Namibia’s outgoing President, Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba, has won the $5m African leadership prize awarded by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation for his exemplary leadership in Namibia, a small country in southern Africa that has a population of 2 million people.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation made the announcement at a ceremony in Nairobi on Monday, March 2, which was attended by journalists and members of the Advisory board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
Pohamba, 79, a former rebel leader and a key figure in Namibia’s independence struggle, has served two terms as president. He was first elected 2004, and again in 2009. He hands over on the 21st of March to President-elect, Hage Geingob.
The Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership comes with $5 million cash award which will be given to Pohamba over a period of 10 years. He will also get an annual $200,000 stipend after the end of the first payout over the 10 years until he passes away.
The Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership is awarded annually to a democratically elected former Executive Head of State or Government who have developed their countries, reduced poverty levels and paved the way for sustainable and equitable prosperity. The award was founded by Sudanese-British telecoms billionaire Mo Ibrahim who is worth $1 billion.
As published on Forbes.