Riyaale should be nominated for the Ibrahim Prize

[Chief_Aaqil]

THE IBRAHIM PRIZE

 

http://www.moibrahimfoundation.org/en/section/the-ibrahim-prize

 

The Ibrahim Prize recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership. The prize is awarded to a democratically elected former African Executive Head of State or Government who has served their term in office within the limits set by the country's constitution and has left office in the last three years.

 

The Ibrahim Prize consists of US$5million over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter. It is the largest annually awarded prize in the world. The Foundation will consider granting a further $200,000 per year, for 10 years, towards public interest activities and good causes espoused by the winner.

 

The winner of the Ibrahim Prize is selected by an independent Prize Committee, appointed by the Foundation Board, which assesses every eligible sub-Saharan African leader on their exercise of leadership and the performance of their country during their time in office.

 

The importance of high quality leadership in sub-Saharan African cannot be overstated. There are many challenges and often few resources of state to address them. It is why the efforts of those leaders who rise above these contraints to develop their countries, lift people out of poverty, and pave the way for future prosperity and success should be recognised and celebrated.

 

The money from the Ibrahim Prize will also help to ensure that Africa doesn't lose the experience and expertise of its best leaders when they leave office, by enabling them to continue in other public roles. While leaders from the Western world have a range of options open to them after leaving office, including writing memoirs or sitting on company boards, these are not available to their African counterparts. The prize allows them to build on their achievements in office and play an active role in civil society, diplomacy or conflict resolution on the continent once they have left office. The first two Ibrahim Laureates, Joaquim Chissano and Festus Mogae, and the Foundation's Honorary Laureate, Nelson Mandela, are just a few examples of the extraordinary contributions that African leaders can make after office.

 

And, finally, the Ibrahim Prize is a way of drawing attention to the real progress happening across the continent which too often gets overshadowed by the problems and challenges in individual countries. It is a way of introducing balance into perceptions of Africa. While the continent faces trying challenges and, in some cases, failures of leadership, there is also good news and great leadership coming from Africa.

 

The Foundation believes that one of the best ways to channel its resources is to strengthen great African leadership by recognising and celebrating the individuals who play such a critical role in determining the future of their countries. Considering that in 2008 alone, aid to sub-Saharan Africa from G7 countries totalled just over an estimated US$25 billion, the Foundation believes that the money it is contributing through the Ibrahim Prize is a comparatively small investment. But given to an individual with a proven ability to contribute to Africa the money has the potential for very significant returns.

 

The prize money is designed to work in conjunction with billions of dollars of development spending, foreign investment and national resources. If a country is well governed this means there will be a significant increase in the effectiveness and impact of all funds in the country.