Mo Ibrahim
Mo Ibrahim
Dr Mohamed "Mo" Ibrahimis a Sudanese-British mobile communications entrepreneur and billionaire. He worked for several other telecommunications companies before founding Celtel, which when sold had over 24 million mobile phone subscribers in 14 African countries. After selling Celtel in 2005 for $3.4 billion, he set up the Mo Ibrahim Foundation to encourage better governance in Africa, as well as creating the Mo Ibrahim Index, to evaluate nations' performance. He is also a member of the Africa Regional Advisory Board of...
NationalitySudanese
ProfessionBusinessman
CountrySudan
Mo Ibrahim quotes about
Mobile communications had been around for a long time, but always as a limited market, constrained by the radio spectrum.
Before any investor goes into any country, he is looking for the exit door.
The African Development Bank is one of the most aggressive advocates of regional integration.
Celtel established a mobile phone network in Africa at a time when investors told me that there was no market for mobile phones there.
Remarkably, governments are beginning to embrace the idea that nothing enhances democracy more than giving voice and information to everybody in the country. Why not open their books if they have nothing to hide?
Rule of law is the most important element in any civil society.
Business people get many undeserved prizes - golden parachutes and bonuses even when companies fail. I don't think people should get rewarded for screwing up.
Compared to developed countries, or even to some major emerging countries, burdened by aging populations, financial crises, widening budget deficits, faltering faith in politics and growing social demands, Africa has become the world's last 'New Frontier:' a kind of 'it-continent.'
A narrative that branded Africa as little more than an economic, political and social basket case was not likely to provide the investment needed to drive development.
Business is global. Countries need to react to that; taxes need to be paid where profit arises.
I really don't have heroes in business; I never looked up at business people.
Botswana had three successive good presidents who served their legal terms, who did well for their countries - three, not one.
Young people are better educated. They grew up in a society which is well connected, well informed. They are able to communicate to one another, to know what is happening.
Now is the time for Afro-realism: for sound policies based on honest data, aimed at delivering results.