11 Jun 2013 Special Lecture: Mo Ibrahim on Governance in Africa

Governance Matters for Africa - And For Everybody Else!

Africa is a rich continent but Africans are poor. Why should this be so?

On Tuesday 11 June, the Blavatnik School of Government hosted a special lecture by Dr Mo Ibrahim, in which he explored the reasons for Africa’s challenges and what can be done to overcome them.

Dr Ibrahim believes the reason for Africa’s challenges arrives through the mis-management of our countries over the past 60 years since independence. But there is a way out of poverty, for governments to work on building institutions, focusing on the delivery of services, establishing of rule of law and citizens’ rights, and developing natural resources for the benefit of all citizens. These are the essence of good governance, which is what all Africans should expect from its leaders.

Dr Mo Ibrahim is a Sudanese-born global expert in mobile communications with a distinguished academic and business career.

In 1998, he founded Celtel International, of one of Africa’s most successful companies. In 2006, Dr Ibrahim launched the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to support good governance and great leadership in Africa. Through the Foundation and a range of global initiatives, Dr Ibrahim plays a leading advocacy role on issues of African development and governance.

• Dr Ibrahim has received a number of awards which recognise his work as an academic, businessman and philanthropist. He received the Chairman’s Award for Lifetime Achievement from the GSM Association (2007); The Economist Innovation Award for Social & Economic Innovation (2007); the BNP Paribas Prize for Philanthropy (2008); the CBC Africa Business Award for Lifetime Achievement (2008); the FIRST International Award for Responsible Capitalism (2008); the Oslo Business for Peace Award (2009); the African Leadership Business Leader of the Year Award (2009); the Raymond Georis Prize for Innovative Philanthropy in Europe (2010); the Clinton Global Citizen award (2010); the Millennium Excellence Award for Actions in Africa (2012), David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2012) and the Africare Leadership Award (awarded in April 2013).