Mo Ibrahim
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Mo Ibrahim (1946 — ) is a Sudanese-born British mobile communications entrepreneur and founder of Celtel.
Mohamed Ibrahim undertook higher studies in Egypt, which brought him an engineering degree at the University of Alexandria. He then returned to his home country to work for the state operator, Sudan Telecom. At the age of 26, he moved to the United Kingdom to study for a masters degree at the University of Birmingham. [1]
Ibrahim worked for British Telecom before founding MSI a consultancy and software company, which was bought by Marconi in 2000, before launching an African mobile phone company, Celtel, and amassing a personal fortune estimated at more than $650m. He sold CelTel to the Kuwait-based MTC for $3.4bn (£1.8bn) in 2005.
[edit] Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership
In 2006, Ibrahim launched the Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. At $5 million, plus $200,000 a year for life, the prize is the world's largest, exceeding the $1.3m Nobel Peace Prize.
The award will go to African heads of state who deliver security, health, education and economic development to their constituents, and who democratically transfer power to their successor. [2] Harvard University will be involved in the process of assessing nominess.
Nelson Mandela, former US President Bill Clinton and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan are among those who have welcomed the initiative. [3]
[edit] References
- ^ Interview with Mo Ibrahim, founder and Chairman of Celtel Celtel home page
- ^ Mandela backs $5m award for leaders Mail & Guardian
- ^ Prize offered to Africa's leaders BBC
[edit] External links
- Mo Ibrahim interview New Statesman
- Official Foundation Website
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