Fans should not be surprised to hear Rihanna talking on an international platform about educational initiatives for Barbados, inviting persons to visit her homeland, or chatting up conglomerates on the benefits of investing in the island.
Devotees of this renowned figure can now expect to see the Bajan songstress in these roles because the Barbados government last week named the international chart topper and winner of eight Grammys, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, with specific responsibility for promoting education, tourism and investment for the island.
“She has … demonstrated, beyond her success as a pop icon, significant creative acumen and shrewdness in business. It is therefore fitting that we engage and empower her to play a more definitive role as we work to transform Barbados,” Prime Minister Mia Mottley said of this world-famous Bajan.
“Rihanna has a deep love for this country and this is reflected in her philanthropy, especially in the areas of health and education. She also shows her patriotism in the way she gives back to this country and continues to treasure the island as her home,” Mottley said and added that Rihanna’s charitable contributions, locally and internationally are significant.
Shortly after the announcement Minister of Tourism, Kerry Symmonds, gleefully began forecasting benefits to this main industry to the island with Rihanna as its representative.
He said that the Barbadian superstar could use her millions of followers and heavy
social media presence to promote the Barbados.
“I couldn’t be more proud to take on such a prestigious title in my home country. Every Barbadian is going to have to play their role in this current effort, and I’m ready and excited to take on the responsibility. I look forward to working with Prime Minister Mottley and her team to reimagine Barbados,” Government Information Service quoted the superstar stating.
But Robyn ‘Rihanna’ Fenty, the holder of two Brit Awards, nine No. 1 hits in the United Kingdom, and 14 top singles on the US Billboard chart, is no stranger to business and promoting education on the worldwide stage.
She has made waves with her multi-million-dollar range of ‘Fenty’ beauty products and line of fashion wear.’
She has financed education scholarships among Caribbean territories and is on an international mission promoting education for young people.
“The lack of access to education for children around the world is a massive problem, but that does not mean we should throw up our hands in despair and surrender,” she wrote in the UK Guardian newspaper this week. “Instead, we need to take on as much of the challenge as we can manage to set an example and see the difference.
“This is what has driven me to prioritise global education in my philanthropy and advocacy work… Education is a life-long journey.”
