ACCOMPLISH MAGAZINE NOV 2023

REPORTAGE
By Damian Ikenna Ngere
Meet Sir Mohammed Fathi Ahmed Ibrahim
KCMG, more commonly known as
Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese-born British
entrepreneur and philanthropist who has left
a profound mark on the African continent.
This Sudanese-British billionaire businessman
initially embarked on a career that included
employment with various telecommunications
firms. Eventually, he founded Celtel, a venture
that, upon its sale, boasted an impressive
subscriber base of over 24 million mobile phone
users across 14 African nations.
Mo Ibrahim is not only the founder of one
of Africa’s largest mobile phone companies
but also the visionary behind the distinguished
Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African
Leadership. His journey is a testament to the
transformative power of entrepreneurship and
a deep commitment to improving the lives of
people across the African continent.
Early Life and Education
Mo Ibrahim, the son of a menial clerk, was born
in Sudan on 3rd May 1946 (77 years old) and later
moved to Egypt with his family. Mo’s academic
journey started in Egypt when he chose to enrol in
Alexandria University’s engineering program. This
choice would give him essential knowledge that
would greatly impact his career in the telecom
industry. After completing his undergraduate
degree with honors, Mo returned to his native
Sudan and started working as an engineer for the
state-run telecom provider Sudan Telecom.
Fortunately, Mo Ibrahim had an insatiable
Entrepreneurial Journey
Mo Ibrahim’s entrepreneurial spirit soared
in 1983 when he left academia to become
the technical director of Cellnet, which would
later become O2, a company responsible for
wireless operations in the UK. In 1989, he decided
curiosity. His academic career took a fresh turn
in 1974 when he moved to England. Following his
enrollment, he worked hard to earn a master’s
degree in electronics and electrical engineering
at the University of Bradford. Mo’s unquenchable
curiosity took him to the University of Birmingham,
where he eventually earned a Ph.D. in mobile
communications, but this was only the beginning.
He willingly shared his knowledge by teaching
at Birmingham, in addition to gaining more
information himself.
to start his own venture and founded Mobile
Systems International, a company specializing
in designing mobile networks. In 2000, he sold
the company to Marconi, a telecommunications
company, for over $900 million.
The Birth of Celtel International: Creating
a Mobile Network for Africa
While still involved with Mobile Systems
International, Mo Ibrahim recognized a critical
gap in the African telecommunications sector -
the absence of a pan-African mobile telephone
network. In response, he founded MSI Cellular
Investments in 1998, later renamed Celtel
International. Mo’s vision for Celtel was unique. He
established a business plan that was built on the
principle of refusing to give or accept bribes - a
stark contrast to the standard practices of many
African companies.
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Accomplish Magazine