Minister for Oil, oil was not what it is today. I became the Minister at a time when oil was at USD 20 and the barrel was at USD 8. Today, I see oil at USD 78. So, this means that there are revenues that can be used to benefit other renewable sectors. And here we have a process of sustainability. We have to move over to new energies, slowly. Environmental sustainability has to be taken into consideration at a global level, whether in poor or rich countries. Here in Angola, fortunately, we have already begun to invest in new energies, with solar power plants. Photovoltaic energy has great potential. And we can also have wind energy, as we have a desert area with a lot of wind. We can have wave energy... And hydroelectric energy is possible with the dams that we have. So, Angola has the capacity to enter into environmental sustainability, but gradually, because, of course, there are always costs involved.  

Do you feel that the world has been paying attention to the steps that the country has taken?
Yes, Angola has taken significant steps towards change. When we see a country like the United States of America approaching Angola and investing in the country, we realise that the world is not sleeping. We also have solid relations with China, a country that helped us at a difficult time in our lives. In the post-war era Angola got no response, either from Europe or America, and that was when China took significant steps together with Angola. Just like China, America has never left us. In the first years when I was minister, major oil exploration was carried out by American companies. Angola has never ceased to be seen as a country with a future. And I hope that relations with Portugal will continue. It is an apt country and, whether we like it or not, it is a brother. We always walk hand in hand with it.

What worries you most about Angola’s future?
I worry that we will stop improving. I believe that we have to move quickly towards development and new technologies. Just today I was talking about artificial intelligence, of which I am a little afraid, but we really have no other choice but to keep up with new technologies. Otherwise, we will lag behind, as if it were a marathon. It is very good that Angola is running in the marathon. Even if it does not manage to get to the front, it is already winning just by entering the race.  

What scares you most about artificial intelligence?
The idea that our thoughts can be replaced by machines scares me. Maybe I’m also quite old and maybe I can’t interpret these things well. I believe it will be a great help in the medical field. But, even so, I’m a little wary. Maybe it just isn’t for my time any more. Artificial intelligence is like everything else, it has its good and bad sides. The reduction in employment worries me, for example, although there is talk of a new work philosophy: the wage without employment. Still, progress can lead us into the abyss, but let’s see, it may be more promising than we think.

You have supported Angola’s history, culture, education and economy. Do you consider yourself an ambassador of the country?
I believe that I am an ambassador when I go abroad to do an Expo, because I effectively take everything that is best about Angola with me. I take the history, culture, traditions, gastronomy, music, dance, painting... I have even been invited to be an ambassador, but I declined. Even so, I carry the country close to my heart and do my best to promote economic diplomacy. Angola needs serious investors to help it make the qualitative leap towards development.

«Angola needs serious investors»

We know that you always have time for golf. What attracts you most to this sport?
Golf is part of my life and I say so in all honesty. I started about 30 years ago. I’m not a great golfer, but I love to play. I feel good on a golf course, it seems that what we call depression disappears. At this year’s edition of the Villas&Golfe International Cup I enjoyed a happy Saturday, even though I didn’t play. I wasn’t prepared to take any shots, but the golfing atmosphere is always very familiar. Everyone gets on, regardless of rank and social position. We are all golfers when we are there. That’s what makes me happy and, honestly, I’m sad that I don’t have the financial means to transform the Luanda golf course into a course similar to the one in Mangais. But I still have hopes that one day I will find an investor who will help me turn that golf course into a real one, like we would like to see.

Are you the only one in your family or is there any other family member who also enjoys golf?
My late husband used to play with me. Now I have influenced a son. And I might pull someone else in. Maybe a grandchild. Because golf, even though it might look it, represents peace. It’s not violent, in fact, it’s a sport that gives you a certain freedom and peace of mind. So, I hope that V&G will continue for a long time with its tournaments.  

Besides being a golf enthusiast and a shoe lover, you have always taken refuge in books. You even dreamt of writing a book about the Expos. Do you still hope to fulfil that dream?
I hope to, yes. I want to write about the history of Angola at the Expos, we have very interesting content. In all the Expos there is something new, it is a world of wonders, of annoyances, but also of satisfaction. It has been a source of inspiration and motivation for my life. I think it gives me strength.  

What is a day like in the life of Albina Assis?
My everyday life is work because I have not managed to learn how to do anything else. I am already 77 years old, but I continue to work and I feel good doing it.  

What legacy do you hope to leave the country of Angola?
I hope to leave the notion of what training and education really is, along with the respect for work and for others. All of this dignifies and it is from there that we gain respect everywhere in the world. It is through our behaviour and our way of being that we earn respect. I also confess that I never thought I would reach this age and be known around the world.